The use of aged care program funds for personal transport is a common question raised by providers.
During recent training sessions, several people asked how transport-related costs can be paid for using Support at Home funds.
Whilst it seems straightforward enough, I think it’s important to understand the challenges faced by providers operating in rural and remote areas of Australia and why these questions arise. Many older people living in these areas can access local transport for day-to-day services, but when they need to leave the community, commercial transport services may be the only practical option.
Some common questions we've been getting recently include:
- Can Support at Home funding be used to pay for a flight so a person can access respite?
- Can a person use their funding for a ferry trip?
- Can a taxi be paid for while a person is visiting family interstate?
- What if commercial transport is the only way for a person living in a remote community to access services?
Transport – what is included?
It’s important to recognise that not all transport-related costs are covered under the Support at Home transport service. Let’s look first at what is included or excluded:
Under the Support at Home Service List, transport generally includes:
Direct transport
- A provider supplies a vehicle and driver to transport the person to their usual activities.
Indirect transport
- Taxi or rideshare vouchers that help the person access their usual activities.
The key thing to remember here is that these services are designed to help people remain connected to their community, appointments, shopping, social activities and other day-to-day activities that support their independence and wellbeing.
What transport costs are excluded?
The Aged Care Rules 2025 (Section 8-90) clearly identify the types of transport specifically excluded. These include:
- Flights
- Ferries
- Public transport
- Vehicle purchase costs
- Vehicle running costs
- Licence costs
- Travel for holidays
This means that simply because travel is needed does not automatically mean it can be paid for using Support at Home funding. The following are examples of transport issues raised by providers and what the Department's position is:
Scenario 1 – Flying to respite from a remote community
An older person lives on an island community and has been approved for residential respite in Darwin. The only practical way to reach the respite service is on the regular commercial flight that services the island.
The provider asks:
“Can we use the person's Support at Home transport funding to pay for the airfare?”
Based on the current Support at Home Rules, the answer is no.
Although the flight is necessary to access the respite service, commercial flights are specifically listed as an excluded transport expense. The fact that there is no road access or alternative transport option does not change the exclusion.
In situations like this, providers may need to explore alternative funding arrangements, local transport programs or other support options outside the Support at Home transport service.
Scenario 2 – Taxi while visiting family interstate
An older person travels interstate to spend several weeks with family. While there, they want to use Support at Home funding to pay for taxis to visit local shops, social activities or appointments.
The question asked was:
“Taxis are an approved transport service, so can they use their funding while they are away from home?’
This situation is less straightforward.
Taxi and rideshare vouchers are an approved Support at Home transport service. However, transport funding is intended to support a person's assessed needs and usual activities.
If the travel is associated with a holiday or personal visit, providers should exercise caution. The Rules specifically exclude travel for holidays, and the purpose of the transport becomes an important consideration.
In most cases, transport funding should be used to help people access services and activities connected to their ongoing care and support needs, rather than supporting personal travel arrangements.
A simple rule of thumb
When considering whether a transport expense can be funded through Support at Home, ask:
Is this transport being provided through a provider vehicle, taxi voucher or rideshare voucher?
and
Is it helping the person access their assessed needs and usual activities?
and
Is the need for transport identified and documented in the person’s care plan?
If the answer to all three questions is yes, the transport is more likely to be allowable.
If the transport involves flights, ferries, public transport or holiday travel, it is unlikely to be funded through the Support at Home transport service.
Follow the rules
It’s important for providers to follow the rules when it comes to using Support at Home funding, otherwise there is the potential for providers to be unable to claim the expense against a person’s funding and end up out of pocket.
To use Support at Home funding for transport, the person's transport needs must be included in their care plan. It should explain why transport is needed and how it helps the person achieve their goals or access the care and support they need. This is especially important in rural and remote areas where transport options may be limited. Clear records help show why the transport was needed if the service is reviewed and the expense queried.
Transport is often one of the biggest challenges for providers working in rural, remote and very remote communities. Unfortunately, the Support at Home transport rules focus on the type of transport provided rather than on how essential it may be.
When you are dealing with unusual situations, particularly in remote Australia, it is always worth documenting the circumstances and seeking clarification before committing Support at Home funds.
As with many areas of aged care, understanding the intent of the rules is just as important as understanding the service itself.
Do you have a question we haven't covered?
Every community is different, and some situations don't fit neatly into a policy document or service list. We regularly receive questions from providers, advocates and care partners about the practical application of Support at Home requirements in real-world situations.
If you've come across a scenario that you're unsure about, we'd love to hear from you. Your question may help shape a future blog post, resource or training session.
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CDCS provides practical support, training and guidance to help organisations understand and implement aged care reforms, including Support at Home, CHSP, NATSIFACP, Residential care, and registration requirements. If your team would benefit from tailored training or advice, please get in touch.
