Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

What is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is an entry-level, in-home support program for older people who need assistance and services to live independently and safely at home. CHSP is intended to provide short-term support for people recovering from surgery or a fall or low-level ongoing service while you wait for a Home Care Package to be assigned.

Our CHSP services

Nursing

Our qualified and compassionate nursing staff will come to your home and provide short-term support with:

Physiotherapy

Our Physiotherapist will visit you to discuss how you are managing your physical activities at home and in the community.

Physiotherapists are trained in the structure and function of the human body and its movement. They can diagnose and treat a range of conditions related to your strength, balance and mobility.

After a thorough assessment of your abilities, the physiotherapist will develop a plan, strategies and recommendations to help you live safely and independently at home.

Group exercise program

Held in our Wellness Centre in the heart of Melbourne, our group exercise program will help you build strength and mobility.

A physiotherapist will first assess your strength, movement and balance and then provide a tailored exercise program to improve your mobility. They will also undertake regular reviews of your program and make the right adjustments to enhance your recovery.

Our group exercise programs are held every week.

Personal care

Domestic assistance

Respite

Pricing and fees

While these services are mainly subsidised through the CHSP, we do charge a small fee. Pricing is flexible depending on individual circumstances.

Am I eligible for CHSP funding and how do I apply for it?

While our team are happy to guide you through this process, here are three steps you will need to complete to apply for CHSP funding.

Step 1: Check your eligibility and apply through My Aged Care

Basic eligibility for Australian Government-funded services requires you to be:

aged 65 or more years old, or 50 years or more for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
still living at home
having difficulty with daily living and needing help to continue living independently.

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you can apply for the Commonwealth Home Support Program through the Government’s My Aged Care service.

You can either:

use My Aged Care’s My Aged Care, which takes 15–20 minutes, or
call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Step 2: My Aged Care assessment

You will then be contacted by telephone for a confidential discussion with an approved My Aged Care assessor, who will ask you some questions.

Your answers will help them determine your suitability for the program and the level of support you need. If you require further support, they may direct you to a Home Care Package.

The assessor may then lock in a suitable time to visit you at your home. You can have a family member or friend present at this meeting, if you wish.

If the assessor approves your funding at this meeting, they will give you a unique referral code(s) to access services in Step 3.

Step 3: Access care and support services

You can now start organising any eligible services through Royal Freemasons and other relevant providers.

Call 1800 756 091 to have a discussion with our supportive team about what services are right for you.