Holding a Home Care Package doesn't mean staying home. With the right conversations before you leave, most Australians aged 65 and over can travel — domestically or overseas — without losing their package or their place in the system. The key is knowing what to ask, and asking it well before you book.
Your Package and Your Plans: What the System Actually Allows
A Home Care Package is yours. It's assigned to you as an individual — not tied to a fixed address or a fixed routine. That's an important starting point, because a surprising number of people assume travel automatically suspends their funding or risks their place in the queue. It doesn't have to.
Under the current framework, providers are required to follow the Australian Government's Home Care Packages Program guidelines, which include provisions for absences. Broadly speaking, short-term travel — typically up to 28 consecutive days — can often be managed without formal leave being triggered, though this depends on your provider's policies and whether you're receiving active services during that time.
Beyond 28 days, most providers will need to put your package on a formal leave arrangement. This doesn't mean you lose the package — but it does mean some of your funding may be held rather than drawn down, and the specifics vary. The critical point: none of this is uniform across providers. Two people on the same level of Home Care Package, with different providers, may have quite different options. Confirm your own situation before anything else.
What Does 'Portability' Actually Mean for Aged Care?
Portability, in the aged care context, refers to the ability to receive services in a location other than your usual home — whether that's a different suburb, a different state, or in some cases a different country. It sounds straightforward. In practice, it's more nuanced.
For domestic travel, some providers can arrange for services to be delivered at your destination — say, a personal care visit while you're staying with family in Queensland, or medication management support during an extended regional trip. Whether this is possible depends on whether your provider operates in that area, or has a partner organisation that does. Not all providers have national reach, and some smaller community-based providers operate only within a defined region.
For international travel, the picture changes considerably. Services funded through your Home Care Package cannot typically be delivered overseas. Your package funding would generally be held or placed on leave for the duration of the trip. What matters here is that your package remains active and your place in the system is preserved — you don't restart from zero when you return. Confirm the exact arrangements with your provider in writing before you leave the country.
The Conversations to Have Before You Book Anything
The single most useful thing you can do is call your provider's case manager before you commit to any travel plans — ideally four to six weeks out, or more for longer trips. Ask directly: what are your policies for client absences? Can services be arranged at my destination? What happens to my unspent funds while I'm away? Will I be charged ongoing management fees during an absence period?
That last question matters more than many people realise. Some providers continue to charge a package management or coordination fee even when no services are being delivered — because the administrative work of holding your package continues. Others may reduce or waive fees during extended absences. Get the answer in writing.
Also worth raising: what happens if your trip runs longer than planned? A health issue, a flight disruption, or simply a decision to stay on for another week — these things happen, especially on longer journeys. Understanding how your provider handles unplanned extensions of absence gives you a clearer picture of your actual flexibility. If the conversation feels unclear or the answers are vague, contact My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422, or reach out to the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) for independent guidance.
How the New Support at Home Program May Change Things
From 1 July 2025, the Australian Government began transitioning Home Care Package recipients to the new Support at Home program. This is the most significant structural change to home-based aged care funding in many years. Some of the underlying rules around absences and portability are being reviewed and updated as part of this transition.
If you're reading this in 2026, there's a reasonable chance your package has already been, or is in the process of being, transitioned. The Support at Home program introduces a new classification system and revised funding arrangements — and the absence provisions under the new program may differ from what applied under the previous Home Care Packages framework.
This is not a reason to delay travel plans. It is a reason to have an up-to-date conversation with your provider and, if needed, My Aged Care. The government's My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au) is the authoritative source for current program rules. COTA Australia (cota.org.au) also publishes plain-English summaries of the reforms that are worth reading before that provider conversation.
Practical Steps for Domestic Travel
If you're planning a trip within Australia — a grey nomad drive up the east coast, a few weeks with grandchildren interstate, or an extended stay in a warmer climate over winter — the process is relatively manageable. Start with your provider. If they can arrange services at your destination, ask for the details in writing: which services, delivered by whom, and at what cost to your package.
If your provider can't arrange services interstate, you have a couple of options. You can travel without services for the period — many people on lower-level packages do this comfortably for short trips. Or you can ask your provider whether a temporary arrangement with a local provider at your destination is possible. This is sometimes called a 'brokered' service and requires coordination, but some providers will facilitate it.
