How we renovated Mum's bathroom for $28,000
Under the old Home Care Packages system, we used local trades and kept careful records. The job came in under budget. Here's what we did and which lessons still apply now that approvals come first.
By Colin Dixon, 22 October 2026. Facts checked 22/10/2026 against the sources listed at the end. For clients and families. About 4 minutes to read.
In short
Before the November 2025 changes, an occupational therapist's report led to approval in principle for a $30,000 bathroom budget for Mum. I hired a local carpenter, plumber and electrician separately, bought the materials myself and kept every record. It came to about $28,000 and was reimbursed. That was our experience under the old system, not a typical result and not a way around today's rules: under Support at Home, get approval before work starts.
This is a story about the old system. It isn’t advice to skip approvals today. Under Support at Home, home modifications go through the provider, who arranges the occupational therapist’s assessment, gets your agreement and coordinates the work (My Aged Care: AT-HM scheme). Get it approved first.
What happened
Mum needed a bathroom she could use safely. Under the Home Care Packages system, before the changes in November 2025, an occupational therapist assessed her and wrote a report. It cost about $1,000, and it was worth every cent, because it led to approval in principle for a bathroom budget of $30,000. If you’re in a country town without an OT nearby, I’ve written about finding one by video.
A builder gave us a verbal estimate of $60,000 to $70,000. That didn’t seem right for what the report asked for, so I did it differently. I hired a local carpenter, plumber and electrician separately, bought the materials myself, worked from their estimates and kept a record of everything. The job came in at about $28,000 and was eventually reimbursed.
That’s our experience, not a promise. We had local trades who were willing, time to coordinate them, and someone (me) happy to chase paperwork. Plenty of families won’t have all three, and a builder’s price includes managing the job, which is real work.
What still applies
Get an OT’s assessment early, because everything follows from it. Ask for written quotes and keep them. The department’s claiming guidance says providers can submit one or more quotes for home modifications when they claim, and can claim progress payments over time (provider training: claiming). Keep every invoice and receipt, and photos before and after. And put your agreement with the provider in writing before anyone picks up a tool.
If you’re managing a parent’s care, the guides on Support at Home in plain English and self-managing explain where your provider fits.
Your experience
Have you done home modifications under Support at Home, or under the old system? I’d like to hear what worked and what didn’t, wherever you are in Australia. Get in touch.