CHSP Service Agreement Guidance and Materials for CHSP Providers
The long awaited CHSP Service Agreement guidance and materials for CHSP providers has now been released by the Department of Health, Disability & Ageing providing information for existing CHSP clients, new CHSP clients and actions for CHSP providers to take prior to 1 November 2025.
The suit of guidance materials supports CHSP providers with the requirement to:
have a Service Agreement with each client
provide clients with specific information, as outlined in the Aged Care Rules 2025
The Commission expect to receive a large number of variation applications.
The Commission will continue to release and update resources and guidance material in the lead-up to 1 November. To keep up to date, keep reading the monthly Quality Bulletin.
You can find out more about provider registration at the register and audit providers page HERE.
Supported Decision-Making Toolkit
A new legislated supported decision-making approach will commence on 1 November 2025 under the new Aged Care Act, creating significant responsibilities for those providing care, as well as for families and others who support older people.
To help prepare for these changes, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has launched new supported decision-making resources for both older people and aged care providers.
These new resources give older people practical tools to exercise that right and help providers understand how to embed supported decision-making in everyday practice.
The Supported decision-making toolkit helps older people, their families and supporters understand what supported decision-making is, why it matters, and how to use it in everyday life. It includes practical tips, easy-to-understand information, and real-life examples to help people stay in control of decisions about their care, services and daily life.
The new Aged Care Act 2024 (new Act) introduces ‘associated providers’ to describe an organisation delivering funded aged care services on behalf of a registered provider. The introduction of associated providers under the new Act will improve transparency in aged care.
From 1 November, providers must notify the Commission about their associated providers at registration and renewal, and when certain associated provider arrangements change.
Providers must have systems to make sure that associated providers deliver safe, quality services and comply with requirements.
Associated provider requirements give the Commission better visibility of relationships with third-party organisations that can affect the continuity, quality or safety of care.
The Commission’s latest Regulatory Bulletin provides clarity for providers on how the Commission will regulate associated provider requirements under the new Act.
The Regulatory Bulletin covers:
who is an associated provider
who is not an associated provider
providers' requirements when using associated providers, including reporting requirements
requirements on associated providers.
For more information read the latest Regulatory Bulletin HERE.
The Associated Provider Assurance Toolkit is a practical resource designed to support Registered Aged Care Providers in demonstrating due diligence when onboarding and managing associated providers in line with the Aged Care Act 2024, the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, and related program requirements.
This toolkit is intended as a flexible resource that can be adapted to suit each provider’s governance framework, service model, and risk profile.
The toolkit includes:
An overview of legislative and regulatory expectations for managing associated providers
Sector-wide obligations applicable to all associated provider agreements
A suite of practical tools to support selection, onboarding, induction, and ongoing monitoring
Guidance on conducting file audits, workforce credential checks, training reviews, and collecting client feedback
Templates to promote clear communication, consistency, and audit readiness.
The toolkit will assist registered providers to strengthen existing contractor management practices, prepare for the new regulatory environment commencing 1 November 2025, and maintain ongoing compliance with quality and safety requirements.
The Toolkit will also be made available via the Grampians Sector Development Team website shortly.
If you have any issues accessing the resource, please reach out to the Grampians Sector Development Team at Sectordevelopment@bchc.org.au
CHSP Providers: Accessing GPMS for the first time
Providers delivering Commonwealth Home Support Progam (CHSP) services will have access to the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) for the first time on 3 November.
CHSP providers will only use GPMS to view and update your organisation’s details.
You will continue to use the Data Exchange (DEX) for reporting after 3 November.
On 13 October, the Department sent an email to the organisation administrator you nominated earlier this year. If your organisation did not receive this email, please contact GPMS.project@health.gov.au.
From 3 November, CHSP providers should:
check your details are correct in GPMS
ask your organisation administrator to add additional users as needed
contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5, if you have any issues.
For more information, you can access the GPMS resources HERE.
Sector Performance Report
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released a special edition of the Sector Performance Report. It includes the usual data from Quarter 4 (April to June), plus an overview of performance trends from 2023–2025. The report provides a summary of sector performance ahead of the new Aged Care Act. It includes information on:
Support at Home – Communication Toolkit for informing older people
This toolkit provides information and materials to help aged care providers, peak bodies, advocacy organisations and community groups inform older people, their families and carers about how the Support at Home program will operate under the new Aged Care Act.
Commonwealth Home Support Program – Care and Services Plans checklist guidance
From 1 November 2025 under the Aged Care Act 2024, all CHSP clients approved to access funded aged care services must have a Care and Services Plan in place that includes:
details of the client’s care needs, goals and preferences
the frequency and volume of the services to meet the client’s needs
a review date (Care and Services Plans must be reviewed at least once every 12 months).
CHSP registered providers must develop a Care and Services Plan for a client:
before or on the client’s start date; or
if the client is accessing funded aged care services in any of the circumstances where a person may access services before assessment or determination.
The Department have created a CHSP Case & Service Plans checklist to provide guidance for CHSP providers on developing Care and Services Plans required under the Aged Care Act 2024 starting from 1 November 2025.
Temporary Access – Health Professional Contact Required:
As the Chronic Wound Consumable Scheme (CWCS) undergoes adjustments to temporary access arrangements, the Department of Health, Ageing and Disability is requesting that health professionals contact the Department directly to discuss individual cases where access is required.
The Chronic Wound Consumable Scheme (CWCS) is designed to support individuals with diabetes and chronic wounds who meet the following criteria:
Aged 65 or over, or
First Nations persons aged 50 or over.
Important eligibility notes:
Patients are not eligible for the CWCS if they already receive wound consumables through other government-funded programs, such as:
Home Care Package (HCP)
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
Community wound clinics.
Clarification for CHSP clients:
If a CHSP client meets the CWCS eligibility and does not currently receive wound consumables through existing CHSP funding — and no duplication of services occurs — they may temporarily access the CWCS. This access remains valid until their funding is reassessed or they transition to a Home Care Package or Residential Aged Care.
Accessing the scheme:
Health professionals eligible to use the CWCS (including nurses and podiatrists) must complete the required training to access the CWCS portal.
For more information and training requirements, click HERE.
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