Care type · 2 listed providers
CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme) — Australian aged-care providers + guide
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is the entry-level, low-intensity home-support program for older Australians needing some help to remain at home. It is distinct from Home Care Packages – smaller in scale, simpler to access, much faster to start. Around 840,000 Australians use CHSP services in a typical year per AIHW.
★Key takeaways
- ✓2 verified Australian residential aged-care providers offering chsp (commonwealth home support programme), ranked by ACQSC star rating.
- ✓You (or your parent) need a few hours of weekly help with cleaning, transport, shopping, meals or social contact, but are otherwise mostly independent. CHSP is the correct first step – it is faster, cheaper and easier to access than a Home Care Package. If services grow beyond 4–6 hours/week, ask for an ACAT reassessment to move up to an HCP.
- ✓Per-service co-contribution typically $5–$15 (a cleaning visit, a delivered meal, a transport trip). Some social-support group activities are free. Annual cost rarely exceeds $1,500 for a typical user. Providers must publish their fees + must apply a hardship policy – no-one is refused CHSP services on cost grounds. Compare with <a href="/guides/aged-care-cost-australia-2026/" class="text-[var(--vbrand)] underline">other funding pathways</a> in our cost guide.
- ✓Source: My Aged Care provider register + ACQSC star ratings + provider-published service-type schedules.
In depth
What chsp (commonwealth home support programme) actually means
CHSP funds short bursts of help: domestic assistance, personal care, transport, social support groups, Meals on Wheels, home maintenance + minor modifications, nursing on a one-off basis. Typical usage: 1–4 hours per week across one or two service types. It is the right starting point if you (or your parent) are mostly independent but the lawn is getting away, the shower is starting to feel unsafe, or driving to appointments has become difficult.
Access is via a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment rather than ACAT. RAS assessments are quicker (~2–3 weeks vs ACAT's 4–6) + are conducted in your home by a federally-funded assessor. Apply through My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and request a Home Support Assessment specifically.
You generally pay a modest co-contribution per service – often $5–$10 per cleaning visit or per meal – based on what the provider charges + what you can afford. No-one is refused CHSP services on cost grounds. The Commonwealth funds the bulk; your contribution offsets a small portion. Important: CHSP is being progressively absorbed into the new Support at Home program from 1 July 2025 – existing recipients should see no change to services but the funding architecture is changing.
CHSP providers are organisations (often councils, Meals on Wheels, faith-based not-for-profits, neighbourhood houses) under a Commonwealth services agreement. Quality is regulated by ACQSC under the same Aged Care Quality Standards that apply to residential + HCP services.
Quality markers to look for
- Entry-level: typically 1–4 hours/week across one or two service types
- Faster access than HCP: ~2–3 weeks via Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
- Low cost – modest per-service co-contribution; no-one refused on cost grounds
- Covers domestic help, transport, meals, social support, minor maintenance
- No individual care plan or budget – services are arranged on a needs basis
- Regulated by ACQSC under the Aged Care Quality Standards
- Currently transitioning into the Support at Home program (from 1 July 2025)
Choose this care type if
You (or your parent) need a few hours of weekly help with cleaning, transport, shopping, meals or social contact, but are otherwise mostly independent. CHSP is the correct first step – it is faster, cheaper and easier to access than a Home Care Package. If services grow beyond 4–6 hours/week, ask for an ACAT reassessment to move up to an HCP.
Cost
Per-service co-contribution typically $5–$15 (a cleaning visit, a delivered meal, a transport trip). Some social-support group activities are free. Annual cost rarely exceeds $1,500 for a typical user. Providers must publish their fees + must apply a hardship policy – no-one is refused CHSP services on cost grounds. Compare with other funding pathways in our cost guide.
Directory · ACQSC-ranked
2 verified Australian providers offering chsp (commonwealth home support programme)
Sorted by ACQSC star rating descending, then bed count. Each provider verified against My Aged Care + ACQSC quarterly ratings.
Perth · Juniper Hilltop (Balcatta)
4★Juniper
Uniting Church WA aged-care arm; one of Australia's largest providers of remote-Indigenous aged care, with sites in the …
Brisbane · Ozcare Bowen Hills Aged Care Facility
3★Ozcare
Founded by the Catholic Diocese of Cairns; QLD-only operator with 15 residential homes and a flagship homelessness-pathw…
Common questions
CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme) — common questions
Who is eligible for CHSP?
Australians aged 65+ (or 50+ for Aboriginal + Torres Strait Islander people), living at home, needing some support to maintain independence. You must complete a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment via My Aged Care. CHSP is not income-tested – eligibility is based on functional need, not financial means.
How is CHSP different from a Home Care Package?
CHSP is entry-level: 1–4 hours/week, simple per-service pricing, faster access (~2–3 weeks). HCP is the full-package program: an individual budget ($10k–$60k/year), wider service range, care management, slower access (3–12 months for higher levels). CHSP is the right starting point; transition to HCP when needs outgrow it.
Can I have CHSP + a Home Care Package at the same time?
Generally no – once you take up a Home Care Package the package becomes your funding source for in-home services. The exception is one-off CHSP services that aren't in your HCP budget (e.g. a single home-maintenance visit). Some providers will continue to deliver Social Support Groups as CHSP even when you have an HCP. Confirm with your HCP provider before adding CHSP services.
What happens to CHSP under the Support at Home reforms?
From 1 July 2025 the federal government begins transitioning CHSP + Home Care Packages into a single Support at Home program. The reform is staged – existing CHSP recipients continue receiving services without disruption. The new program is intended to simplify entry pathways, increase service flexibility + close the gap between CHSP-level and HCP-level need.
How do I find a CHSP provider near me?
Use the <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider" class="text-[var(--vbrand)] underline">My Aged Care provider finder</a> – filter by service type (domestic assistance, transport, meals, etc.) and your postcode. Many local councils + Meals on Wheels chapters are CHSP-funded. After your RAS assessment, the assessor sends you a referral code; quote it to your chosen provider to commence services.