KKCS Quarterly Update
Support at Home is the new model for aged care. It will commence 1 November 2025.
There are new service names, no package management fees and consumers will be required to contribute depending on what type of service they receive.
For existing Home Care Package (HCP) consumers there is a ‘no worse off’ clause which means you are exempt from client contributions unless you are already paying an income tested fee. It does depend on when your HCP was approved – see summary below.
Please talk to your Coordinator or phone the office if you have any questions.
Support at Home Changes
If approved before 12 September 2024
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You’ll be transitioned to a Support at Home Classification level that aligns with your current HCP. No reassessment required.
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The ‘no worse off’ arrangement applies to you. Your contribution under Support at Home will be the same or less than what you currently pay.
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Your annual budget will shift to a quarterly budget from 1 November 2025.
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Any accumulated unspent funds will carry over to Support at Home in full.
From 1 November any new unspent finds will be capped at $1000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater.
If approved after 12 September 2024
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You’ll be assessed & assigned a classification under the new Support at Home model.
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If you receive your HCP before 1 November 2025 you will move to the Support at Home contribution model from 1 November.
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If you start your HCP before 1 November your budget will move to a quarterly budget from 1 November.
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If you start your HCP before 1 November and accrue any unspent funds they will transition with you.
From 1 November any new unspent finds will be capped at $1000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater.
The KKCS Allied Health & Disability Services team continues to grow in capability and impact, comprising a dynamic mix of professionals including:
NDIS Support Coordinators
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapists & Therapy Assistants
Podiatrists, and
Speech Pathologists
This well-rounded team enables us to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary support that ensures our clients can access the right care when they need it. We support individuals across the lifespan through NDIS, Aged Care, and privately funded services. Caseloads and referral flow are closely monitored to keep waitlists short and ensure timely service delivery, with a strong focus on flexibility and responsiveness to client needs.
In addition to individual supports, we are proud to offer a range of engaging group therapy options. Our centre-based exercise program and warm water exercise group continue to promote strength, mobility, and social connection among clients. We’re also excited to announce the launch of our new Speak Out® Parkinson’s group program, led by our Speech Pathologists, and designed to support individuals with Parkinson’s to maintain their voice and communication skills.
At Hunter Commercial Services, we specialise in high-quality Grounds Maintenance and Commercial Cleaning, proudly delivering expert facility management with a strong commitment to inclusion.
As a Disability-Inclusive Employer for over 36 years, more than 60% of our workforce identifies as having a disability. We focus on people’s ability, not disability, creating meaningful employment opportunities in a supportive work environment.
Recently, our team showcased their talents at multiple expos for people with disabilities, welcomed two brand-new ride-on mowers to our fleet, and upskilled grounds staff in equipment maintenance and long-term cleaning staff in a broader range of cleaning tasks, continuing our mission of growth and empowerment.
Odyssey Home Modifications specialises in providing quality and innovative construction services and support products that help elderly and disabled customers to remain living in their own home. From the installation of a grabrails or complete bathroom remodels. We work with a strong network of approved suppliers and builders to provide you with the best solution to meet your everyday needs. Our services include Building Consultation, Certification, Project Management, Plumbing and Electrical.
We are proud to inform you that we have recently launched our new referral platform that is accessible from Kurri Kurri Community Services website.
Odyssey is consistently striving to connect with the community and to build partnerships though several avenues. Recently we have attended the Hunter Aged Care Expo and the Multicultural Expo. We will also be attending the upcoming Country Care Group Expo on the 9th of July 25.
By working closely with our Community's Occupational Therapist’s to provide the best possible services, we received the following communication:
Thank you so much
Can I please pass on to you and the team my sincere thanks at the effort that was made to get this done as quickly as possible for Michael. It really was appreciated by me, and by the family. My ability to provide the best palliative care I can to those who unfortunately need it is so reliant on teams such as yours pulling together with me when we need to, and that is exactly what happened in this case, so thank you so much to everyone involved with this job.
LF - Lower Hunter Palliative Care Occupational Therapist
With the end of the financial year, we sadly said goodbye to one of our building Estimators. Who has decided to retire. But as the saying goes when a door closes a window opens. So, we are currently advertising for a new Estimator position here within KKCS Odyssey. If you think this is a position for you, please apply for the role via Seek or Hunter Recruitment Group.
The team attending recent Expo’s
The KKCS Study Hub provides support and services to our local community in order to make graduation from tertiary level study more achievable and as stress free as possible.
We enable students to access tertiary education and most importantly succeed in their chosen area of study.
Our goal is to ensure students feel holistically supported to gain qualifications that will benefit themselves, and their community.
The free-to-use KKCS Study Hub provides campus style facilitates, coupled with academic and wellbeing support services.
Our neighbourhood centre team provide support at The Centre 5 days/week. We provide food, relief, information advice and referral as well as case-work support to access services and work on identified needs.
All programs are funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, therefor all programs are provided free to clients and schools. All of our services are provided on a voluntary basis to those who wish to engage i.e. we are not providing statutory intervention.
Our team of youth workers and youth case-workers assist young people and their families who live in the Cessnock Local Government Area.
We provide advocacy and case-work support, both individually to young people and also to family units in the form of family capacity building.
We provide information advice and referrals to other agencies, counselling at some local schools, court support at the Cessnock Children’s Court and educational programs within the local schools.