Australia’s aged care system has changed significantly over the past year. If you or a family member receives, or plans to receive, government-funded aged care at home, you may feel unsure about what applies to you.
Two programs sit at the centre of most questions: the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and the Support at Home program. They sound similar, and both support older Australians at home. However, they serve different needs and operate in different ways. Right now, they exist side-by-side during a staged transition, which has caused understandable confusion.
Today, we will break down both programs, what’s changing, and how to make sure you access the right support.
What Is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)?
The CHSP provides entry-level support for older Australians who need a small amount of help to stay independent at home. It offers assistance with specific tasks rather than ongoing, coordinated care. Think of it as the front door to aged care. In 2023–24, around 835,000 older Australians used CHSP services. It plays a key role in helping people stay independent for longer.
CHSP focuses on tasks. It usually covers one or two services per week, such as cleaning, transport, social support, or basic personal care. It does not provide a full care plan and does not suit people with complex or ongoing needs.
To access CHSP, you must be aged 65 or over, or 50 or over if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. You will also need an assessment through My Aged Care (read more about preparing for your assessment here). The government funds CHSP providers to deliver subsidised services, and clients contribute based on their ability to pay, but they do not cover the full cost. Providers will not deny services if someone cannot afford to contribute.
What Is the Support at Home Program?
The Support at Home program is the government’s newer model for ongoing care at home. It replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Unlike CHSP, Support at Home provides regular, coordinated support across multiple areas of daily life. It gives participants a flexible budget to access services based on their goals and needs.
The program uses eight funding classifications, which better match support levels to individual needs. This system replaces the older four-level structure. It also allows care to increase over time without requiring a move to a new program.
The government fully funds clinical care. For everyday services, your contribution depends on your income and assets. Full pensioners usually pay less, while self-funded retirees may pay more. A lifetime cap limits how much you can contribute toward non-clinical care.
CHSP vs Support at Home – What’s the Key Difference?
The simplest way to understand the difference:
CHSP supports people who mostly manage on their own but need occasional help. It provides individual services, such as cleaning or transport, on a simple and subsidised basis.
Support at Home supports people with more complex or ongoing needs. It offers a coordinated care plan and a flexible budget to cover multiple areas of support.
Neither program is better than the other. Each one suits a different level of need. The key question is where you or your family member currently sit.
What’s Changing in Aged Care Right Now?
From 1 November 2025, the government replaced Home Care Packages with Support at Home. CHSP will not transition until at least 1 July 2027. If you currently receive CHSP, you do not need to take immediate action. You will remain on the program unless your needs change.
That said, the system is already evolving. The government is aligning service lists, pricing, and reporting. These changes will support a smoother transition in the future. Since November 2025, providers can only deliver CHSP services to clients who have completed a My Aged Care assessment. If you have not been assessed, you should arrange this soon to avoid service disruption.
How Do You Know What’s Right for You?
CHSP may suit you if:
- You manage most daily tasks independently
- You need help with one or two specific tasks
- Your needs are stable and low-level
- You prefer simple, subsidised services
Support at Home may suit you if:
- You need regular support across multiple areas
- Your needs are ongoing or increasing
- You want a coordinated care plan
- You require clinical care or specialised services
If you’re unsure, start with a conversation. One of our professional aged care team will help you understand your options and guide your next steps, call us on 1800 367 227.
What If Your Needs Have Changed and CHSP Is No Longer Enough?
CHSP works as an entry point, not a long-term solution for people with growing needs. If your current aged care support no longer feels enough, it may be time to look at other options. You might notice daily tasks becoming harder, health needs increasing, or safety at home becoming a concern.
In these cases, the Support at Home program may be a better fit.
The good news is that Support at Home builds on both CHSP and the former Home Care Packages. It brings everything into one system. This makes it easier to access the right level of support as your needs change. You won’t need to move between completely different programs.
A registered aged care provider like For Care can guide you through this process. We can explain your current entitlements, help you decide if a reassessment makes sense, and support you through the transition when the time comes.
Waitlists – Aged Care In High Demand
It’s important to understand that demand for both CHSP and Support at Home remains high. As a result, waitlists are common. In recent years, wait times have reached up to 12 months. However, the government aims to reduce this to around three months by July 2027. They have also committed to releasing more Support at Home packages throughout 2025 and 2026.
The key takeaway is simple: don’t wait for a crisis. Apply early, even if your needs feel manageable right now. This gives you the best chance of accessing support when you need it.
How We Can Help
If CHSP still meets your needs, it may remain the right option for now. However, if your support no longer keeps up with your daily life, it may be time to explore Support at Home. For Care can help you take that next step. We are a registered Support at Home provider. We are not a CHSP provider, which means we focus specifically on ongoing, coordinated care.
Our team will take the time to understand your situation. We’ll explain what Support at Home could look like for you and guide you through the reassessment process with My Aged Care. There’s no pressure—just clear, helpful information.
Because wait times can stretch over several months, it’s best to start early. Reaching out now puts you in a stronger position when funding becomes available.
You can learn more at forcare-agedcare.com.au or call 1800 367 227 to speak with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions About CHSP and Support at Home
Wait times can vary depending on your approved level of support and national demand. Some people receive funding within weeks, while others may wait several months.
CHSP is an entry-level program providing task-based support for older Australians who need occasional help at home — typically one or two services per week. Support at Home is a comprehensive, budget-based program for people with more complex or ongoing care needs, offering a coordinated package of services across personal care, health, domestic assistance, allied health and more. Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. CHSP will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.
If you were receiving a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, you have automatically moved to Support at Home. If you were receiving CHSP, you remain on CHSP- it has not yet transitioned and won’t do so before July 2027. If you’re unsure, contact your aged care provider or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
If you have already had a formal aged care assessment through My Aged Care, your services should continue without interruption. If you have not yet been formally assessed, this is now required under the new Aged Care Act to continue receiving CHSP services — contact your provider or My Aged Care as soon as possible.
Generally no — the programs are designed to serve different levels of need, and accessing both simultaneously is not the standard pathway. If your needs have grown beyond what CHSP can provide, the appropriate step is usually to apply for a reassessment and transition to Support at Home.
The transition is being designed to be staged and supported, with the goal of minimising disruption for current CHSP clients. Providers and the government are actively preparing for this change now, and more detailed guidance will be published as the transition date approaches. Staying connected with your current provider is the best way to stay informed.
CHSP involves a small client contribution per service, with the government subsidising the rest, and no one is denied services for financial reasons. Support at Home involves income and asset-tested contributions for non-clinical services, with clinical care fully government-funded. A lifetime cap applies to non-clinical contributions under Support at Home. Your provider can give you a clear picture of what you’d be expected to contribute based on your circumstances.
Talk to your aged care provider or contact My Aged Care to request a reassessment. If your needs have grown to the point where CHSP no longer feels sufficient, a reassessment may find you eligible for Support at Home, which can provide a more comprehensive, coordinated level of support matched to where you are now.
If your needs have grown beyond what CHSP provides, the pathway to Support at Home begins with a reassessment through My Aged Care. Contact them on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to request a review of your current situation. An assessor will determine whether Support at Home is appropriate and at what classification level. Once approved, you can then choose a registered Support at Home provider — and For Care’s team is happy to walk you through what that process looks like before you commit to anything. For Care is a registered Support at Home provider and can help guide you through the process. If you’re currently on CHSP and wondering whether Support at Home might be a better fit, that conversation is a good place to start.
Both programs are accessed through My Aged Care. You can apply online at myagedcare.gov.au, call 1800 200 422, or ask a registered provider to guide you through the process. An assessment will determine which program — and which level of support — is right for you.
