The introduction of Higher Everyday Living Fees (HELF) from 1 November 2025 represents a significant shift in how optional services are structured, priced and delivered in residential aged care, replacing the former Extra Service Fee and Additional Service Fee arrangements. While transitional provisions allowing legacy agreements to continue until 31 October 2026 have provided some continuity, the sector is now operating within a materially different consumer choice and regulatory framework.

The HELF model appropriately reinforces individual choice by enabling residents to opt into higher-level or supplementary services that sit above the Residential Care Service List, while maintaining the core principle that all funded services must continue to meet the Aged Care Quality Standards and the Statement of Rights. CHA supports this policy intent. However, the practical implementation of HELF has introduced notable operational and behavioural complexity, particularly given the requirement that HELF agreements can only be entered into once a resident is already in care and the need to manage both standing and ad hoc agreements concurrently.