Commonwealth Home Support Programme: entry-level home care for older Australians

What the CHSP is

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is an Australian Government-funded program that provides entry-level support services to help older Australians remain living independently at home. It is designed for people who need some help with everyday tasks — not intensive daily care — and who are not yet at the level of need that requires a Home Care Package (HCP).

The CHSP and Home Care Packages are the two main in-home aged care programs. The CHSP is simpler to access (no lengthy assessment wait) and covers a range of practical services.

Who can access the CHSP

Age eligibility:

• Generally aged 65 years or older (or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who tend to experience age-related decline at younger ages).
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are aged 50 or older may also be eligible in some circumstances.

Needs-based: you must need help with daily activities to remain living at home safely. A formal assessment confirms this — there is no financial means test for CHSP.

Referral pathway: you do not need a GP referral to start the process. Contact My Aged Care (the national entry point for aged care) and they will arrange a screening call to determine whether an assessment is needed.

What services the CHSP covers

CHSP services are delivered by approved local providers (not-for-profit organisations, councils and private providers). Services typically available include:

• Domestic assistance: help with cleaning, laundry and household tasks.
• Personal care: help with showering, dressing and grooming.
• Home maintenance: minor repairs, safety modifications (grab rails, non-slip mats) and garden maintenance.
• Transport: help getting to medical appointments, shopping or community activities.
• Meals: delivered meals or help with meal preparation.
• Allied health: physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy and dietetics through community programs.
• Social support: group activities, social outings and volunteer visiting programs to reduce isolation.
• Respite care: short-term care to give family carers a break.

Not every provider offers every service — availability varies by region.

How to access the CHSP

1. Contact My Aged Care: call 1800 200 422 (free, Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au.
2. Screening: a My Aged Care staff member conducts a brief phone screening to understand your situation and confirm eligibility for an assessment.
3. Assessment: a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessor visits your home (or conducts a video or phone assessment if needed) to identify your support needs and goals. The assessment is free.
4. Service referral: if CHSP is appropriate, the assessor refers you to approved providers in your area.
5. Start services: you contact the approved provider to arrange services and agree on scheduling and any client contribution you will pay.

Costs and client contributions

The Australian Government subsidises CHSP services substantially. Recipients are expected to contribute what they reasonably can afford — contributions are set by each provider within government guidelines and are typically modest (for example, $10–$20 for a domestic assistance visit).

No one is denied CHSP services solely because they cannot afford the client contribution — providers must have a process for hardship cases.

When to consider a Home Care Package instead

If your needs are more complex or require frequent daily support, a Home Care Package (HCP) may be more appropriate. HCPs are individually budgeted packages (Level 1–4, with Level 4 for the highest needs) and provide substantially more funding than CHSP. However, waitlists for HCPs — especially at higher levels — can be long.

The My Aged Care assessor will advise whether CHSP or an HCP assessment is the right pathway given your circumstances. It is also possible to receive CHSP services while waiting for an HCP to be assigned.