The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will continue until 30 June 2029. It will remain separate from Support at Home while the Australian Government consults on CHSP’s long-term future.
Key Takeaways
- The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) funding will continue until 30 June 2029.
- CHSP will remain separate from Support at Home.
- Existing CHSP services will continue during this period.
- Government consultation on CHSP’s future will begin later in the year.
- Council and provider contracts will continue without interruption until 2029.
What Has Changed for CHSP?
The government has extended Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) funding for another 2 years, from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2029. This replaces the previous plan for CHSP to move into Support at Home from July 2027.
CHSP provides entry-level aged care services. This can include help with cleaning, meals, transport, shopping, personal care and social activities.
If your or your loved one already receive CHSP services, the immediate position is simple: services will continue. You do not need to move to Support at Home (SaH) because of this announcement.
Why CHSP Will Stay Separate
CHSP and Support at Home serve different needs. CHSP suits people who need a small amount of practical help. Support at Home suits people with more complex or ongoing care needs.
CHSP relies on block funding. In practical terms, this means the government funds service organisations directly, rather than giving each person an individual care budget. That upfront funding keeps community kitchens running, transport buses on the road and local services available across an entire area
The government says block-funded, community-based CHSP services do work that Support at Home was not designed to do. Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said these services can help people stay well and independent before they need more intensive support.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said CHSP and Support at Home use different capabilities in local communities and meet different needs. He cited the risk that merging CHSP into an individualised funding program could weaken community organisations such as Meals on Wheels.
Almost 40% of CHSP clients live outside Australia’s major cities. In many regional, rural and remote communities, a council or community provider may be the only local option.
What This Means for You
If you already use CHSP, you can continue receiving your current services while the extension is in place. The announcement does not change your current CHSP arrangements.
CHSP remains an entry-level program. It is generally for people who need help with one or two aged care services, rather than coordinated or intensive care.
If your needs have increased, you may need an aged care assessment for Support at Home. An assessment can determine whether you are approved for ongoing Support at Home services and funding.
An existing CHSP client can generally keep receiving approved CHSP services as an interim measure while waiting for their Support at Home budget to be allocated. Once Support at Home funding starts, ongoing CHSP access is limited to specific services. These include an existing social support group, respite and hoarding and squalor assistance. It is not automatic continuation of every CHSP service.
If you need… | The relevant program may be… |
Help with a small number of everyday tasks | |
Ongoing, coordinated help at home | |
More support than your current CHSP services provide | |
Help comparing available local providers |
The programs can sit alongside each other in some circumstances. The right pathway depends on your assessment outcome, current services and the help you need at home.
Not sure whether CHSP is enough?
If someone needs more than a small number of CHSP services, Support at Home may be the next pathway to consider.
We can compare available local Support at Home providers and explain the practical options for your situation.
What Happens Next
The extension provides certainty until 30 June 2029. It does not settle every part of CHSP’s long-term design.
The government will begin consultation later in 2026 with providers and older Australians. It has said this work will consider how block funding can continue, how client contributions should work and how CHSP can integrate with Support at Home.
The government has said it intends CHSP to remain a standalone program. Consultation later this year will help determine how the program operates beyond 30 June 2029.
Some sector groups have welcomed the decision while calling for further work on the adequacy of provider contracts. Ageing Australia said some contracts are outdated and may not meet current delivery costs. The Australian Local Government Association said sustainable funding remains especially important in regional, remote and First Nations communities.
For now, the important point is that CHSP remains available. If you use it, or expect to need entry-level help at home, it is not being phased out next year.
Help Choosing Aged Care Services
CHSP and Support at Home are not interchangeable. CHSP can suit someone who needs a small number of services. Support at Home may be more suitable when care needs are regular, coordinated or increasing.
A reassessment can confirm which program is appropriate. It can also approve services that are not available through a current CHSP arrangement.
You may want to consider Support at Home if you need:
- Regular personal care, such as help with showering or dressing
- Nursing or allied health services
- More services than a CHSP provider can offer
- A coordinated plan for ongoing care at home
- Home modifications, equipment or assistive technology
- Help from a provider that can support changing needs
Choosing a provider is a separate decision from getting approved for Support at Home. Providers differ in their availability, service areas, prices, staff and the services they can deliver.
Aged Care Decisions provides a free Options Report for people considering Support at Home, residential aged care or respite care. We compare available providers based on your location, care needs and preferences.
Here’s how Aged Care Decisions’ FREE aged care matching service works:
