What it costs
Clear prices, no surprises
Birchmere is private-pay home care: no government funding, and no Support at Home or CHSP services.
What decides the price
The support you choose
The price depends on the kind of support you choose.
The day and time
The price depends on when the visit happens.
Where you live
Your location is part of the price too.
Good to know
You see the full price first
You will always see the full price before you book.
Visits start at two hours
Our visits start at two hours. Our companions are paid a minimum of two hours for every visit, so that is the shortest booking we can offer.
No ongoing contract
No ongoing contract for everyday support. Book a visit, stop whenever you like. A few specialised services, and some locations we travel further for, need a minimum booking period. Where that applies we show it before you book, never after.
A tax invoice every time
We issue a valid tax invoice for each payment. Card payments go through a PCI-DSS compliant provider, and we don't store full card numbers.
How booking and paying work
Booking
Book or change a visit through your account or by phone. A booking is made when we confirm it.
Price
You see the price before you confirm. If you book by phone, we confirm the price in writing.
Paying
You pay when you request a booking, and it's confirmed once payment arrives. Payments go through our payment provider, and we don't keep full card or bank account numbers.
Recurring bookings
A recurring booking continues until you cancel it. It's paid monthly in advance for that month's visits. We tell you at least 5 business days before each debit, with the amount and the visits it covers, and you can withdraw the authority any time.
Tax invoices
We issue a tax invoice for each payment. Every price includes GST.
Prices that stay put
- Fixed once confirmed. The price of a visit doesn't change once the booking is confirmed.
- Never higher because you're in a hurry. We won't put a price up because you urgently need care.
- Notice of any change. For a recurring booking, we give at least 30 days' written notice before a price changes, and you can cancel before it does.
No fees on the side
- No joining, membership, administration, account or exit fee.
- No interest or late fee.
- A companion's travel to your home isn't charged to you.
- If a companion drives you during a visit, a per-kilometre rate shown in your account applies.
- Anything a companion buys for you is reimbursed at cost against a receipt.
Changing or cancelling a visit
Need to change or cancel a visit? That's okay, plans change. Give us two business days' notice and we'll reschedule, or you won't be charged. Inside two business days we charge 60% of the visit, capped at 4 hours. We waive it for hospital admission, illness, death or serious illness in the family, or emergencies.
At least two business days' notice
Cancel or reschedule free.
Inside that
We charge 60% of the visit, capped at 4 hours.
When we waive it
We waive it for hospital admission, illness, death or serious illness in the family, or emergencies.
If we cancel
You're not charged for a visit we cancel, and we'll offer a suitable alternative companion or time wherever we can.
Pausing, ending and changing your mind
Pause any time
You can pause care for any period at no charge, and resume it at no charge.
Cooling off
Within 10 business days of signing, you can end the agreement. You pay only for care already provided, and any balance is refunded within 5 business days.
Ending it
You can end the agreement at any time, with no notice period and no exit fee. If we ever end it, we give you 14 days' written notice and keep providing booked care in that time. On request, we hand your records to you or to your next provider.
Questions about a charge
Ask us about any visit record or charge at any time. We respond within 5 business days.
If English isn't your first language, we'll arrange an interpreter at no cost before you sign.
FAQ
Questions about cost
Prices, paying, minimum visits and cancelling, in plain English.
More questions →What does it cost?
From $120 per hour including GST. The price of each visit depends on the support you choose, the day and time, and where you live. You will always see the full price before you book.
How do I pay?
You pay online when you book. If you book by phone, we send you a payment link so you can pay securely. We issue a valid tax invoice for each payment. Card payments go through a PCI-DSS compliant provider, and we don't store full card numbers.
Is Birchmere government funded?
Birchmere is private-pay. We receive no government funding, and we don't deliver Support at Home or Commonwealth Home Support Programme services.
Is there a minimum booking length?
Our visits start at two hours. Our companions are paid a minimum of two hours for every visit, so that is the shortest booking we can offer.
Do I need to sign a contract?
No ongoing contract for everyday support. Book a visit, stop whenever you like. A few specialised services, and some locations we travel further for, need a minimum booking period. Where that applies we show it before you book, never after.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Need to change or cancel a visit? That's okay, plans change. Give us two business days' notice and we'll reschedule, or you won't be charged. Inside two business days we charge 60% of the visit, capped at 4 hours. We waive it for hospital admission, illness, death or serious illness in the family, or emergencies.
Can I try it before committing?
There's no commitment. Ask your care coordinator to arrange a one-off visit first, and continue only if it feels right.
Want an exact price?
Tell us what would help and where you live, and we'll talk it through. You will always see the full price before you book.
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