Residential Fees
Our aged care homes have several costs, and it can be challenging to understand how they impact your finances. How much you pay for aged care support depends on the type of help you need, your financial situation, and the services you receive.
All our residents are required to pay a basic daily fee. If you are eligible to be in one of our residential care facilities, you may have to pay
• a basic daily fee, or
• a basic daily fee and accommodation costs, or
• a basic daily fee and a means-tested care fee and accommodation costs.
Current Basic Daily Care Fee = $68.93 per day
MPIR = 8.51%
This fee helps cover day-to-day expenses, including meals, cleaning, facilities management, and laundry. Everyone is expected to pay a basic daily fee to cover these services. The basic daily fee is set at 85% of the single person rate of the basic age pension and is indexed by the government on 20 March and 20 September each year. Prices are published on the Department of Health website.
You pay your basic daily fee directly to your aged care home, generally fortnightly or monthly. The fee applies every day you are a resident, including days when you might be away overnight, for example, on holiday or in hospital.
What is a RAD / DAP?
You may have heard the term before but not be sure what it means. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to make an accommodation payment. The RAD and the DAP are the two ways to pay for this.
The Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) is a lump sum payment that is fully refundable when the room is vacated.
The Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) is a non-refundable daily payment. This payment is based on the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate) set quarterly by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The current MPIR is 8.51%.
You may also pay a combination of RAD and DAP, for example, a part lump sum payment and part daily payment.
RAD and DAP
Facilities | RAD | DAP Equiv |
|---|---|---|
| Archbishop Goody | 360,000 | $83.93 |
| Castledare | 675,000 | $157.38 |
| 785,000 | $183.02 | |
| Ocean Star | 450,000 | $104.91 |
| Sister Mary Glowrey | 725,000 | $169.03 |
| 785,000 | $183.02 | |
| St Vincent’s | 725,000 | $169.03 |
| 785,000 | $183.02 | |
| 800,000 | $186.52 | |
| 900,000 | $209.84 | |
| Trinity Village | 750,000 | $174.86 |
Service Fees
We want you to feel at home, so we offer several additional services across our residential care homes.
Depending on the home you choose, we can provide you with information on the additional services we can offer and their associated costs. You will only be charged for the extra services you choose.
Financial Hardship Assistance
Financial Hardship Assistance is available if you have difficulty paying fees for residential aged care. To apply, complete and lodge the Department of Human Services Application for financial hardship assistance form.
Contact Us
Do the fees still seem unreasonable? Please feel free to call and discuss your options with us today.
Age Care Costs Explained
Means-tested care fee
The Australian government pays for the cost of care in an aged care home. Depending on your income and assets, you may be asked to contribute to this cost in the form of a fee, which is in addition to the Basic Daily Care fee.
Not everyone will have to pay a means-tested care fee. The exact amount you will pay is determined through a means assessment.
The means-tested care fee is an ongoing fee that covers the cost of personal and clinical care. Personal care can include help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and going to the toilet. Clinical care includes specialised nursing services, medication assistance, or catheter care.
Means-tested contributions from 1 November 2025
For most people who first enter permanent residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025, the 1 November 2025 fee arrangements apply. Under these arrangements, the previous means-tested care fee has been replaced by two separate means-tested contributions: the hotelling contribution and the non-clinical care contribution.
However, some people entering residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025 may be protected by the Australian Government’s “no worse off” principle and continue to pay fees under the 1 July 2014 arrangements, including the means-tested care fee. This includes people who were approved for or receiving a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024, unless they choose to opt in to the newer arrangements.
Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will advise which arrangements apply to you.
Completing a means assessment
It is important to complete a means assessment so that your correct aged care contributions and accommodation costs can be calculated.
For most people, the assessment is completed by Services Australia. If you receive a means-tested payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the assessment will generally be completed by the Department.
Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may already hold some of your financial information. Depending on your circumstances, you may still need to provide or update details about your income, assets or property.
If you choose not to provide the required income and asset information, you may be required to pay the maximum applicable residential aged care contribution rates and accommodation costs.
Hotelling contribution
The hotelling contribution is an additional contribution towards everyday living services such as meals, cleaning, laundry and utilities.
The amount you pay, if any, depends on your income and assets. Some residents will not need to pay this contribution, while others may pay part or all of the maximum amount.
Non-clinical care contribution
If your means assessment determines that you can pay the full hotelling contribution, you may also be required to pay a non-clinical care contribution.
This contribution helps cover personal and non-clinical care, such as assistance with bathing, mobility and lifestyle activities. Under the 1 November 2025 arrangements, clinical care is fully funded by the Australian Government.
The non-clinical care contribution is subject to time and lifetime limits. You will stop paying it once you reach the applicable lifetime cap or have paid the contribution for a cumulative total of four years, whichever occurs first.
Contributions previously paid through Support at Home, as well as certain care fees paid under earlier aged care arrangements, may count towards the lifetime dollar cap. However, they do not count towards the four-year time limit.
Contribution rates, thresholds and limits are indexed by the Australian Government. Your Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs fee advice letter will confirm the amounts that apply to you.
Annual and lifetime caps
There are annual and lifetime caps on means-tested care fees. The maximum we, as an aged care home, can charge you is:
• $35.910.43 per year, or
• $86,185.23 in a lifetime.
Please note: There may be a delay before accommodation price updates submitted to My Aged Care appear online. Please contact Catholic Homes to confirm the current published Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and corresponding Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) for your preferred room.
Residential Home Aged Care Services FAQs
Who is eligible for residential aged care?
Also known as nursing homes, aged care hostels or supported living facilities, are for older people who are not able to reside safely in their own home and need greater assistance with daily tasks or their health care.
How do I find out if I am eligible?
The easiest way to start the process is to register with My Aged Care, Australia’s entryway to government-subsidised aged care services.
You can apply online at myagedcaregov.au or call the contact centre on 1800 200 422. Or call our friendly team on 1300 244 111.
How do I apply for aged care in a nursing home?
All government-subsidised residential aged care services are subject to an assessment to determine your eligibility so that the services you choose meet your requirements and provide the kinds of support you need.
What does the application involve?
During the initial chat with My Aged Care, they will need some basic information to help determine your eligibility for aged care services.
You’ll need to provide your Medicare details and they will also ask about your circumstances at home, how you are managing and how your health is. You’ll also be asked if you are currently receiving any support, such as home care.
Once your eligibility is confirmed, My Aged Care will arrange to meet with you for a face-to-face assessment.