CHSP Client Assessments required before 1 November 2025
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is reminding CHSP providers to support all unregistered and unassessed clients to register with My Aged Care and obtain an assessment. This is essential to ensure clients can continue receiving CHSP services beyond 1 November 2025.
All CHSP clients must be assessed (unless full fee paying), including grandfathered CHSP clients and those transitioned from programs that no longer operate.
Clients can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for assessment support.
Younger people (under 65 or under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients) must meet specific criteria to access aged care services after this date.
CHSP Webinar Recording (12 June 2025) and FAQs available HERE
Final Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards August 2025
The final strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are now available. Providers are required to meet the Outcomes in the Standards and demonstrate their conformance during audit.
The Actions provide guidance on how adherence to each Outcome can be demonstrated.
Read the final strengthened Quality Standards HERE
These Standards will take effect from 1 November this year, in line with the new Aged Care Act. Until then, the current Aged Care Quality Standards remain in effect.
CHSP Home Support Program - frequently asked questions - sector readiness webinar
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing has just released a FAQ document with answers to questions which were raised during the Commonwealth Home Support Program sector readiness webinar held on 12 June 2025.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing have published case studies to help older people get ready for the new registered supporter role in aged care.
If an older person has a regular or authorised representative active in My Aged Care on 31 October, they will automatically become their registered supporter on 1 November.
The case studies explain:
how the transition will work
how to opt out if an older person or their regular representative doesn’t want to transition to a registered supporter relationship
how older people can discuss their wishes with their authorised representative
how an authorised representative can opt out of transitioning to becoming a registered supporter.
View and share the registered supporter case studies HERE
For more information, older people can visit the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422.
Guidance for in-home meal requirements August 2025
From 1 November 2025, under the Aged Care Act 2024 (the new Act), registered providers will have to meet certain conditions of registration, obligations and statutory duties when delivering funded aged care services.
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have just released some Guidance and factsheets for aged care providers on these requirements.
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have just updated their resources to help providers prepare for digital changes coming with the new Aged Care Act.
For technical support, please contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5.
Have Your Say: CHSP Provider Survey Now Open
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is conducting a performance audit on the effectiveness of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), with findings to be tabled in Parliament in March 2026.
As part of this audit, ANAO is inviting CHSP providers to share their experiences through a short online survey HERE
Survey closes: Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Takes approx. 10–15 minutes to complete
All responses are confidential and anonymous if preferred.
The audit focuses on three key questions:
Does CHSP meet community need?
Are CHSP services delivered effectively?
Is CHSP meeting its objectives?
Your feedback will help inform ANAO’s recommendations to improve CHSP services, but you or your organisation will not be identified in the final report.
Submit your response or anonymous feedback via the ANAO audit webpage HERE Questions? Contact the audit team at chsp.audit@anao.gov.au
The Aged Care Quality Safety Commission have updated their resources on audits under the new Aged Care Act. The draft audit resources help providers understand what to expect from the Commission when they assess performances against the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. If you’re registered in category 4, 5 or 6, you must comply with the strengthened Quality Standards.
The Commission do an audit to assess if agencies conform with the relevant strengthened Quality Standards. The audit helps the Commission make a decision about your application for registration or registration renewal. They audit providers against the strengthened Quality Standards when you are:
Webinar: Changes in financial reporting from 1 November
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing are hosting a webinar on the upcoming changes to financial reporting requirements starting from 1 November. This webinar is for residential and Support at Home providers and staff responsible for financial reporting.
When: Tuesday 23 September, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (AEST).
The webinar will include:
changes to financial reporting requirements as part of the transition to the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program
changes to the Quarterly Financial Report Quarter 2 2025–26 and Aged Care Financial Report 2025–26
The final release Version 3 of the Aged Care Act & Support at Home Communications Toolkit is now available. This practical, time-saving communications toolkit supports Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Support at Home service providers during the transition to the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program. With limited time before the new Act takes effect, providers must ensure their staff, clients and governing boards understand what’s changing and why it matters. This Toolkit bridges the gap between government-issued materials and what providers need on the ground. It includes:
Editable templates to tailor communications to staff, clients and boards
Clear, audience-specific messaging to support understanding and reduce confusion
FAQs and staff scripts to help frontline teams respond confidently and accurately
Resources that promote compliance, minimise risk, and maintain trust across all stakeholder groups.
The toolkit ensures key messages are delivered consistently and clearly, saving time and pressure of creating materials from scratch. You can access the Toolkit HERE
Reminder for all HACC PYP service providers that the Sector Development Team host a Virtual Community of Practice for HACC PYP Staff. The Virtual CoP - operated through Trello, is a collection of resources and information relating to HACC PYP Services, including Guidelines, operational information and frequently asked questions.
The Virtual Community of Practice is also a platform that providers can use to ask questions of fellow HACC PYP providers, share policy and processes and request support from others. It is moderated by the Grampians Sector Development Team.
We are currently seeking feedback to from HACC PYP Providers on their interest in attending online Focus Topic Sessions covering operational HACC PYP Topics.
These sessions would offer information and the opportunity to talk through operational challenges and identify and share solutions.
As part of the assessment into the government's progress in responding to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Inspector-General of Aged Care has released a progress report. To access the full report click HERE
In relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elder Care, the vision of the Royal Commission has not been achieved. It is the view of the Inspector General and peak body VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) that the government intends to mainstream aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This would be detrimental to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaging in aged care services and goes against the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care.
To read VACCHO's position statement on Aboriginal Aged Care Reforms, click HERE
To read the Inspector-General of Aged Care's progress report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care, click HERE
Thrive, elevate your performance from the inside out
The Grampians Sector Development Team, Hume Region Alliance, Bellarine Community Health and West Gippsland Healthcare Group are pleased to offer you some Training for all CHSP staff around Wellness and resilience called: Thrive, elevate your performance from the inside out.
This session will be 60min in length and facilitated by Ashley Whitehead from EQ Minds who presented at our May 2025 Best Practice in Ballarat.
This session will cover:
The Power of our Emotions and Emotional Contagion: Exploring how mood and mindset influence teams, and simple strategies to lift team culture and energy
Micro Habits for Mental Health: How small, consistent wellbeing practices, grounded in mindfulness, can help build resilience, reduce overwhelm, and create space to recharge in the midst of busy days
Thrive Through Change: Understanding the emotional impact of change and how to stay grounded through transitions using evidence-based wellbeing tools
Boundaries for Wellbeing: Understanding the role of healthy boundaries in protecting energy, reducing compassion fatigue, and improving communication.
There are 2 sessions available to choose from (all sessions will be the same content):
Wednesday 26 November 2025 @ 1-2pm (AEST)
Thursday 19 March 2026 @ 10-11am (AEST)
Target Audience: Suitable for all CHSP Service provider staff from front line staff right through to Executive and Board.
There are no limits to the number of attendees you can send.
Professional Development for Direct Care & Social Support Staff: October - 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.
