Ageing Australia congratulates the Albanese Government for listening to aged care providers, in today’s decision to extend the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) as a separate entity for a further two years until 30 June 2029.
Ageing Australia and our members have worked closely with the Government, and members of parliament from across the political spectrum over the past 12 months to secure the future of community-based aged care, in order to give certainty to both the 830,00 older Australians who rely on those services, and to those who provide their care.
“CHSP supports more older Australians than any other single program, so it’s vital older people have certainty that these services will continue,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“As an entry-level program, CHSP helps older people remain in their homes for longer and helps them maintain their independence and live fulfilling lives in their own communities.”
“We have said from the start that we must preserve what works well in CHSP and avoid simply allowing it to be rolled it into a Support at Home (SaH) program that is not yet delivering for older people.”
The extension will continue to provide block funding to support around 1,300 providers to deliver CHSP services, including state and local governments, not for profit organisations, and community groups.
“Providers need that certainty to keep the services running. Without it, many have been forced to consider closure or service reductions. I hope that much of that can be avoided with today’s announcement.”
“Aged Care Minister Rae was explicit that providers’ concerns were vital in this decision, vowing to continue working with us to design the program moving forward. Providers are the ones delivering support to older Australians day-in day-out and I am proud that we have been able to achieve this outcome.”
“It’s critical that we use this time to look at existing contracts, and make sure they’re sufficient to provide the support needed for local communities. Many are outdated with woefully inadequate funding to deliver for the needs of the community, which must be urgently addressed. We also need to use this time to consult with the community and the sector to get the program right, long term.”
“We look forward to working with the Government on how to grow CHSP to better support the growing number of older Australians to stay independent and ensure it remains sustainable for the long-term.”
