Can I purchase meals with my Support at Home funding?

Support at Home funding can pay for the delivery and preparation of prepared meals, but not for the food component or any part of take away food. The split the industry has settled on comprises 30% for the food component, leaving the remaining 70% of the cost allocated to the preparation and delivery of the prepared meals, which can be paid for by Support at Home funding.

To use Support at Home funding for meals, Local Guardians needs to ensure that:

– Meals are nutritious and appetising
– Have regard to the individual’s needs and preferences
– Only fund preparation and transport, not the ingredients (meaning clients pay 30% privately)

To support this, meal providers are expected to demonstrate that their meals or menu range have dietitian oversight and are reviewed at least annually. This means the meal provider must provide evidence that a dietitian has reviewed their meals.

If a client chooses a meal provider that cannot demonstrate dietitian oversight, the Support at Home guidelines decline the funding.

A dietitian is required to review an individual client’s selected meals. If evidence of dietitian oversight, the meals cannot be paid for using Support at Home funding.

An individual dietitian assessment is only required if the client has identified nutrition risks, specialised dietary needs, or if their chosen meal provider cannot demonstrate dietitian oversight of its meals.

These requirements do not apply to meals prepared by a Support Worker in an individual’s home.

For more information about meal requirements, go to https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/guidance-for-in-home-meal-requirements-august-2025.pdf