For Victorians aged 60 and over, getting a little help around the home — with meals, cleaning, shopping or personal care — does not mean giving up independence. This guide explains how to arrange those supports through government-funded pathways and private options, what they generally cost, and where dignity stays firmly at the centre of every arrangement.
Why everyday help matters — and why it is nothing to hesitate about
There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from pushing through tasks that have quietly become harder — hauling groceries up the front steps, scrubbing a shower recess, preparing a hot meal at the end of a long day. For many Victorians in their sixties and seventies, the issue is not incapacity; it is that some tasks now take more out of you than they should. Accepting a little help is not a retreat. It is a sensible way to save energy for the things that genuinely matter.
The supports available in Victoria range from government-subsidised services arranged through the aged-care system to straightforward private options you can organise yourself. The pathway you choose depends on your circumstances, your preferences, and — frankly — how much paperwork you are willing to navigate. This guide lays out both routes clearly, so you can decide what suits you without feeling pressured in either direction.
One thing worth saying at the outset: every service discussed here is built around the idea that you remain in charge. You choose the provider, you set the schedule, and you can change your mind. That principle of consumer-directed care is now embedded in how Australian aged-care services are designed, and it is worth holding onto as you read.
Where does the system start — My Aged Care and the Support at Home program
The front door to government-funded home support in Australia is My Aged Care, the national portal and phone service run by the Australian Government. If you are 65 or over (or 50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), you can register online at myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422. From there, an assessor will talk through what you need — this can happen over the phone or in your home, whichever you prefer.
From July 2025, the Support at Home program replaced the previous Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Home Care Packages. The new program uses a tiered funding model, and the amount of support you receive depends on an assessment of your needs and goals. Costs are indicative and subject to change; always confirm the current contribution amounts directly with My Aged Care or your chosen provider, rather than relying on figures quoted in any guide or article.
If you are not yet 65 but are finding daily tasks difficult, the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (dffh.vic.gov.au) administers some state-level supports. It is worth a phone call to your local council's aged-care team as well — many Victorian councils act as service providers and can fast-track a conversation about what is available in your suburb or region.
Help with cleaning, gardening, and shopping — how to arrange it
Domestic assistance — which covers tasks like vacuuming, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, and changing bed linen — is one of the most commonly requested supports under the aged-care system. Once you have a Support at Home funding level assigned, your provider can arrange a regular home helper, often a few hours a fortnight. You choose the provider from a list of approved organisations in your area, and you can negotiate the schedule around your own routine.
Gardening assistance (basic lawn mowing and garden maintenance, not landscaping) is also available under some funding arrangements, though availability varies by provider and region. It is worth asking specifically about this during your assessment, because it does not always come up automatically. For those who take real pride in a well-kept garden — and many do — having someone manage the heavy work while you tend the beds you enjoy is a reasonable and dignified arrangement.
Shopping assistance can be arranged in a few ways. Some providers will send a support worker with you to the supermarket, which suits people who want to choose their own produce and maintain that social outing. Others prefer a worker to shop on their behalf using a list. Grocery delivery services from major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, and independents) are another practical option — these are private, paid services, but they require no assessment and can be set up quickly. If you receive a government subsidy, check with your provider whether grocery delivery can be covered under your funding.
Meal services and community kitchens
Meals on Wheels is one of the most recognised aged-care services in Victoria, and for good reason — it has been running for decades and is available in most parts of the state, including regional and rural areas. The service delivers hot or chilled meals to your home, generally on weekdays, though some local services also cover weekends. Meals are designed to meet nutritional standards for older adults, and many providers now offer a range of dietary options including vegetarian, halal, and meals that reflect different cultural traditions.
To access Meals on Wheels through the government-funded pathway, you will need to register with My Aged Care first. Your local provider is typically a council or a community organisation. Costs are subsidised for eligible recipients, with a client contribution that varies — always confirm the current rate with Meals on Wheels Victoria (mealsonwheelsvic.org.au) or your local provider. Some people also access the service privately, paying the full cost without a subsidy, which can be arranged directly with the provider.
Community kitchens and lunch clubs run by councils, multicultural organisations, and community centres offer a different kind of meal support — one that is as much about connection as nutrition. In many Melbourne suburbs and regional towns, you can find weekly or fortnightly community lunches where a hot meal is served for a modest contribution, or sometimes free of charge. These are particularly worth seeking out if you live alone or are new to an area. Your local council's community services team is the best place to ask what runs near you.
Who provides meals (Meals on Wheels) and grocery help?
Meals on Wheels in Victoria is not run by a single organisation — it is a network of local providers, coordinated under the Meals on Wheels Victoria umbrella. Your local provider might be your municipal council, a community health service, or a not-for-profit organisation. The national My Aged Care portal can help you identify who delivers in your postcode. For a direct starting point, mealsonwheelsvic.org.au has a service finder.
Grocery help — whether that means a support worker accompanying you to the shops, doing the shopping on your behalf, or arranging delivery — is generally managed through your aged-care provider once you have funding in place. Some providers also connect clients with volunteer programs run by organisations such as Carer Gateway (carergateway.gov.au), where trained volunteers can assist with shopping trips. These programs are particularly useful while you are waiting for formal funding to be confirmed.
For those who prefer to manage grocery delivery independently, Coles (coles.com.au) and Woolworths (woolworths.com.au) both offer home delivery services with straightforward online ordering. Delivery fees apply and vary — check the current rates on each retailer's website. Some people find that setting up a regular delivery slot each week, with a saved shopping list, removes a significant amount of daily effort with minimal fuss.
