1. Get an assessment. Before someone can move into residential aged care, they need to be assessed as eligible. Start by contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or at myagedcare.gov.au. An assessor will talk with you about the care that's needed. In an urgent situation - for example, a hospital discharge - let the hospital or My Aged Care know it's urgent, as assessments can be prioritised.
2. Get a means assessment (do this early). Services Australia (or the Department of Veterans' Affairs for some veterans) looks at income and assets to work out how much, if anything, you'll be asked to contribute. It's worth lodging this as early as possible - even before choosing a home - so there are no surprises.
3. Find and compare homes. Look at location, the type of care needed, room options and cost, and each home's Star Rating on My Aged Care. Visit in person if you can - you're welcome to book a no-obligation tour with us.
4. Get financial advice. Some decisions (like how to pay for accommodation, or whether to keep or sell a home) are significant and not always easy to reverse. A licensed financial adviser who specialises in aged care can save you money and stress.
5. Move in. When you're ready, you'll sign an agreement that sets out the care, the services and the costs. We'll guide you through every step.

Most people pay some fees, but the government funds most aged care costs, and there are legal caps and safety nets so costs can't run away. What you pay depends on your income and assets, as assessed by Services Australia.

There are up to four ongoing fees, plus the cost of your room.

1. Basic daily fee - everyone pays this. Covers everyday living: meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling. It's set by the government at 85% of the single Age Pension - $68.93 a day as at 20 September 2026 - and everyone in permanent care pays it.
2. Hotelling contribution - some people pay this. An extra means-tested contribution toward those same everyday living services. If your income and assets are above the thresholds, you may pay up to $22.15 a day. Lower-means residents don't pay it.
3. Non-clinical care contribution - some people pay this. A means-tested contribution toward personal care such as help with bathing, dressing and getting around. It's capped at a set daily amount (around $107 a day), and there are two further protections: a lifetime cap (around $137,900) and a four-year limit - after four years of paying it, it stops, even if you haven't reached the lifetime cap. Lower-means residents may pay nothing.
4. Higher everyday living fee - optional. Only if you choose extra services or premium options beyond what the home must provide. You'll always be told the cost up front, and it's your choice.

Important: The actual nursing and clinical care - the medical side, delivered by nurses and allied health staff - is fully funded by the government. You don't pay for that.

Your room is charged separately, and you choose how to pay. Services Australia's assessment tells you whether you'll pay the full cost yourself, pay a part amount with government help, or have your accommodation fully covered by the government. (If the government helps with your accommodation, the amounts are called a Refundable Accommodation Contribution (RAC) and Daily Accommodation Contribution (DAC), rather than a RAD and DAP — but they work the same way.)

1. A refundable lump sum (RAD — Refundable Accommodation Deposit). You pay the room price up front. The balance is guaranteed by the government if a provider ever couldn't repay it. Providers deduct a small retention amount of 2% of the balance each year, for up to five years. This means up to 10% of the deposit is not refunded over a five-year stay; the rest is refunded when you leave.
2. A daily payment (DAP — Daily Accommodation Payment). Instead of a lump sum, you pay a daily amount, worked out using a government-set interest rate. This is like rent and is not refundable. (No 2% retention applies to daily payments.)
3. A combination of both. Many people pay part as a lump sum and the rest as a daily payment. You can start with daily payments and pay a lump sum later if you wish.

There's no single "right" answer — it depends on your circumstances, which is why financial advice can be so helpful.

• My Aged Care — myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422 — for current fee rates, the fee estimator, and Star Ratings.
• A licensed financial adviser — for advice tailored to your situation.
• We can walk you through the options, arrange a tour, and answer your questions with no obligation. Contact us

Respite is a short stay in residential care - for example, to give a family carer a break, or for extra support while recovering after a hospital stay. The good news is that respite is much simpler and more affordable than moving in permanently.

• Just the basic daily fee - $68.93 a day as at 20 September 2026. For most people, that's the only cost.
• No room deposit. You don't pay a RAD or a daily accommodation payment for respite, so there's no 2% retention to think about - the government helps cover your accommodation instead.
• No means-tested contributions and no means assessment. You don't pay the hotelling contribution or the non-clinical care contribution for a respite stay, so there's no income-and-assets assessment needed just to arrange it.
• Optional extras only. The only additional cost is a higher everyday living fee, and only if you choose extra services beyond what's included.

Disclaimer: Respite fee rules are set by the government and can change. Please confirm current amounts and your respite day allocation with My Aged Care or ask our team.

You'll need an approval for residential respite from an aged care assessor — start with My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or myagedcare.gov.au. There's a yearly limit on government-subsidised respite days (generally 63 days per financial year, which can be extended with assessment). We're happy to help you understand what's available and arrange a stay. Contact us

Your TV and Wi-Fi are included at no extra cost. No bundles. No lock-in. You only ever pay for an extra if you choose one.

At Harbison, the essentials of everyday life are covered by your care and your room. If you'd ever like an occasional extra or a premium touch, that's entirely your choice — and you'll never be charged for something you didn't ask for.

Your television and Wi-Fi are part of your room and included in your room price. There are no extra fees for either. Staying connected - the news, your favourite shows, the footy, a video call with the grandkids - is part of everyday life, not a premium add-on.

Disclaimer: we include Wi-Fi in your room price. Internet speed and reliability depend on the national broadband network (NBN) and other factors outside our control, so we can't guarantee internet performance or availability at all times.

Your essential care and everyday living services are always provided, whether or not you ever choose an extra - including nutritious meals, snacks and drinks, toiletries, heating and cooling, cleaning, and your clinical and personal care, all delivered to the Aged Care Quality Standards.

Some providers ask residents to sign up to ongoing packages or "bundles" of extra services. We don't. At Harbison, any extra is one-off and pay-as-you-go: you choose it if and when you want it, we tell you the price first, and you only pay for what you actually use. No standing agreement to sign, no lock-in, and no bundle you have to accept just to get the one thing you wanted. If you never want an extra, you'll never pay for one.

Optional extras might include a coffee or treat from our café, hairdressing, a special outing, or a premium dining option. You'll always see the cost beforehand - it's your choice, every time.

Unfortunately we can’t provide a definitive timeline as it varies and is dependent on when a suitable room becomes available.

Of course. Residents are encouraged to bring personal items to make their room feel like home, as long as they comply with our rules and aren’t hazardous.

Yes, our friendly team are here to support you. We’d be delighted to give you a no-obligation tour of our villages and show you what we have to offer in person.