The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) gives older people a small amount of practical help so they can keep living safely at home. It suits someone who manages most things but needs a hand with a few, such as meals, cleaning or getting to appointments. This guide explains what CHSP covers, who it is for, how it differs from Support at Home, and how to get started.
What CHSP is
CHSP is entry-level support at home, funded by the Australian Government. It is built around keeping your independence. Rather than taking tasks over, CHSP services work with you so you can keep doing as much as you can yourself.
Government funding goes to a range of organisations across Australia, which then deliver services at a subsidised price. If you need more than one service, you can use a different provider for each.
Who CHSP is for
According to My Aged Care, to be eligible for CHSP you must be 65 years or older, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged at least 50, or aged at least 50 and homeless or at risk of homelessness.
It is designed for people who are mostly managing but have started to find some tasks harder. If your needs are more complex, the assessment may approve you for Support at Home instead.
What CHSP can help with
CHSP covers a wide range of everyday and practical services. Depending on your assessment, that can include:
- help around the house
- meals
- personal care, such as help with showering, dressing and taking your medication
- transport
- home adjustments
- social support
- nursing and allied health
- planned respite, which gives carers a break
For help around the house, the house cleaning and maintenance category on Provider24 lists businesses that offer it.
CHSP and Support at Home: how they differ
Both programs help older people stay at home, and both start with the same assessment. The difference is how much help you need and how it is organised.
- CHSP is for entry-level help with a few tasks. You can use separate providers for separate services.
- Support at Home is for people who need a coordinated mix of services, often including clinical care. It comes with care management, a classification with funding attached, and short-term pathways for restorative care, end-of-life care and equipment.
The guide to how the Support at Home program works covers the larger program in detail. If you used to hear about CHSP vs a home care package, the comparison is now CHSP vs Support at Home, because Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages.
How to get CHSP services
The steps are straightforward:
- Apply for an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. You can check first whether you are likely to meet the requirements using the online tool.
- Have the assessment, usually at home. The guide to what happens at an aged care assessment explains how to prepare.
- Receive your letter setting out the services you are approved for.
- Choose a provider for each service and arrange a start.
How quickly help starts depends on which providers can offer the service in your area, so it pays to contact more than one.
What you contribute
If you can afford to, you are expected to contribute to the cost of your CHSP services. What you pay depends on the type of support and on the provider, because each provider sets its own prices and contribution policy. Ask each provider for their prices in writing before you agree to a service, and read how CHSP costs work on My Aged Care.
Providers must have a client contribution policy that is publicly available, and any fees are agreed in your service agreement before services start. According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, clients will not be denied services if they are unable to contribute, so tell the provider if paying is a problem.
Is CHSP ending?
Not yet. CHSP continues to run, and the government plans to bring it into Support at Home at a later date. Check health.gov.au for the current timing.
Compare in-home support providers
A shortlist is easier to build when you can see who lists your area. You can start one from the in-home support services listed on Provider24, and providers who list CHSP services specifically appear in the CHSP category. Contact each one directly to ask about the services you are approved for.
This article is general information, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Commonwealth Home Support Program provide?
It provides entry-level help to live at home, such as help around the house, meals, personal care, transport, social support, nursing and allied health, and planned respite. The services you can use depend on what your assessment approves.
What is the difference between a home care package and the Commonwealth Home Support Program?
Home Care Packages have been replaced by Support at Home. CHSP is for people who need a small amount of help with a few tasks. Support at Home is for people with more complex needs who need a coordinated set of services, and it includes care management.
Is the Commonwealth Home Support Program ending?
CHSP is still running. The government plans to move it into Support at Home at a later date, and health.gov.au publishes the current timing.