About the CHSP
On 1 November 2025, the CHSP came under the Aged Care Act 2024 (the Act). The Act and the Aged Care Rules 2025 (the Rules) provide for the delivery of government funded aged care services to approved older people under the Commonwealth aged care system.
The CHSP is an entry-level in-home aged care support program that helps older people to live independently in their home and community. The CHSP also provides respite services to give carers a break.
The program aims to:
- help older people live as independently as possible
- focus on enabling older poeple, rather than doing things for them
- give a small amount of help to a large number of people.
If you’re an older person who wants to access government-funded help at home, you need to apply for an assessment on the My Aged Care website or call the My Aged Care contact centre.
Why it is important
Most people want to live at home for as long as possible as they age. To support this, we fund a range of in-home aged care services.
These services help older people to:
- stay independent and safe in their own homes
- stay socially active
- stay connected with their community
- delay or avoid high-level care such as residential care in a residential aged care home.
The CHSP is an important part of the government- funded aged care system, which also offers:
- the Support at Home program for more complex needs
- residential aged care for people who can no longer live at home.
Who it is for
The CHSP is for eligible older people who need support to live independently and are:
- aged 65 years and over. or
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years or older. or
- homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and aged 50 years or over.
The CHSP also supports carers by providing planned respite services for CHSP clients. This allows carers to take a break from their caring duties.
What services the CHSP can provide
The CHSP can provide services such as:
- help around the house
- transport
- meals
- personal care
- home adjustments
- social support
- nursing and allied health
- planned respite care.
Find out more about CHSP services.
How it works
The Australian Government funds a large variety of organisations (registered service providers) across Australia to deliver CHSP services.
The program aims to build on an older person’s individual strengths and abilities to help them remain living independently and safely at home.
Under the CHSP, trained assessors work out what support each person needs during aged care assessment and approve them to access services.
Service providers must:
- ensure there is a service agreement in place before services commence
- work with the client to develop their care and services plan based on their support needs
- support the client to safely keep doing things for themselves where they are able to
- review support services every 12 months to make sure they are meeting needs
- meet the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards as per the registration categories.
What it costs
CHSP providers receive government funding through grant agreements. They provide subsidised services to eligible older people.
CHSP clients pay a contribution or fee (which varies between providers) towards the cost of their services. Clients are expected to contribute towards the cost of the services they receive, if they can afford to do so.
Clients will not be asked to cover the full cost of services, and any fees must be agreed between the client and the service provider before services start as part of their service agreement.
Providers must have a publicly available client contribution policy that outlines how they determine their fees.
Clients will not be denied services if they are unable to contribute to the cost of the services. Providers have their own arrangements for protecting those least able to contribute towards the cost of their care.
For more about client contributions, see charging for the CHSP.
Who provides CHSP services
There are more than 1,300 CHSP providers across Australia, including government, non-government and not-for-profit organisations.
If you are looking for a CHSP provider, use Find a provider on the My Aged Care website.
Who manages the CHSP
We manage and develop policy for the CHSP and provide the grant funding for providers. We work with Funding Arrangement Managers in the Department of Social Services (DSS) who manage the CHSP grants. DSS also manages the Data Exchange where service providers submit reporting.
Under the Act, a new regulatory framework changes how government funded aged care services are regulated. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission regulates government funded aged care services to make sure providers meet their obligations under the Act.
New organisations interested in becoming a registered CHSP provider
New organisations interested in becoming a CHSP provider should be aware that before they can provide CHSP services, an organisation must:
- apply and be successful through a CHSP grant opportunity, managed by the department; then
- apply to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to become a registered provider.
Organisations can find CHSP grant opportunities, when they are available, on GrantConnect.
The department will make a conditional CHSP grant offer to a prospective provider on the basis the grant agreement will only be offered if and when the organisation becomes a registered provider.
Find more details on the Responsibilities of Commonwealth Home Support Program providers page.
GrantConnect contact
Sometimes we use other grant processes – for example, when only specific providers can offer a particular service. These grant processes include:
- direct selection/one-off ad hoc
- targeted competitive
- expression of interest.