Gardening under Support at Home
Basic garden maintenance is funded under Support at Home for participants whose garden has become a safety risk. It sits in the Everyday Living stream alongside cleaning. The intent is to keep paths clear and the yard safe to walk around, not to landscape or beautify.
- Funded under Everyday Living with a participant contribution
- Covers mowing, edging, basic pruning, and clearing trip hazards
- Does not cover landscaping, tree felling, or new planting
- Typical rate runs $70 to $95 per hour depending on region
What gardening under Support at Home covers
- Lawn mowing and edging
- Hedge trimming and basic pruning of shrubs the participant can no longer manage
- Clearing leaves and debris from paths, driveways and steps
- Removing rubbish bin to the kerb on collection days
What it does not cover
- Landscaping, garden design, or paving
- Tree felling, stump removal, or any work requiring an arborist or licence
- New planting or fertilising
- Lawn and garden equipment purchases
How frequency is decided
Garden visits are usually fortnightly or monthly. The care plan sets the schedule based on the participant's safety needs and the property size. Higher classifications (Level 4 and above) have more budget to support more frequent visits if the property is large or the garden becomes a falls risk.
Framing gardening as falls prevention
Overgrown paths, wet leaves on steps, and hidden trip hazards are a common cause of falls at home. It often helps to frame garden maintenance as a safety measure rather than tidiness, both in your own planning and at the care plan review. A safety framing can support a case for more frequent visits when the yard is large or the participant is unsteady.