Can I purchase meals with my 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, a qualified dietitian must complete an assessment at least once a year. This review ensures that meals:

Meet the nutritional needs of older people (including any special dietary requirements)
– Are appealing and enjoyable to eat
– Align with current, evidence-based guidelines and best practices
– Any meal suppliers engaged by Local Guardians must confirm that a dietitian has reviewed their meals. If a supplier is unable to provide this confirmation, Local Guardians will arrange for a dietitian to assess the meals directly. Dietitian assessments can be completed either in person or remotely.

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