Understanding the Commonwealth Home Support Programme

If your parent needs a bit of extra support around the home with day-to-day tasks then Australia’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) may be the option for them.

The government program helps by providing funding for Aussies with a lower level of care requirements or those who need temporary assistance, perhaps while recovering from an illness, injury or surgery. The type of tasks a carer can undertake range from assisting with management of the garden, to cleaning or a trip to the shops to pick up groceries for the week ahead.

Accessing the Commonwealth Home Support Programme

Following an initial phone call with My Aged Care to discuss options for support around the house, your parent will be directed to the CHSP where a home visit will be organised. The specialist assessor from the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will have further conversations with your parents, and perhaps yourself if you’re supporting them through the decision, about the type of care required and their health.

Your parent may decide they only want help preparing food or cleaning up around the house. Alternatively, they might need someone to get them out into the community to meet up with friends and social groups. My Aged Care provides a full list of services that could be included as part of the program.

You and your parent will also have a chance to request a particular provider to carry out the care service and from there the RAS assessor will communicate directly with that service provider to organise the care. There will be nothing more required of yourself or your parent with the hard work taken over.

Costs of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme

Unlike the other option of home care – Home Care Package – CHSP doesn’t involve means testing. This is good news for Aussies with their income and assets having no impact on the subsidy the home care provider receives from the government towards the cost of the service.

However, the costs for the care itself will differ depending on which organisation your loved one chooses to go with, but usually not by much. A rough estimate of fees is $10 per service they receive with the remainder of the cost subsidised by the government.