If you or a family member receives entry-level aged care services at home, the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) has been extended to 30 June 2029. The Australian Government announced the extension on 21 August 2026, providing greater certainty for older people who rely on CHSP services to live independently and safely at home.
The announcement is particularly relevant for families trying to understand what the current aged care changes mean for someone already receiving help at home. It confirms that CHSP will continue while the Australian Government considers the program’s longer-term design and how entry-level services should work alongside Support at Home.
Quick Summary
- The Commonwealth Home Support Program has been extended for another two years to 30 June 2029.
- Older people can continue to access CHSP entry-level support to help them live independently and safely at home.
- The Australian Government will consult on the long-term design of entry-level in-home aged care, including how CHSP should work alongside Support at Home.
- The focus of the future design includes sustainable services, fair and equitable contributions to home care costs and better support for early intervention.
What does the Commonwealth Home Support Program extension to 30 June 2029 mean?
The Commonwealth Home Support Program, usually called CHSP, provides entry-level support for older people who need some help to remain living independently and safely at home. Depending on an individual’s assessed needs, services can include practical assistance such as cleaning, transport, meals and social support.
The Australian Government announced on 21 August 2026 that CHSP grant funding would be extended for another two years, through to 30 June 2029. For people currently using CHSP services, the key message is continuity. The government says the extension gives certainty to older people accessing services and supports the continued delivery of services, including in regional, rural and remote areas.
This does not mean that the aged care system has stopped changing. The Australian Government says there have been significant changes to aged care, including the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Support at Home program. Further refinements are expected as the government considers how entry-level aged care should work over the longer term.
What does this mean for existing CHSP clients?
For an existing CHSP client, the most important point is that the program has been extended to 30 June 2029. The announcement provides greater certainty that CHSP services will continue during this period.
The government has also stated that CHSP remains an important part of Australia’s aged care system. It describes CHSP as entry-level support that can help older people remain independent and safe at home.
Current My Aged Care information explains that CHSP is intended for people who can generally manage at home but need help with some everyday tasks. An aged care assessment determines whether a person is eligible for CHSP services and what support they may receive.
For families, this means the 30 June 2029 extension should not be interpreted as a requirement to immediately change arrangements simply because the aged care system has been reformed. Instead, it provides a period of greater certainty while the government works on the longer-term direction for entry-level in-home support.
What types of support can CHSP provide?
CHSP is designed around entry-level assistance rather than more complex or intensive care. My Aged Care describes the program as support for older people who need a low level of help to continue living independently and safely at home.
The services available can include everyday assistance such as:
- cleaning and other domestic assistance
- transport
- meal services
- social support
- support to maintain independence
- some allied health and therapeutic services.
The exact services available depend on a person’s assessed needs and the services offered in their area. My Aged Care states that an aged care assessment determines eligibility for CHSP services.
The government’s latest announcement also highlights the importance of maintaining access to essential services such as cleaning, transport and social support. It says the future system should also provide a consistent experience as people’s needs change and they require more complex services such as nursing care, occupational therapy or help with showering.
How does CHSP fit with Support at Home?
Support at Home is another Australian Government program for people who need help to remain living at home. My Aged Care describes Support at Home as an option for people with more complex or intensive care needs.
The Australian Government’s current CHSP information says Support at Home will replace CHSP no earlier than 1 July 2027. The new announcement extending CHSP to 30 June 2029 means the timing and long-term design of entry-level support remain an area for government consultation and further development.
This distinction is important for families. The announcement does not say that every CHSP client will move to Support at Home immediately or that every person receiving CHSP will require a new arrangement. Instead, the government says it wants a consistent experience across CHSP and Support at Home so older people can receive the care they need as their circumstances change.
If a person’s care needs become more complex, an aged care assessment can determine whether Support at Home or another aged care option is appropriate.
Why is the government reviewing the future of CHSP?
Although the Commonwealth Home Support Program extension provides certainty through 30 June 2029, the Australian Government has made it clear that the longer-term design of entry-level in-home aged care is still being considered.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will begin consultation in 2026 about the future design of an entry-level program. The consultation will consider how entry-level aged care services should be funded in the future and the role of block-funded services.
The government has identified several areas for consultation. These include creating a sustainable entry-level in-home aged care program, ensuring fair and equitable contributions towards home care costs and considering how early intervention services can reduce pressure across the wider aged care system.
The government also wants the future approach to be better integrated with Support at Home. This is intended to make it easier for older people to receive appropriate care as their needs change.
For clients and families, the practical takeaway is that the extension is both a continuation of the current program and part of a broader discussion about what entry-level home support should look like in the future.
Does the extension change what families need to do now?
For someone already receiving CHSP, the extension itself does not mean families need to make an immediate change to their care arrangements. The government has announced the continuation of CHSP to 30 June 2029 and says this gives older people greater certainty about the services they use.
For someone who is beginning to need assistance at home, My Aged Care remains the starting point for understanding available aged care options. An aged care assessment determines eligibility for CHSP and other government-funded aged care services.
Families should also keep in mind that aged care needs can change. CHSP is designed for entry-level support, while Support at Home is available where needs are more complex or intensive. An assessment helps determine which program is appropriate based on the person’s circumstances.
What should families watch for next?
The next significant development is the government’s consultation on the long-term design of entry-level in-home aged care. The consultation is expected to consider how CHSP and Support at Home can provide a more consistent experience for older people and how services should be funded into the future.
The government has said the future design should support early intervention and provide a pathway as a person’s needs change. This reflects the broader aim of helping older people receive the appropriate level of support rather than treating entry-level and more complex care as completely separate systems.
For families researching aged care, it is therefore worth distinguishing between what has been confirmed and what is still being considered. The confirmed change is the extension of CHSP to 30 June 2029. The longer-term structure of entry-level home support remains subject to consultation and further government decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Commonwealth Home Support Program been extended to 2029?
Yes. The Australian Government announced on 21 August 2026 that the Commonwealth Home Support Program would be extended for another two years to 30 June 2029. The extension is intended to give older people greater certainty about the CHSP services they access.
What does CHSP help with?
CHSP provides entry-level support to help older people live independently and safely at home. Depending on assessed needs, services can include cleaning, transport, meals and social support, with other services available through the program.
Will CHSP continue after 30 June 2029?
The current government announcement confirms CHSP funding through 30 June 2029. The Australian Government is also consulting during 2026 on the long-term design of entry-level in-home aged care, so the future structure beyond the extension period has not been established by this announcement.
Is CHSP being replaced by Support at Home?
The current Australian Government information says Support at Home will replace CHSP no earlier than 1 July 2027, while the latest announcement confirms CHSP has now been extended to 30 June 2029. The government is consulting on how entry-level support should be designed and better integrated with Support at Home.
How can I find out which aged care support is right for me or a family member?
An aged care assessment determines whether someone is eligible for CHSP and other aged care services. My Aged Care provides information about assessments, available programs and finding aged care providers.
What does the Commonwealth Home Support Program extension mean for your family?
The Commonwealth Home Support Program extended to 30 June 2029 provides an important period of certainty for older Australians who rely on entry-level support at home. At the same time, the Australian Government is considering how entry-level aged care should operate in the longer term and how it can work more consistently with Support at Home.
If you or a family member would like to discuss what the current aged care changes may mean for your broader financial circumstances, contact the team at Paris Financial on (03) 8393 1000 to have a chat.
