The Commonwealth Home Support Program is the nation’s entry-level in-home aged care program. It’s designed for older people who can stay independent with a bit of practical help. Think domestic assistance, meals, transport, personal care, allied health, social support, and respite for carers. Rather than giving people an individual budget, CHSP funds local organisations to deliver specific services in their communities, with clients contributing where they can.
What’s the difference between CHSP and Home Care Packages?
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is designed for people with entry-level care needs. If you’re mostly independent but need help with a few tasks at home like cleaning, shopping, meals, or transport, CHSP may be right for you.
A Home Care Package (HCP) is for people with more complex or ongoing needs. If you need a wider range of services delivered regularly to help you stay at home, an HCP provides a coordinated package of care and support. It goes beyond what CHSP can offer and is tailored to your individual needs.
Why CHSP matters
In 2023–24, around 835,000 older Australians received support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), up from about 816,000 in 2022–23, with CHSP continuing to support around three-fifths of everyone using government-funded aged care.
This scale makes it the front door to aged care and a vital early-intervention platform that helps older people remain independent at home longer. Its role as a bridge service has also grown, with about 19% of referrals coming from people already on the Home Care Package National Priority System waiting list in 2023–24, highlighting how CHSP provides critical support while more complex care arrangements are pending.
How you access it
If you (or a family member) need entry-level support, start at My Aged Care. After a screening, an assessor determines if CHSP is suitable and issues referrals to local providers. Services are usually ongoing, but low-intensity, and client contributions are expected based on ability to pay. For most people, CHSP is a stepping-stone: it keeps you safe and connected while you recover, regain function, or decide if you need a more comprehensive package later.
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What’s changing between 2025 and 2027
Australia is in the middle of a multi-year aged care reform, and CHSP is being adjusted, but not replaced until at least mid-2027.
Extension to 2027: The government has formally extended CHSP funding for two years, from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 to stabilise services while broader reforms roll out. New 2025–27 grant agreements, activity work plans, and updated terms apply to existing providers.
Support at Home: The new Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program from 1 November 2025. CHSP itself will transition later, no earlier than 1 July 2027, so older people can keep using CHSP while the new system beds in.
New Act and regulatory alignment: From late 2025, CHSP providers will be subject to the same regulatory approach as other aged care programs under the new Aged Care Act, including standardised service lists and clearer provider obligations. 1 November 2025 is the key date for these changes to take effect for CHSP.
Reporting and service list changes (from 1 July 2025): From 1 July 2025, the Data Exchange (DEX) reporting for the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will indeed transition to a refreshed CHSP service list, enabling better visibility of what services are delivered, both for providers and government oversight. This update requires CHSP providers to update their systems and map the old service names to the new ones when reporting
Pricing and contributions guidance (2025–27). To create more consistency across regions, the Department has issued national unit price ranges and a national guide to client contributions for the 2025–27 period. This isn’t a rigid price cap; its guidance aimed at transparency and fairness while recognising different service contexts.
What it means for older Australians
- Continuity now, bigger changes later: If you currently receive CHSP, your day-to-day services should continue through to at least 30 June 2027. You won’t be forced into Support at Home this year; instead, the early Support at Home changes target HCP and STRC first (from 1 November 2025). That staggered approach is meant to minimise disruption while the system gets ready for a unified model.
- Clearer language and simpler pathways: The standard service list will make it clearer what support you can get. The focus is still on wellness and reablement working with you, not just for you. Assessors will look at your goals (like mobility, safety, and social participation) and may suggest short, targeted allied health support where it helps you stay independent.
- Contributions that make sense: The national guidance on fees aims to reduce postcode pricing surprises. Providers should explain contributions up front and consider your capacity to pay; hardship arrangements remain part of the policy intent.
The Road to Support at Home
Although CHSP won’t transition until no earlier than 1 July 2027, the building blocks are being laid now: a single, clearer service list, more comparable pricing, consistent reporting, and tighter regulatory alignment.
The Department’s 2025–27 CHSP Manual captures these changes and gathers the practical details providers need on inclusions, exclusions, client contributions, compliance, and contacts. In short: steady the base, then move when the rest of in-home care is ready.
CHSP remains the backbone of entry-level support at home in Australia. Over 2025–27, it will look and feel more consistent and more closely aligned with the future Support at Home model without forcing current clients into a sudden switch. For older Australians, that means continuity with clearer information and fairer contribution guidance. For providers, it means new agreements, tighter reporting, and preparation for a staged transition. Keep an eye on official updates and sector briefings, but the message is simple: CHSP is still here, doing the everyday work that keeps people safe, well, and connected, while the next chapter of in-home care takes shape.
Our team at Aged Care Decisions is here to support you as you transition through some of the biggest changes to aged care in recent times. Make use of our 100% FREE, fast and independent service, backed by caring, trained and knowledgeable staff who always go the extra mile.
Whether you’re looking for home care or residential care, we have a great deal of experience in the industry. This in turn means that we’re able to share resources and offer guidance that’s clear and timely. Get in touch with us and we’ll get your aged care journey underway.
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