# Annual pricing update for Helpers effective 10 August 2026

> The Commonwealth Governments recent annual review of Home Care Package subsidies has resulted in significant updates aimed at enhancing the quality and accessi

Source: https://helper-support.fivegoodfriends.com.au/en_us/annual-pricing-update-for-helpers-effective-10-august-2026-rJze6MD0

Last updated: 2026-08-04T05:52:19.346Z

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## **Support at Home & Private Rate Review 2026: What You Need to Know and Do** 

Each year, Five Good Friends reviews the indicative market rates for Helpers. From **10 August 2026**, indicative market rates for Support at Home and privately funded services will increase. 

These rates are a guide only. As an independent contractor, you manage your own business and are free to set your own rates. 

**Review and set your rates** 

**We sent you an email on 27 July 2026 with a personalised link to a form to review, set and confirm your rates. If you need us to resend the link, please email us to helper@fivegoodfriends.com.au** 

 **Please review, set and confirm your rates by 3 August 2026.** 

If you do not action your rate review by 3 August, you'll have the opportunity to do so from ****11 August****, following the usual process: connecting with your helper coordinator to start the conversation, and — most importantly — with your Members.

**What the form covers** 

You'll be asked to review, accept, or set rates for: 

*   **Support at Home funded services**— hourly rates for Monday–Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays
*   **Privately funded services**— hourly rates for Monday–Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays
*   **Member transport**— ifyou'reapproved to drive Members

**Support at Home funded services** 

Support at Home services are classified as either **Everyday Living** or **Independence**. Independence services typically require a higher level of verification and ongoing training, so they carry a higher indicative market rate. 

From 10 August 2026, indicative market rates will increase. For example: 

*   Everyday Living services Monday to Friday: from **$62.00 to $65.00** per hour, a 4.84% increase 
*   Independence services Monday to Friday: from **$65.00 to $68.00** per hour, a 4.62% increase 

A full list of indicative market rates is included in the link sent by email. 

**Privately funded services** 

Some Members pay privately because they don't have government funding, or need services beyond what their funding covers. From 10 August 2026, indicative market rates for privately funded services will also increase. For example: 

*   Private services Monday to Friday: **$62.00 to $65.00** per hour, a 4.84% increase 

**Member transport (if you're approved to drive Members)** 

Under Support at Home, Member transport is no longer paid separately per kilometre — it's now included in the service price. We've used this change to simplify how transport is priced across both Support at Home and privately funded services. 

If you're approved to provide services involving driving a Member, the form will ask you to review rates for: 

**Driving and Community Access and Shopping Assistance** A transport inclusion is added to your hourly rate. You'll set three per-visit rates: 

*   Local trip: up to 20km
*   Regional trip: 20–40km
*   Extended trip: over 40km

These indicative rates are based on the average hourly transport cost across all Helpers over the last 60 days. You can accept them or set your own. 

**Direct Transport:** A point-to-point trip where you transport a Member to a location, charged per visit (not per hour). You'll set the same three per-visit rates (local / regional / extended), calculated to reflect your time and vehicle running costs. You can accept them or set your own. 

If you don't provide driving services, simply select "No" in the form and skip this section. 

**Please accept or set your rates by 3 August** 

If you don't review and confirm your rates by this date, we will: 

*   Assumeyou've accepted the new indicative market rates, including Member transport; or
*   If you've already set your own rates, different from the current indicative market rate, assume this has been agreed with your Member and make no changes

Either way, your rates will be applied to your profile and Member contracts from **10 August 2026**. 

**Everyday Living**

**FGF Member pricing**

**Helper indicative**   
**market** **rate**

**Platform Fee**

**Helper Net**

**M-F**

 $105.00 /hr

 $65.00 /hr

 $13.00 /hr

 $52.00 /hr

**SATURDAY**

 $137.00 /hr

 $96.50 /hr

 $19.30 /hr

 $77.20 /hr

**SUNDAY**

 $184.00 /hr

 $128.50/ hr

 $25.70 /hr

 $102.80 /hr

**Public Holiday**

 $230.00 /hr

 $161.00 /hr

 $32.20/ hr

 $128.80 /hr

##   

**Independence**

**FGF Member pricing**

Helper indicative   
market rate

**Platform Fee**

**Helper Net**

**M-F**

 $117.00 /hr

 $68.00 /hr

 $13.60 /hr

 $54.40 /hr

**SATURDAY**

 $155.00 /hr

 $100.00 /hr

 $20.00 /hr

 $80.00 /hr

**SUNDAY**

 $205.00 /hr

 $135.75 /hr

 $26.55 /hr

 $106.20 /hr

**Public Holiday**

 $255.00 /hr

 $166.00/ hr

 $33.20/ hr

 $132.80 /hr

  

**Important information** 

*   The rates you accept or set will become your default rates from 10 August 2026. You can update them again at any time after this date.
*   Under Support at Home, some Members are required to contribute to the cost of their services. Depending on the service classification and their financial situation, their personal contribution may range from 5% to 80%. You may want to factor this in when setting your rates —it's also been considered in the indicative market rate.
*   We may contact you if we have questions about a rate you've set.
*   Indicative market rates include the Five Good Friends platform fee.
*   NDIS rates are not included in this process —we'llwrite to you separately about this.

**Helping Helpers** 

We know you have choices about where you apply your skills, and we want Five Good Friends to be a great place to build your business. The platform fee goes toward: 

1.  **Tailored matches**— connecting you with Members who suit your location, availability, qualifications, experience, and personality.
2.  **Training and development**— free, ongoing opportunities to build your skills and grow your business.
3.  **Technology that simplifies your work**— scheduling, billing, Member communication, and payments, so you can focus on providing great care and support.

**Need help?** 

Call our Customer Service team on **1300 787 581, option 3**, or email [helper@fivegoodfriends.com.au](mailto:helper@fivegoodfriends.com.au). 

  

  

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