Keep a copy of your care plan and any relevant medical information with you when you travel. If you have a regular medication regime or specific health needs, your GP can provide a travel health summary — a sensible step regardless of whether you're on a Home Care Package. And if you're driving long distances, factor in rest stops and realistic daily distances. The Pacific Highway at 69 is a different proposition to what it was at 45. That's not a limitation — it's just honest logistics.
Practical Steps for International Travel
An overseas trip requires a few more moving parts. Contact your provider well in advance and confirm in writing that your package will be placed on leave, that your funding will be held, and that your package will be reactivated promptly on your return. Ask for confirmation of any fees that will continue during your absence.
Travel insurance is non-negotiable, and at 69 with an existing care arrangement, the policy needs to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Don't assume a standard policy does — read the product disclosure statement, or use a comparison service that filters by age and health status. The Smartraveller website (smartraveller.gov.au), run by the Australian Government, is the right place to register your trip and check destination advice before you leave.
It's also worth notifying My Aged Care of extended overseas travel, though your provider will typically handle this on your behalf. Keep your Australian mobile number active if possible, or ensure your provider has an alternative contact method for the duration of your trip. If something changes at home — a change in provider, a change in your care needs — you want to be reachable.
Rights, Advocacy and What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
You have rights as a Home Care Package recipient, and they don't pause when you travel. The Charter of Aged Care Rights applies to all recipients of Australian Government-funded aged care, including those on temporary leave. If your provider is unclear, unresponsive or applying policies that seem inconsistent with what you've been told, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (agedcarequality.gov.au) to make an enquiry or complaint.
OPAN — the Older Persons Advocacy Network — offers free, independent advocacy support for aged care recipients across Australia. If you feel your provider isn't being straightforward about your portability options, or if you're unsure whether the terms you've been offered are reasonable, an OPAN advocate can help you navigate the conversation. Their national line is 1800 700 600.
The broader point is this: travelling on a Home Care Package is entirely achievable for most recipients, and the system is designed to accommodate reasonable absences. The gap between what's theoretically possible and what actually happens in your situation comes down to one thing — the conversation you have with your provider before you book. Have it early, have it specifically, and get it in writing.
Key takeaways
- A Home Care Package is assigned to you as an individual — travel doesn't automatically suspend it or forfeit your place in the system.
- Most providers allow absences of up to 28 days without formal leave arrangements, but policies vary significantly between organisations.
- Some providers can arrange services at a domestic destination; overseas travel typically means services are paused and funds held for your return.
- The Support at Home program, rolling out from July 2025, may change absence and portability rules — confirm current terms with your provider and My Aged Care.
- Management fees may continue during absence periods even when no services are delivered — ask your provider directly and get the answer in writing.
- Free independent advocacy is available through OPAN (1800 700 600) if you need help understanding or negotiating your portability arrangements.
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Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Home Care Package if I travel for several weeks?
No. A Home Care Package is assigned to you as an individual and is not forfeited because you travel. For absences up to 28 days, most providers can manage the period without triggering a formal leave arrangement. For longer absences, your provider will typically place the package on leave, holding your funds until you return. Confirm the exact terms with your provider before you leave.
Can I use my Home Care Package funding to pay for services while I'm travelling interstate?
Potentially, yes — for domestic travel. Some providers can arrange for services to be delivered at your destination, either through their own staff or a partner organisation. This is not available from all providers and depends on whether they operate in the area you're visiting. Ask your provider specifically whether this is possible for your destination, and get the arrangement confirmed in writing.
What happens to my Home Care Package funds while I'm overseas?
Home Care Package funding cannot be used to pay for services delivered overseas. For the duration of an overseas trip, your provider will generally place your package on a leave arrangement and hold your unspent funds. Your package remains active and is reactivated when you return. Some providers continue to charge an ongoing management or coordination fee during this period — confirm this with your provider before you travel.
How does the new Support at Home program affect travel and portability?
The Support at Home program, which began transitioning recipients from 1 July 2025, is the successor to the Home Care Packages program. Absence and portability provisions are being updated as part of this reform. If you're planning travel in 2026 or beyond, check the current rules directly with your provider and on the My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au), as the specific terms may differ from those that applied under the previous program.
Who can I contact if my provider isn't clear about my travel options?
My Aged Care (1800 200 422 or myagedcare.gov.au) can explain the general rules of the program. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) offers free, independent advocacy on 1800 700 600 and can help you navigate provider conversations. If you believe your provider is not meeting its obligations, you can raise a concern with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission at agedcarequality.gov.au.
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