Navigating Financial Hardship in Practice
About
IntroductionFrom 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program introduces means-tested participant contributions, changing how everyday support services are funded. While these reforms aim to improve fairness and sustainability, providers are increasingly encountering situations where older people report an inability to pay.
Since earlier workshops, Services Australia has released updated operational guidance, providing new clarity on how financial hardship is assessed in practice. This session reflects those updates and incorporates new information and sector learnings that were not previously available
What’s new since our last session?
This updated session includes:
• Insights from the Services Australia Operational Blueprint
• Greater clarity on how hardship applications are assessed in practice
• Common issues emerging from early provider experience
• Explicit guidance on managing financial hardship in line with
• Support at Home service agreement requirements, and audit expectations-reducing financial, compliance, and continuity of care risk
What you will learn
• How to navigate the SA462 financial hardship application process
• Eligibility criteria and documentation requirements
• Practical strategies for contribution discussions and non-payment
• How to maintain service continuity while meeting regulatory obligations
About the session
This interactive online session focuses on the financial hardship policy, a critical safeguard for participants who genuinely cannot meet their contribution obligations under Support at Home.
The session directly addresses how hardship decisions intersect with provider obligations, including lawful fee charging, service agreement management, non-payment responses, and continuity of care-areas subject to increasing compliance and audit scrutiny.
Delivered by a qualified social worker and a financial adviser with specialist expertise in Services Australia and aged care processes, this session will support defensible, compassionate, and audit-ready practice
Who should attend
Care Managers, Team Leaders, Intake staff, and Quality or Compliance Managers involved in service agreements or contribution discussions.
Facilitators
Angus Kerr- Living Well Care
Rosie Bouton- We Plan Financial Advisors
Cost FREE
Where Online
When 12 March, Thursday 10.00 AM -12.00 PM
Please note This session is not going to be recorded
Date
Thursday 12 March 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (UTC+11)Location
Online event access details will be provided by the event organiser
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Navigating Financial Hardship in Practice
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