With more Australians looking for choice and independence, self-management is growing in popularity. But is it the right option for you?

What is self-management?

When you self-manage, you take a more active role in coordinating your care. Instead of having your provider organise everything, you (or a trusted family member) take responsibility for booking services, managing your budget, and overseeing how care is delivered.

This includes tasks like:

• Finding and scheduling your own support workers
• Negotiating rates and confirming services
• Collecting and submitting invoices and receipts
• Ensuring all services align with your support plan

You’re still connected to a provider who manages your funding, ensures compliance with program rules, and provides some oversight, but you take on the day-to-day management of your support.

Understanding care management and fees with self-management

Under the Support at Home program, self-managing your care doesn’t mean going it alone. You’ll still have access to support from your chosen provider, especially when it comes to ensuring your care stays aligned with government guidelines.

Even when you self-manage, your provider is responsible for overseeing your overall care arrangements, including helping you stay within your approved plan and making updates when your needs change.

To support this, a portion of your funding, 10% of your quarterly budget,  is automatically allocated to care management. This ensures you have access to essential oversight and guidance, while still keeping you in control of your day-to-day decisions.

Why choose self-management?

Self-management can be a great option for people who:

• Have lower or more stable care needs
• Want more flexibility and control
• Are comfortable organising their own care (or have someone who can help)
• Prefer to build a personalised support network

It gives you more freedom to make choices that suit your lifestyle, from selecting your own support workers to deciding when and how care is delivered.

Self-management with support

At Healthcare Australia (HCA), we understand that not everyone wants (or needs) full care management, but that doesn’t mean you should go it alone.

Our dedicated Self-Managed Division supports customers who want the freedom of self-management, with the reassurance of expert guidance when they need it.

We can help you:

• Navigate the Support at Home system
• Understand what your funding can cover
• Make informed decisions about your care
• Stay compliant without paying for ongoing care management

You stay in control,  we’re just a call away if you need us.

Want to explore self-management with HCA?

We can help you take the next step with confidence.

Call us on 1300 422 123 to speak with our Self-Managed Division and find out how we can support you.