HomeKit in Australia: Which Smart Home Accessories You Can Use with Apple Home
Which smart home accessories work with Apple Home in Australia? See the types you can buy, what Matter means, when you need a home hub and an electrician.
Apple’s Home app can control far more than lights. Locks, blinds, power points, air conditioners and sensors all work with it, and choosing them is much simpler than it used to be. This guide covers the types of accessory you can use in an Australian home and what to check before you buy.
What Matter means
Most new smart home accessories now use a shared standard called Matter. A Matter accessory works with the Apple Home app, as well as with Google and Amazon, so you are not locked into one brand. When you shop, look for the Matter logo or “Works with Apple Home” on the box.
Types of accessory you can use
The Home app supports Matter lights and smart globes, smart plugs and power points, light switches, door locks, blinds and shades, and thermostats and air conditioners. It also supports sensors for motion, light, doors and windows, temperature and humidity, and bridges, which connect a brand’s existing accessories to the Home app.
Cameras, doorbells and other accessories that use Apple’s own HomeKit system also work, as long as they say “Works with Apple Home”.
Where to start
Smart plugs and smart globes are the easiest place to start. They need no wiring, set up in minutes and let you try automations such as lights that come on at sunset. Motion and door sensors are a good next step, because they can turn lights on and off for you.
When you need an electrician
In Australia, anything wired into your home’s electrics must be installed by a licensed electrician. That includes smart light switches, wired power points and many blind motors. Plug-in accessories and battery-powered ones, such as globes, plugs, sensors and most smart locks, you can set up yourself.
Buy accessories made for Australian power and sold by Australian retailers, so they fit our plugs and fittings.
Do you need a home hub?
With an iPhone on iOS 18 or later, you can add and control many Matter accessories without a hub. A home hub is still worth having. It keeps automations running when you are away from home and lets you control your home remotely.
Accessories that use a wireless network called Thread need a Thread-capable hub, such as an Apple TV 4K or HomePod mini. Our guides to the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 cover the latest options, and our Welcome Home overview explains how they fit together.
Need a hand?
If you would like help planning or setting up a smart home that works reliably, see our Smart Home & Family Safety service, or contact Your Mac Tech.
