Government subsidised aged care Australia
The Australian Government provides a number of programs and packages to help support Australian Seniors and their families. By subsidising services, the government is providing aged care that is more affordable and accessible to all Australians.
On this page
Commonwealth Home Support Program
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is a government subsidised program that assists seniors in accessing support services that allow them to live independently.
Service categories
The services provided are divided into a range of categories. There are services pertaining to:
Independent living:
Meal and food services
Personal care
Nursing
Allied health and therapy
Specialised support
Staying safe at home:
Domestic assistance (help with everyday household tasks such as cleaning)
Home maintenance and modification
Aids and equipment
Community based services
Transport
Social support
Homelessness support
Accessing the Commonwealth Home Support Program
To be eligible for the Commonwealth Home Support Program, the individual must be 65 years of age or older, or 50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
Individuals on a low income, are homeless or are at risk of homelessness are eligible if over the age of 50, or 45 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
An online eligibility assessment is required to determine whether the individual meets the criteria for the program, and assess their current situation at home and with every-day tasks. The individual will also have to provide information about themselves, including their Medicare number.
A short face-to-face assessment will also be organised with an Aged Care Assessment Team to determine eligibility for the government subsidised program. Once the individual is approved for the program they may begin searching for providers.
Eligibility
CHSP focuses on support for everyday task to improve your health and wellbeing. Eligibility depends on your support needs and age. To be eligible, you must be:
65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.
For more complex needs, a Home Care Package may be better suited.
Check your eligibility and apply for an online assessment
Eligibility is also dependent on an assessment of your needs. Click the following link to access an easy online application, that takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The application can be completed by yourself or on behalf of a family member or loved one. The assessment covers if you’re eligible, your details, and confirms who to call to arrange the assessment. Have your Medicare card with you when completing the assessment.
Services
Services that keep me well and independent:
| Meals and food services | Pre-made meals and help with food preparation |
| Personal care | Help with showering, self-care, hygiene and grooming |
| Nursing | Help with medicines, telehealth support |
| Allied health and therapy services | Health and therapy services e.g. podiatry and occupational therapy |
| Specialised support | Help for people with a particular condition e.g. vision, dementia |
| Respite care | Care for you while your carer takes a break |
Services that keep me safe in my home:
| Domestic assistance | Domestic assistance |
| Home maintenance | Help with keeping your home and garden safe |
| Home modifications | Changes to your home to improve safety and access e.g. ramps and rails |
| Goods, equipment and assistive technology | Goods, equipment and assistive technology |
Services that keep me connected with the community:
| Transport | Community transport or vouchers to attend appointments or activities |
| Social support | Contact and company with others e.g. social groups |
| Homelessness support | Linking to housing and care services for people experiencing homelessness |
Service Providers
Many considerations go into choosing the right provider for you. Depending on the organisation, there will be different services provided and costs associated. Therefore, it is important to ensure you are centring your choices around your priorities, needs, budget, location. Comparing providers before deciding is an essential task at this stage.
You can compare up to three providers using the Find a provider tool.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider/
It is important to compare aged care providers, as each provider delivers services in different ways at different costs. Therefore, it is important to compare all providers prior to making decisions surrounding who to get your services from.
There are three main things you should consider:
Services – Do the services meet your needs?
Quality – Will they provide a good standard of care?
Costs – What will you need to pay?
Finding services that meet your needs
You can use the Find a provider tool to find aged care providers which meet your location, service offering, fit and availability needs.
For specific advice for the type of care you are interested in:
Private providers
There may be situations where you need or prefer to use a private aged care provider; for example, while you’re waiting for funded services to be available. Read more about your options on the private providers page.
Ensuring good quality care
Receiving good quality care is incredibly important when choosing an aged care provider. It is important to ask questions surrounding what to expect from providers, how to know what their quality of care looks like and how this compares to other providers.
Read more on finding good quality care.
Every provider listed on this site is regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and needs to meet a strict set of regulations and quality standards; therefore, a great place to start searching for providers in through the Find a provider tool.
Information on the Home Care Package provider and aged care home is also provided here.
Finding out how much it’s going to cost
The Commonwealth Home Support Program is subsidised however the individual is expected to contribute if possible. The cost of services depends on the level of support and type of provider. Each provider sets their own prices and therefore will depend on the service.
Other factors come into play when determining how much your aged care will cost. This includes the type of care which you are approved for, which provider is chosen and the amount you are willing to spend.
Within the find a provider tool, all services listed can provide you with government-subsidised care, making it a more affordable for you. Different providers have different costs; therefore, it is crucial to know what to look out for and how to negotiate costs.
Each type of care comes at different costs. By developing an understanding of the differing costs and how to work these in with your own costs, can help you decide which provider is right for you.
Individual costs
Based on eligibility, there are expectations for you to contribute to the cost of your care if you are able to afford to do so. These costs are also entirely dependent on which type of support you require and the provider that you choose. Additional services such as simple services like house cleaning and meals can come at very small prices. Larger services such as renovation work to homes can cost much more.
Each provider sets their own prices. You’ll need to talk to them to get exact costs. You can find CHSP service providers using the Find a provider tool.
How long will the proess take?
The first step in this process in being assessed. From there, it will be based on service providers availability within your area for the specific service that you require.
