Costs and Pricing

Residential Care Fees

This fee covers your day-to-day living costs such as meals, cleaning and laundry. The fee is set by the Government and equates to 85% of the full pension. The amount is reviewed twice a year in line with the pension increase. Every person in aged care is required to pay this fee unless they are experiencing financial hardship which will be determined by Centrelink.

This is an additional daily care contribution fee based upon an individual’s assets and income. This fee is determined by the Department of Human Services upon completing a Request for a Combined Assets and Income Assessment form and is capped annually and over a resident’s lifetime

In addition to care fees you may also be required to pay an accommodation payment. The amount that you are required to pay is based upon your assets and income and is determined by the Department of Human Services. You may be required to pay all or contribute to the cost of your accommodation. This form is not compulsory to complete, but for those who choose not to you will be required to pay the full room price.

To allow for flexibility there are four ways in which you can choose to pay for your accommodation

  1. Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
    This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) is basically an interest free loan to Cobram Regional Care. We invest the money and keep the interest earned. The maximum Refundable Accommodation Deposit payable to Cobram Regional Care is currently set at $400,000.
    The balance of the deposit is refunded when you leave the aged care home less any amounts you have agreed to have deducted. The payment is held in trust and guaranteed by the Government.
  2. Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
    Instead of paying for your accommodation as a lump sum you can choose to pay a daily fee. The DAP is not refundable when you leave the aged care facility.
    The DAP amount is based on the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR), which is set by the government, and the agreed price of your room. To calculate the equivalent daily accommodation payment (DAP) of a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD), the refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) is multiplied by the maximum permissible interest rate (MPIR).
  3. Combination payment
    You can choose to pay part of your accommodation as a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part as a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP). DAP amounts will be calculated based on the outstanding RAD amount. Upon leaving the facility, your RAD amount will be refunded but not DAP payments.
  4. Drawdown payment
    This option is similar to the combination option but the Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) component is deducted from your Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD), with the balance of the deposit refunded when you leave the aged care home.

Your specific care costs will depend on a number of factors, including your particular circumstances and care needs. If you would like to discuss these further, please contact our Business Coordinator.

The daily fee for Respite Care is the same as the Basic Daily Care fess – that is, 85% of the full pension. The fee amount is reviewed on the 20th March and 20th September each year in line with the pension increase. If you are currently the beneficiary of a Home Care Package, or other financial support, your Case Manager may be able to arrange for your supporting Agency to cover the Costs of your care while in respite. Similarly, if you are a beneficiary through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), they may cover theses costs for you.

Moving into a care home is a big decision and it is important to gain an understanding of the fees associated with your care and accommodation. Your fees may vary according to your financial situation. We recommend you seek independent financial advice before entering any aged care home to help you choose the right payment option for you.

To help ensure that care is affordable for everyone, the Australian Government calculates and regulates maximum daily fees and enforces limits as to how much you can be asked to pay for accommodation.

Support at Home Fees

Prices for Common Services listed below are hourly rates with a minimum service charge for each of 30 minutes between 8am and 5pm on weekdays and one (1) hour all other times.  All prices are reviewed on 1 July each year

Direct Care –
Price for Common Services 		Standard Hours Non- Standard Hours Saturday Sunday Public
Holidays
Personal Care $100 $128 $128 $156 $184
Nursing – RN $184 $250 $250 $230 $241
Cleaning and household tasks $95 $110 $110 $115 $120
Light gardening $105 N/A N/A N/A N/A
In-home respite $100 $128 $128 $156 $184

Pricing Schedule – Support at Home

Commonwealth Home Support Programme Fees

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) helps seniors access entry-level support services to live independently and safely at home. To make sure you can access the help you need at an affordable price, the Government subsidises service providers to deliver care and services to you at a subsidised price.

Schedule of Fees – Effective from 1 July 2025

Funded Services $ (per hour)
Domestic Assistance $15.00
Garden Maintenance  $15.00
Flexible Respite $15.00
Personal Care $15.00
Social Support – Individual $15.00

* all fees are inclusive of GST.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme Schedule of Fees

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Fees and Contributions policy