Updated CHSP Manual - Effective from 1 November 2025
An updated CHSP Manual has just been released by the Department, effective from 1 November 2025.
The CHSP 2025-27 Manual has been updated to reflect program changes under the Aged Care Act 2024. This version supersedes previous versions from 1 November 2025.
Clarification on Financial Acquittal Reports & Assessment Requirements for CHSP Clients
An update following recent questions regarding financial acquittal reporting under the Commonwealth Standard Terms of Agreement – Clause E3: Financial Acquittal Reports.
Please note (as you may already be aware) This clause states “The financial declaration must include a statement that the funding received under the Grant was expended only on clients with an assessment approval and services as defined under the service list”.
As at the new contract period 1 July 2025, many existing CHSP clients are still receiving services but are yet to be assessed—largely due to current delays in assessment service capacity.
To address this, the Department has acknowledged the situation and confirmed that all existing CHSP clients must be assessed by 1 November 2025. In response, the financial declaration requirements will be adjusted to reflect this timeline.
Key Points to Note:
The 2025–26 financial acquittal (due 31 August 2026) will include a compliance statement confirming that grant funding was used only for individuals with an assessment approval, in accordance with Section 65 of the Act
The Department will ensure the financial declaration wording reflects that this applies from 1 November 2025 onwards, not for the entire financial year.
What You Need to Do:
Providers should immediately begin collecting My Aged Care (MAC) IDs for all clients
Support clients who are not yet registered or assessed to complete this process before 1 November 2025
From 1 January 2026, providers will be expected to report client MAC IDs in DEX.
The Department will:
Monitor MAC ID reporting in DEX from 1 January 2026
Provide outreach to assist providers whose clients remain unregistered at that time
Support providers dealing with exceptional circumstances affecting client assessments
Issue further guidance on completing the financial declaration where needed.
Reminder:
To avoid any compliance issues, please ensure all CHSP clients—especially grandfathered clients—are supported to request an assessment via My Aged Care as soon as possible.
For further queries about unregistered clients or statutory obligations, please contact the CHSP team directly at CHSPprogram@health.gov.au
New Statement of Rights Resources
The Statement of Rights starts on 1 November with the new Aged Care Act. It will help make sure older people are at the centre of their aged care.
New printable resources are available to help providers explain what rights older people have when accessing aged care services.
These include:
a poster for public service areas, staff break rooms and bulletin boards
Support to understand your obligations and requirements under the Act is here!
This online tool can help to understand the requirements of registered aged care providers under the Act. It provides a summary of the legislative requirements based on the responses you provide and allows for filtering based upon Registration Category and Service types.
This tool does not replace the Act or associated Rules — it is a guide to help support you navigate them. For full details, always check the Act and associated Rules.
The department has published further changes to the Support at Home Manual, alongside several resources to guide providers and participants in the lead up to 1 November.
The full version of the latest manual can be read HERE.
Provider Operational Readiness Priority Actions List
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have updated and created a new Operational Readiness Priority List in September 2025.
This list aims to guide aged care providers on what you need to do before and after 1 November 2025, to implement the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program.
This list consolidates information and guidance that has been (or soon will be) released to support transition and readiness.
We recommend providers consider these actions to prepare for the changes. The approach taken by your organisation may be different to others and individual circumstances should be considered.
Unassessed CHSP clients with exceptional circumstances
Please review the below fact sheet which include information on how Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers can help their current unassisted clients apply for consideration under the exceptional circumstances pathway, if they cannot be assessed due to their circumstances before 1 November 2025.
Click here - to download the fact sheet Click here - to download the CHSP Aged Care clients information collection notice Click here - to download the CHSP data collection spreadsheet - Exceptional circumstances pathway.
Webinar: A New Chapter for Aged Care
Join the Department of Health, Disability & Ageing for a webinar about the transition to the new Aged Care Act.
This webinar is for providers and will discuss the key changes that will be in place from 1 November, including the Support at Home program, new regulatory model and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
When: Tuesday 21 October, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (AEDT).
The webinar will help you:
manage the transition
understand the next steps
ask questions and get practical guidance.
You will be able to submit questions before and during the webinar.
The Community Grants Hub is enhancing support services for grant applicants and recipients. From Wednesday 1 October 2025, a new online contact system will replace the current helpdesk phone number (1800 020 283).
To speak with them over the phone from 1 October, you will be able to request a callback through the user-friendly online form, available 24/7. This allows you to contact the Community Grants Hub at a time convenient for you, enabling enquiries to be addressed more efficiently during standard business hours (9am-5pm AEST/AEDT).
This improved system also offers enhanced accessibility. Those needing support through the National Relay Service or translation services can indicate this on the online form along with communication preference of an email response or a callback.
A free workshop and networking event hosted by Carers Victoria and the Grampians Sector Development Team.
About this event:
This session will focus on building your understanding of unpaid carers in our community, exploring the issues impacting on their caring role and what key services are available to support them.
Topics include:
Carer awareness – the carer landscape, themes and challenges faced by carers, including in the current aged care context
Carer supports – referral options, services available to unpaid carers
Implementing Carer Aware – exploring ways to support carers within your service and within your broader organisation.
A networking opportunity and complimentary lunch will follow the workshop.
Please advise of dietary requirements when registering.
When:
Wednesday 25 Feb 2026
10.00am - 12.30pm (AEDT)
Who should attend:
This workshop is designed for organisations and staff working under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). It is also relevant to the broader aged care sector and its workers.
Organisations that support unpaid family and friend carers are also welcome to attend.
This program is supported by the Australian Government.
Professional Development for Direct Care & Social Support Staff: November 2025
The Grampians Sector Development Team is excited to share upcoming Professional Development training for Direct Care Staff – supporting both in-home services and social support activities.
The training will be delivered by Kate Pascale & Associates and will be held virtually via the Zoom platform.
12 November 2025 @ 2pm – 3.30pm (AEDT):
Communicating with Clients and managing challenging conversations.
Dignity of Risk VS Duty of Care Training November 2025
The Grampians Sector Development Team welcomes you to join us for a 1.5 hour online training session via Zoom with Dr Melanie Tan from Clinical Governance Consulting.
The session will cover:
The concept of dignity of risk (and how this relates to person-centred care)
What ‘duty of care’ means in a community context
How to balance dignity of risk and duty of care and what this looks like – eg. approaches to conversations and documentation, intersection with other obligations such as incident management, Aged Care Quality Standards, etc.
3 free sessions available, tailored to the following cohorts:
Managers and policy makers: Monday 17 November, 11am-12.30pm (AEDT)
Allied Health and Nursing staff (clinical): Wednesday 19 November, 10am-11.30am (AEDT)
Direct care staff in the home or social support settings (non-clinical): Tuesday 25th November, 1.30pm-3pm (AEDT).
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