Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

The CHSP provides entry-level support for older people who need some help to stay at home. Service providers work with them to maintain their independence and keep them as well as possible. Find out what service providers need to know about this program.

Learn about the CHSP

What the CHSP is, why it's important, who it is for, and how it works.

Understand your responsibilities

If you provide government-subsidised CHSP services, you have certain responsibilities. Find out what they are.

Explore grants and funding

Find out how CHSP funding works, how to apply for grants, and the different types of funding rounds.

Manage your CHSP services

Learn what CHSP providers need to do to manage their services.

Commonwealth Home Support Program Indexation

Indexation

Three types of indexation may apply to Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) providers. 

Annual Indexation

2025-27 CHSP grant agreements will have annual indexation applied. 

2.3% has been applied from 2025-26. 

The rate of indexation for 2026-27 is yet to be determined by the Department of Finance.  

Indexation for 2026-27 will be applied through a Notice of Change to the grant agreement.  

Fair Work Commission – Aged Care Nurses

In line with the Australian Government’s decision to support the Fair Work Commission’s 6 December 2024 decision, for further increases to award wages for aged care nurses, CHSP providers funded for Nursing received an indexation boost from 1 March 2025 via a Notice of Change to their existing grant agreements. This has been automatically calculated into monthly payments for Nursing services in the 2025-27 agreements.  

CHSP providers funded in 2025-27 for Nursing services will receive a Notice of Change to their grant agreement applying a further indexation boost with effect from 1 October 2025. The department is working towards inclusion from the 31 October 2025 CHSP payment. 

A further notice of change in 2026 will apply an indexation boost with effect from 1 August 2026. 

Fair Work Commission – Other Aged Care Workers

As part of the 2025-26 Budget, the Australian Government has announced funding of $30.1 million to support award wage increases for aged care workers to CHSP providers. This relates to the Fair Work Commission’s Stage 3 decision under the Aged Care Work Value Case and those aged care workers whose award wages increased from 1 January 2025.  

The department issued a letter to providers regarding indexation on 26 March 2025.  

Funding will be provided through an indexation boost to support both the 1 January 2025 and the 1 October 2025 award wage increases. This is consistent with funding provided across other aged care programs.  

  • Some providers have already been awarded the full amount of the 1 January 2025 indexation boost under Grant Opportunity GO7358 – Fair Work Commission Stage 3 (Tranche 1) from 1 January 2025 into their CHSP Base.  
  • The indexation boost will not apply to funding to support award wage increases for aged care nurses, as this funding is already being provided through the separate indexation boosts detailed above. 

The department is working towards inclusion from the 30 November 2025 CHSP payment.

New regulatory model – guidance for CHSP providers

Under the new Aged Care Act, CHSP providers will be regulated in the same way as other providers for the first time.

To help you prepare for the new Act, we have developed guidance about the new regulatory model.

My Aged Care

If you need some help around the house or think it’s time to look into aged care homes, My Aged Care is here to help.

Visit the My Aged Care website to find information about how to access aged care services.

You can apply for an assessment online and search for local aged care providers that meet your needs.

You can also call 1800 200 422 Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm, and Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm.

My Aged Care

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Resources

Resources

Unassessed CHSP clients with exceptional circumstances

This fact sheet includes information on how Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers can help their current unassisted clients apply for consideration under the exceptional circumstances pathway, if they cannot be assessed due to their circumstances.

DEX Exchange toolkit (Stage 1)

The DEX provider toolkit steps out the IT and system changes and requirements needed for 1 July 2025.

Related work

Community Transport Pricing Pilot

The pilot will help us better understand running costs and test alternative funding models and policy for CHSP transport services.

Wellness and reablement initiative

We have developed online resources to help CHSP service providers embed wellness and reablement approaches into their organisational practices and service delivery.

Home Care Packages Program

The Australian Government subsidises organisations to provide home care services to eligible older people. As an approved provider of Home Care Packages, make sure you understand how funding works, the fees you can charge, and what your responsibilities are.

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