# Holiday planning for Helpers: how to maintain care for your Members

> With the holiday season just around the corner we encourage Helpers and Members to start talking to one another about their plans     It is a busy tim

Source: https://helper-support.fivegoodfriends.com.au/en_us/holiday-season-planning-with-your-members-S1haxQxuo

Last updated: 2026-10-26T01:02:05.567Z

Holidays—whether it’s the festive season, school holidays, or long weekends—are an important time to relax, recharge, and enjoy moments with family and friends. But for those who rely on in-home care, ensuring continuity of service during these periods is equally important.

Whether your Member is going away, you need to take time off, or you have extra availability, planning ahead is essential to make sure Members continue receiving the care they need, no matter the time of year. This guide will help you navigate the holidays and school breaks with confidence and care.

## Key considerations for holiday planning

Here are some essential questions to guide you through planning care during any holiday or break:

1.  **What are my Member's plans?** Have I had a conversation with my Member or their Authorised Representative about their holiday plans?
2.  **Do additional visits need to be scheduled?** Will my Member require more support during this time for things like extra shopping, companionship, or outings?
3.  **Can visits be rescheduled?** Does my Member want to adjust the timing of their regular visits during the holiday season?
4.  **Am I taking time off?** If so, have I informed my Member in advance and discussed alternatives with them?
5.  **Do I need to arrange a substitute Helper?** If I’m unavailable, would my Member prefer another Helper to step in, or should the visit be rescheduled?
6.  **Am I available for additional work?** Can I offer extra hours during the holiday season or school holidays to assist with increased demand?
7.  **Will my rates change for public holidays?** If there are public holidays involved, should I discuss rate adjustments with my Members?

Addressing these questions early helps ensure you and your Member are prepared, minimising any last-minute stress and allowing for smooth care transitions.

## Discuss Member plans

Before finalising any holiday plans, it's important to discuss your Member's needs and preferences. This ensures that both you and your Member are on the same page about what care is required during the holiday period. Here’s the process to follow:

1.  **Have a conversation with your Member or their Authorised Representative:** Make sure you understand their holiday plans, any changes to their usual schedule, or if they have additional care needs during this time.
2.  **Review existing care plans:** Discuss whether adjustments are needed for additional visits, reduced care, or altered schedules. 
3.  **Adjust where required:** If your Member’s needs change or you are taking time off and need to cancel or reschedule visits, following the process below. 

Clear, early communication with your Members and their Authorised Representatives is the key to successful holiday planning. Some Members may not regularly check the app for updates, so make sure to follow up with a call or text to confirm any changes in schedules. This will help you maintain continuity of care and avoid any last-minute scrambling.

## Options for managing holiday or school break visits

When you or your Member need to adjust care schedules during holidays or school breaks, here are a few options to consider:

### 1\. Reschedule the visit

If the visit isn’t tied to critical services (such as medication assistance or personal care), work with your Member to reschedule the visit to another day. For instance, if your Member requires meal prep or housekeeping, you could arrange to visit earlier or later than usual based on mutual convenience. Rescheduling allows flexibility for both parties while ensuring the Member's needs are met. 

Learn how to add, move or cancel a Member visit [here](https://helper-support.fivegoodfriends.com.au/en_us/who-helps-the-helper-SkSXKHYGs).  Please ensure clear notes are added to the Cancellation Notes for any canceled visits.

### 2\. Arrange a substitute Helper

If the visit is essential and can't be rescheduled, consider arranging for another Helper from the Member’s care team to cover. You can check the app for the Member’s Primary Helpers and coordinate directly with them. Be sure to inform the Member or their Authorised Representative and update the app with the new arrangement. If you’re unable to make changes in the app, your Helper Coordinator can assist with updating schedules.

### 3\. Contact your Helper Coordinator

If finding a substitute isn’t possible within your Member’s care team, reach out to your Helper Coordinator. It's important to do this well in advance to allow time for arranging suitable cover, particularly during busy holiday periods. If urgent changes are required outside of business hours, contact the Oncall team at 1300 787 581 for assistance.

## Ensuring continuity of essential services

For Members who rely on essential services like medication assistance, personal care, or daily health check-ins, continuity is important during any holiday period. If these services cannot be skipped or rescheduled, it’s essential to organise substitute Helpers or work with your Helper Coordinator to ensure uninterrupted care.

Companionship can also be an essential part of the service you provide, especially during holidays when some Members may feel lonely or isolated. If you’re unavailable, ensuring that someone familiar can step in is often appreciated by both Members and their families.

## Public holiday rates and adjustments

As an independent contractor working on the Five Good Friends platform, you can determine the rates you charge for the Members you support. If public holidays during the holiday period involve rate changes, it is essential that you discuss this with your Member or Authorised Representative first. 

If the Member is comfortable with the agreed rate, inform your Helper Coordinator so it can be manually adjusted it in your roster. All changes must be completed before your visit, as rates cannot be adjusted afterwards.

Five Good Friends provides guidance on recommended Helper rates for various services, which you can use to guide your discussions. View aged care Helper indicative market rates [here](https://helper-support.fivegoodfriends.com.au/en_us/recommended-hourly-rate-raise-what-it-means-for-helpers-rJze6MD0).

## Extra availability during holiday periods

For Helpers with additional time during holiday seasons or school breaks, consider offering your services to more Members or taking on extra visits. Some Members may need more frequent visits during holiday periods, either for care or to ease loneliness. Contact Five Good Friends to let them know about your availability, and they can help you connect with Members in need.

## Support from Five Good Friends

During holiday periods, Five Good Friends continues operating to ensure Members are well-cared for. Though office hours may vary on public holidays, our Oncall service remains available for urgent matters. Helpers should aim to finalise any changes or adjustments well before busy periods, to ensure that both your schedule and the Members’ needs are well-organised.

If you have questions or need support, our Customer Support Team is here to help. You can reach them at 1300 787 581 or email [helper@fivegoodfriends.com.au](mailto:helper@fivegoodfriends.com.au).