top of page
Living with chronic illness: An Important Change to Personal Care Costs in Australia
From 1 October 2026, people receiving approved personal care through Australia’s Support at Home program will no longer pay a personal contribution for these services.
Personal care can include help with showering, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, non-clinical continence support and assistance with self-administering medication.
A practical tip
If personal contributions previously prevented you from receiving enough personal care, ask your provider to review your care plan and budget. You may be able to increase the amount of approved personal care you receive from 1 October.
The service must be included in your support plan, and sufficient Support at Home funding must be available. Check your statements and invoices after 1 October to make sure that no personal contribution has been charged for eligible personal care delivered from that date.
More practical guidance for living with chronic illness can be found in the Australia Edition of my book Page Turn.
My MS is the starting point of my story
. But a chronic illness changes far more than the body—and many experiences connect people regardless of their diagnosis.
I describe how I have found my own way: how I deal with lost abilities, difficult and sometimes absurd situations, lack of understanding, relationships, and the need to accept help. It is about dignity, self-determination, and not losing yourself despite all the changes.
My solutions are my personal solutions. They have grown out of who I am as a person, how I think, feel, and deal with my life. I share them because something that has helped me might give another person a new perspective or help them find their own way.
At the same time, the book provides practical information about social, financial, and other forms of support available in Australia, and shows how important it can be to know what help exists and to use it thoughtfully.
A diagnosis changes your life—but it does not define you.
.
bottom of page