How do I get help with personal care (showering, dressing)?
Personal care — which includes assistance with showering, bathing, dressing, grooming, and sometimes medication prompts — is among the most sensitive supports to arrange, and it deserves to be approached with real care for dignity and privacy. The good news is that the aged-care system takes this seriously. You have the right to request a support worker of a particular gender, and many providers work hard to match clients with workers who share cultural background or language where possible.
Personal care supports are arranged through the My Aged Care assessment process. Once your needs are assessed and a funding level assigned, your provider will work with you to set a schedule that suits your routine — morning visits, for instance, if that is when you need help to start the day. You can change your support worker if the arrangement is not working, and you can adjust the schedule as your needs change over time. Consumer-directed care means you hold that authority.
If you are waiting for formal funding to come through and need personal care support in the interim, there are a few options. Some providers offer private (self-funded) personal care services that can be arranged directly, without going through the aged-care system. Costs vary considerably, so it is worth getting a few quotes. Your GP can also refer you to a community health service, which may be able to provide interim support. For people who are caring for an older partner or family member, Carer Gateway (carergateway.gov.au) offers advice and some direct supports for carers as well.
Arranging help privately — when you want to move quickly or keep things simple
Not everyone wants to go through a formal assessment process, and that is entirely understandable. For people who can afford to self-fund, or who simply want to arrange help quickly without waiting for government processes, there is a straightforward private market. Home cleaning services, personal care agencies, meal delivery companies, and grocery services all operate commercially in Victoria and can be engaged directly.
When choosing a private provider for personal care, it is worth checking that workers hold a current Working with Vulnerable People check (in Victoria, this is called the Working with Children Check for some roles, but aged-care workers typically require police checks and relevant qualifications). Reputable agencies will be transparent about this. Asking for references or reading reviews through a trusted source is sensible practice.
One middle-ground option worth knowing about is using a registered aged-care provider on a fee-for-service basis — that is, paying directly without a government subsidy. This gives you access to providers who are already accredited and operating under quality standards, without needing to wait for an assessment. Ask any provider you are considering whether they offer this arrangement.
Key takeaways
- My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422) is the starting point for all government-funded home support in Australia for people aged 65 and over.
- The Support at Home program, introduced in July 2025, replaced previous Home Care Package and CHSP arrangements — check current entitlements directly with My Aged Care.
- Meals on Wheels in Victoria is delivered through a network of local providers; use the service finder at mealsonwheelsvic.org.au to find who covers your area.
- Personal care supports — showering, dressing, grooming — can be arranged to match your preferred schedule, and you have the right to request a support worker of a particular gender or cultural background.
- Grocery delivery from Coles or Woolworths is a practical private option that requires no assessment and can be set up independently at any time.
- Community lunches and kitchen programs run by councils and multicultural organisations offer both a meal and social connection — ask your local council what runs near you.
Recommended partners and links
Indicative prices only — always confirm with the operator before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Help with cleaning, gardening, and shopping — how to arrange it.
Register with My Aged Care at myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422 to request an assessment. If you are found eligible under the Support at Home program, you can choose an approved local provider to arrange a home helper for cleaning, basic garden maintenance, and shopping assistance. You set the schedule and can change providers if needed. For shopping, you can also arrange grocery delivery privately through Coles or Woolworths without any assessment. Confirm current eligibility thresholds and contribution amounts directly with My Aged Care, as these change over time.
Meal services and community kitchens.
Meals on Wheels delivers hot or chilled meals to your home through a network of local Victorian providers — start at mealsonwheelsvic.org.au to find the service in your area. Access through the government-funded system requires a My Aged Care registration; some services also accept private (self-funded) clients directly. Community kitchens and council lunch clubs offer weekly or fortnightly meals, often for a modest contribution, with the added benefit of social connection. Ask your local council's community services team what meal programs run near you.
Who provides meals (Meals on Wheels) and grocery help?
Meals on Wheels in Victoria is delivered by local providers — councils, community health services, and not-for-profit organisations — coordinated under Meals on Wheels Victoria. Use the service finder at mealsonwheelsvic.org.au to identify your local provider. Grocery help can be arranged through your aged-care provider (once funding is in place), through volunteer programs via Carer Gateway (carergateway.gov.au), or independently through the home delivery services offered by Coles (coles.com.au) and Woolworths (woolworths.com.au). Delivery fees apply for commercial grocery services — check current rates on each retailer's website.
How do I get help with personal care (showering, dressing)?
Personal care supports — showering, bathing, dressing, grooming — are arranged through the My Aged Care assessment process at myagedcare.gov.au. Once assessed and funded under Support at Home, your provider sets up visits at times that suit your routine. You can request a support worker of a particular gender or cultural background, and you can change workers if the arrangement is not right. If you need help while waiting for formal funding, some providers offer private personal care services that can be arranged directly; your GP can also refer you to a community health service for interim support.
Can I arrange home help privately without going through My Aged Care?
Yes. Home cleaning, personal care, meal delivery, and grocery services all operate commercially in Victoria and can be engaged directly without a government assessment. Some registered aged-care providers also offer fee-for-service arrangements, giving you access to accredited providers without waiting for subsidy approval. When engaging any private personal care provider, check that workers hold current police checks and relevant qualifications — reputable agencies will be transparent about this. Costs vary widely, so getting a few quotes is sensible practice.
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