Commonwealth Home Support Programme

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As you get older, everyday tasks can become more difficult. Even though you need help, you may still want to live at home. Asking for help doesn’t mean losing your independence or moving out of home.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) helps senior Australians access entry-level support services to live independently and safely at home.

CHSP works with you to maintain your independence rather than doing things for you. 

Handywoman fitting hand rail in bathroom illustration

Is it for me?

Eligibility for this program is based on your support needs and age. 

If you’re having trouble with everyday tasks and feel that a little support could improve your health and wellbeing, CHSP could be right for you.

To be eligible for this program, you must be aged:

  • 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
  • 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.

Check if you meet the requirements for an assessment or if you are ready, apply for an assessment now.

If your needs are more complex, a Home Care Package could be better suited to you.

Ready to apply for an assessment?

 

Apply online now

What services can I get through CHSP?

Service Meals and food preparation
To help ensure that you continue to eat well.
Service Bathing, hygiene, and grooming
To help you maintain your personal hygiene and grooming standards.
Service Nursing
To help you treat and monitor medical conditions at home.
Service Podiatry, physiotherapy, and other therapies
To help you maintain movement and mobility.
Service Help with impairments or continence
To help manage particular conditions and maximise your independence at home.
Service Day/overnight respite
To support you and your carer by giving you both a break for a short period of time.
Service Changes to my home
To help increase or maintain your ability to move around your home safely and independently.
Service Home or garden maintenance
To help you keep your home and garden in a safe condition.
Service Cleaning, laundry, and other chores
To help you keep your home clean and liveable.
Service Aids to stay independent
To help you with mobility, communication, reading, and personal care limitations.
Service Transport
To get you out and about to appointments and community activities.
Service Social outings, groups and visitors
To help you remain social and interact with your community.

Homelessness support is also available for older people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless as they get older. This includes providing links to housing and care services.

Who provides the services?

To make sure you can access the help you need at an affordable price, the government subsidises a variety of organisations across Australia. These organisations are called service providers. They deliver care and services to you at a subsidised price.

To find out what services are available near you, use our Find a provider tool.

How much will it cost me?

If you are eligible, you’re expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you can afford to. The cost depends on the type of support and the provider. Simple services like house cleaning and meals might cost a few dollars. More complex services like renovation work will cost much more.

Each provider sets their own prices. You’ll need to talk to them to get exact costs. You can find CHSP service providers using the Find a provider tool.

Read more about how CHSP service costs work.

How long will it take to get some help at home? 

First you will need to be assessed. After that it will depend on the availability of service providers in your area to offer the service you need.

What else do people ask at this step?

How do I pick an aged care provider?

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right provider for you. Each organisation will provide services differently and may charge different costs. So it’s important to think about your own priorities, needs, budget, and location, and compare providers before deciding.

You can compare up to three providers using the Find a provider tool.

Read more about what to consider

How do I find a provider for my specific cultural / care needs?

You can search for services in your area using our Find a provider tool. It also allows you to filter your search results.

If you have specific care needs, such as someone who understands your culture, identity, or background, you can use the menus on the left-hand side of the tool to narrow your search.

Search for providers

See more FAQs