Helping older clients stay at home: CHSP, Support at Home and private help

How to refer to My Aged Care

• You need your patient’s consent before giving information to My Aged Care or contacting them on the patient’s behalf.
• Refer using the Make a referral form on the My Aged Care website, the My Aged Care e-Referral option in your clinical software if it’s available to you, or by calling 1800 200 422.
• If a patient needs services urgently, they can contact My Aged Care, which can refer them directly to a provider if they need immediate care that isn’t available another way.
• An assessment organisation then calls the patient, or someone they choose, to book an assessment, usually in the patient’s home.
• Patients and families can also apply themselves: online (about 10 to 15 minutes, with a Medicare card), by phone, or in person with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at Services Australia.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

CHSP gives entry-level support to help older people live independently and safely at home. It works with the person to keep their independence, rather than doing things for them.

• Who: people aged 65 or older, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 or older, or people aged 50 or older who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Access: an aged care assessment decides eligibility.
• Cost: people contribute if they can afford to, and each provider sets its own prices.
• Choice: a person can use a different provider for each CHSP service.
• Timing: the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says CHSP grant funding has been extended to 30 June 2029.

Support at Home

Support at Home began on 1 November 2025, replacing Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. It suits people who need a more coordinated approach: help with many everyday tasks, or care that’s more complex.

• Ongoing services come with one of 8 funding classifications, which include care management.
• Three short-term pathways: the Restorative Care Pathway (up to 16 weeks, around $6,000), the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, and the End-of-Life Pathway for the last 3 months of life.
• New from 1 October 2026: the government fully funds personal care, so people approved for personal care in their support plan pay no out-of-pocket cost for it.
• No contribution for clinical supports. For other services, people contribute based on the service and what they can afford, and only for services they actually receive.
• Funding is released per approved service, so someone can start one service as soon as its funding is available and they’ve signed a service agreement.

Signs it may be time for an assessment

My Aged Care lists situations where an assessment may help, including when someone has:

• noticed a change in what they can do or remember
• been diagnosed with a medical condition or has reduced mobility
• had a change in family care arrangements
• had a recent fall or hospital admission.

Carers matter here too. If a family member is stretched, Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) offers support for carers.

Where private help fits

Not everyone qualifies, and not everyone can wait. Private, fee-for-service help can cover the gap while an assessment or funding comes through, top up funded hours, or simply suit people who’d rather arrange it themselves. Ask for a written quote before anything starts.