Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Service Agreement guidance materials for CHSP providers

The following guidance material supports CHSP providers with the requirement to: 

• have a Service Agreement with each client
• provide clients with specific information, as outlined in the Aged Care Rules 2025
• have a Care and Services Plan with each client. 

This comes into effect from 1 November 2025 for CHSP providers as a condition of registration to deliver funded aged care services. 

Existing CHSP clients 

Key elements of the Service Agreement requirements should already exist in CHSP providers’ current arrangements with clients, as set out in the CHSP grant agreement, the CHSP Manual and in Quality Standard 2 – Ongoing assessment, as well as through planning with clients. 

It is expected that providers have existing arrangements in place that document the following key elements of their service delivery with their clients: 

• details of the client, including their My Aged Care number
• details of the provider, including provider name and contact person details
• agreed services to be delivered – with a start date for each (and end date for non-ongoing services)
• the agreed amount of client contribution for each service type to be delivered
• details of service review dates in line with the requirement that a formal review of services must occur at least once every 12 months. 

From 1 November 2025, CHSP clients cannot be charged a client contribution without arrangements that include the key elements listed above. 

From 1 November 2025, there will be new additional requirements which reflect new service list names, specify review dates and variation arrangements, and circumstances where services can be ceased and include: 

• Access approval (Notice of Decision)
• Classification level (CHSP)
• New CHSP service list names
• Variations and termination arrangements
• Cooling off period
• Support persons to assist with Service Agreements. 

By the next date of formal service review (that must occur at least once every 12 months), providers will be expected to have a single consolidated Service Agreement that documents existing and new elements. Providers can use the Service Agreement template provided by the department. 

New CHSP clients 

All new CHSP clients from 1 November 2025 will need to have a Service Agreement that includes both current key elements and the new Act requirements in place prior to service delivery.  

Providers can use the Service Agreement template provided by the department. 

CHSP provider actions 

CHSP providers will need to: 

• prior to 1 November 2025, review arrangements with existing clients to ensure the key elements are in place and ensure that fully compliant Service Agreements are established at the point of formal review of services (that must occur at least once every 12 months)
• establish fully compliant Service Agreements for new clients from 1 November 2025.