When people think about aged care at home, they often picture a full care package with a coordinated budget. But many older Australians need something much simpler: a hand with the shopping, a lift to appointments, meals delivered, or the lawns done. That’s exactly what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme provides, and it’s just been given a new lease of life. Here’s the plain-language guide to CHSP and whether it’s right for you.
What CHSP Is
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is the entry level of government-subsidised aged care at home. Rather than giving you an individual budget to coordinate, it provides specific services as you need them, delivered by local providers who are block-funded by the government.
It’s designed for older people who need some help to keep living independently, but don’t require the more substantial, ongoing support that Support at Home provides. For a great many people, CHSP is all they’ll ever need.
What It Covers
CHSP funds practical, everyday help. Typical services include domestic assistance like cleaning and laundry, meals (including Meals on Wheels), transport to appointments and shopping, social support and group activities to keep you connected, basic home maintenance and garden work, minor home modifications like grab rails, personal care, and allied health or nursing in some cases.
The emphasis is on simple, targeted help that removes the specific barriers making independent living harder, rather than comprehensive care management.
CHSP vs Support at Home
The clearest way to understand CHSP is to compare it with the program above it.
The essential difference: CHSP gives you services, Support at Home gives you a coordinated budget. CHSP suits lower-level, occasional or single-service needs; Support at Home suits ongoing, more complex needs requiring a mix of supports managed together. If your needs grow, you can move from CHSP to Support at Home through a further assessment.
The Good News on Its Future
There’s been real uncertainty about CHSP, because it was originally due to be abolished in mid-2027 and rolled into Support at Home. That plan has changed. The government has extended CHSP until 2029 and flagged its intention to keep it as a standalone program permanently, with consultation underway on doing exactly that.
The Aged Care Minister has said the government believes CHSP should remain a standalone program, pointing to the value of early intervention services in taking pressure off the rest of the aged care system. For the hundreds of thousands of older Australians relying on it, that’s welcome stability, and it means CHSP isn’t a temporary stopgap but a durable option.
How to Access CHSP
The pathway is the same front door as all aged care: My Aged Care. Register online or call 1800 200 422, and you’ll be referred for an assessment, usually a home support assessment for CHSP-level needs, which is generally simpler than the comprehensive assessment used for Support at Home.
After assessment, you’re referred to local providers for the services you’ve been approved for. You’ll usually make a modest contribution toward the cost of services, based on what you can afford, and providers should discuss this with you upfront.
Is CHSP Right for You?
CHSP likely suits you if you’re mostly managing but need help with specific tasks (cleaning, transport, meals, yard work), your needs are occasional or limited rather than complex and daily, and you don’t need several services coordinated together. It’s also a genuinely useful interim option if you’re waiting for a Support at Home package, worth asking about, since it can bridge the gap.
Support at Home is more likely right if you need substantial ongoing support, several services working together, or significant personal and clinical care. If you’re unsure, the assessment will help determine the right level, and you can always be reassessed as needs change. Details are on the My Aged Care CHSP page.
The Bottom Line
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is the entry level of aged care at home: practical, targeted help with cleaning, meals, transport, social connection and yard work, for people who need a hand rather than comprehensive care. It’s now extended to 2029 with the government signalling it should stay permanent, so it’s a stable option. If your needs are modest, CHSP may be all you need, and if they grow, Support at Home is there. Start with a My Aged Care assessment to find the right fit. This is general information, not aged care, medical or financial advice.
Epik Wire covers aged care in plain language for older Australians and their families. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
