On 23 June 2026, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee (Committee) released its report, recommending that the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) be retained as a separate block-funded program and not transitioned into the Support at Home (SAH) program.
The Committee also recommended extending CHSP funding for an additional three years after July 2027 to allow time for consultation and co-design and for the operation of the Single Assessment System and SAH to be assessed to inform consideration of transitioning CHSP.
Background
The Government was proposing to transition CHSP into SAH no earlier than 1 July 2027. SAH was introduced in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's recommendation to bring together the in-home aged care programs. It aims to create a more equitable system, improve access to services, assistive technology and home modifications, and better help older people to stay active, healthy and socially connected to their communities.
The Committee's terms of reference for the report required it to consider the timeline for the transition, the expected impact of this transition, including on waiting periods for assessment and receipt of care, lifetime caps and thin markets, as well as aged care provider readiness.
Rationale for the separation
The Committee’s stark finding was that transitioning an estimated 800,000 older Australians into SAH, a program that already has extensive wait times, would result in 'further suffering and unnecessary deaths.' The Committee expressed serious concerns about the current operation of SAH including the impacts of the co-contribution model and the administrative, technological and workforce impost of transitioning to the new requirements of SAH. The Committee concluded that SAH should be given time to 'settle into place' before any CHSP transition is contemplated, emphasising the need for adequate consultation with the broader sector and implementation of the modelling, reporting and monitoring recommended by the Auditor-General.
The Committee considered that the viability of CHSP providers is important, particularly in thin markets where they play an essential role in connecting older people with their communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. CHSP's block-funding model was recognised as essential in maintaining provider viability as it covers fixed costs such as infrastructure, vehicles and a trained workforce, ensuring services can continue regardless of attendance levels.
What providers should do now
- Monitor and engage in consultation processes: The Committee recommended that the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing begin a consultation and co-design process in collaboration with service providers, advocacy groups, older Australians, state and territory governments and experts regarding the future of the CHSP. Providers should monitor the Consultation Hub and engage in any upcoming consultation processes regarding the CHSP.
- Continue compliance: As the transition of CHSP is not going ahead as planned, providers should continue to meet all current CHSP grant obligations and maintain strong governance and reporting practices, including monitoring updates to the CHSP Manual.
- Note possibility of future transition: The Committee's report suggests that there may be future considerations of the transition of the CHSP. Providers should therefore monitor any future recommendations or decisions.
If you would like to discuss how the Committee's recommendations may affect your organisation, please contact our team.
