Submission to the Australian National Audit Office on effectiveness of the Commonwealth Home Support Program

Ageing Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO’s) performance audit of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

As the national peak body for aged care, Ageing Australia represents 1,036 members, 616 of whom deliver CHSP services across all service types. The CHSP remains the cornerstone of entry-level aged care, delivering timely and low intensity supports that help older Australians remain safe, well, and connected within their homes and communities. While the program broadly aligns with its objectives, performance varies significantly across regions and service types, primarily due to thin markets, workforce shortages, assessment delays, and increasing participant complexity.