More older Australians will now have greater support to live independently at home, following a $440 million investment from the Federal Government.

The investment package adds to the multi-billion dollar Support at Home package which was established in September 2024.

Under the initiative, 41 existing Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers will receive additional funding to expand their most in-demand services and extend their reach into new Aged Care Planning Regions. Meanwhile, 116 new providers—including 18 First Nations organisations— have been offered contracts to begin delivering services from November 1, 2024, ensuring care is available when and where it’s needed most.

Minister for Aged Care and Sport, Anika Wells said the package was designed to improve older Australians’ access to all forms of assistance that help them stay at home longer and expand culturally appropriate CHSP services for older First Nations people.

“There will be new providers in every state and territory to support older people to access a range of services, including domestic assistance, allied health and therapy, community transport and home maintenance,” Wells said.

“Bringing on new CHSP providers to support more older First Nations people is part of the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap and ensuring culturally safe and trauma informed aged care.”

Advocates welcomed the multi-million dollar investment, but they urged the Government to do more for the tens of thousands who still need support.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia Acting CEO Corey Irlam said while they support all efforts to reduce wait times for services he called on the Federal Government to lock in a plan and ensure that no one waits more than 30 days for their Support at Home package, from the moment they apply until the day their first service commences.

“Today’s CHSP funding ensures thousands more older Australians will be supported to live independently in their homes, but it won’t be enough to clear the decks of the more than 58,000 Australians waiting for a home care package that look to CHSP for interim support while waiting for any supports,” Irlam said.

“Getting timely support when you first make the decision to accept support to remain in your home is vital. It’s demoralising for older people waiting so long after they finally admit to themselves they need a little help to remain safe at home, and particularly impacts those who deteriorate faster because they didn’t get the support they needed sooner.

“This investment will help CHSP providers we know are stretched thin, with the latest available My Aged Care data extract showing only one in three providers saying they have availability for new clients and only 20 per cent saying they have availability for in-home domestic assistance.”