By Luke Benson. Last reviewed 13 September 2026, against Support at Home program manual V4.4.
An associated provider is a third-party worker or organisation that a registered provider engages to deliver Support at Home services on its behalf. The term is defined in section 10.6 of the program manual and covers subcontractors, labour hire and brokered services.
The key points from the manual:
The registered provider stays responsible. When an associated provider delivers services, the registered provider “remains responsible for ensuring services are delivered in a way that meets the requirements of the Act and the strengthened Quality Standards”. Engaging someone else to do the work does not move the obligation.
Services must come from the service list. Associated providers can be engaged on an ongoing or ad hoc basis, including at a participant’s request for a specific worker, but the services delivered must be drawn from the Support at Home service list.
A supplier is not an associated provider. If an organisation only supplies a product, it is a supplier. It does not deliver an aged care service and is not subject to worker obligations under the Act.
The Commission has to know. Section 10.6.1 requires providers to be able to demonstrate specific arrangements to ensure the quality of service delivery by any associated provider. At registration and renewal, every provider declares its associated provider relationships. Providers in registration categories 4, 5 or 6 must also notify the Commission when an arrangement with an associated provider starts, changes, is extended or ends.
It goes in the care plan. Third-party arrangements should be documented in the participant’s care plan and reviewed regularly.
And under section 10.5, the provider must hold confirmation of delivery for services the associated provider delivers, the same as for its own staff.
How DidYouGo fits. DidYouGo gives you one delivery record across your own workforce and every associated provider, so the evidence looks the same regardless of who did the visit.
