Costs & Fees

Understanding Aged Care Fees

Moving into aged care is a significant financial decision. The Australian Government subsidises and regulates aged care costs, with the amount you pay depending on your financial situation.

To understand your individual circumstances, we recommend:

  • Contacting the Services Australia Financial Information Service on 132 300
  • Visiting My Aged Care at myagedcare.gov.au or calling 1800 200 422
  • Seeking guidance from an independent financial adviser

While we cannot provide financial advice, our team is here to guide you through the steps of entering our home. Please call us on 1300 629 273 for a confidential, obligation-free conversation.

Types of Fees

There are two main types of fees when entering Residential Aged Care:

  1. Care Fees – contribute to your day-to-day living and car
  2. Accommodation Payments – cover the cost of your room

Care Fees

Care fees include three components:

1. Basic Daily Fee

  • Covers meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling
  • Set by the Government at 85% of the basic single aged pension
  • Current rate: $65.55 per day (paid by all residents)

2. Hotelling Supplement Contribution (HSC)

  • Helps fund everyday living costs in addition to the Basic Daily Fee
  • Means-tested by Services Australia based on your income and assets
  • Maximum contribution: $22.15 per day (indexed in March & September)

3. Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC)

  • An additional means-tested contribution towards the cost of care
  • Daily cap: $105.30
  • Lifetime cap: $135,318.69 (or four years of contributions, whichever comes first)
  • Once the cap is reached, this contribution ceases

If you were approved for or receiving a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you remain protected under earlier fee arrangements.

Accommodation Payments

Accommodation costs vary depending on room type and standard, and are separate from the care you receive. Depending on your financial circumstances, these costs may be subsidised by the Government.

You can choose from four payment options:

1. Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)

  • A one-off lump sum, fully refundable when you leave care
  • From 1 November 2025, providers may retain 2% per year for up to 5 years

2. Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)

  • A rental-style daily payment, charged monthly
  • Prior to 1 November 2025, calculated using the Government’s Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)
  • From 1 November 2025, indexed to inflation (CPI) twice yearly
  • Not refundable at the end of care

3. Combination Payment

  • Split your costs between a RAD and a DAP
  • You can increase your RAD at any time, which reduces your DAP

4. Drawdown Option

  • Paying a partial RAD (Refundable Accommodation Deposit) reduces the daily accommodation cost. The paid RAD amount can also be drawn down to help fund the ongoing DAP (Daily Accommodation Payment)

You have 28 days after entering care to decide your preferred payment method.
A DAP is charged until your RAD is paid in full.

For an estimate of your Accommodation Costs, try our Accommodation Calculator.

Room Pricing

Room prices for all Nazareth Care homes are available in the Locations section of our website or in our downloadable Room Pricing and Fee Schedule.

We’re Here to Help

Choosing aged care can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team is here to explain your options, answer questions, and support you at every step.

📞 Call us on 1300 NAZARETH (1300 629 273) to arrange a personal tour or to discuss how we can help.

“We did have many incidents where we walked in unannounced and came up behind staff attending to our father in a loving, caring and respectful manner. Always treated with patience and kindness.”
- daughter of Wynnum resident