Home and Community Care

ACCPA support for members

ACCPA supports home and community care providers by engaging with government and stakeholders on funding, policy and reform issues.

In Australia, home care services are currently delivered through the government-subsidised Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and the Home Care Packages program (HCP).

From 1 July 2025 the Home Care Packages program will be replaced by the Support at Home Program, which was announced by the Australian Government in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. ACCPA is working with government and members to influence the design of the program and ensure it can be implemented effectively.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Home Support Program has been extended to 30 June 2027, and will transition to the Support at Home Program no earlier than 2027.

For providers of both services, this obviously creates a level of complexity and uncertainty.

For support and advice, ACCPA members providing both HCP and CHSP home and community care services can email or call 1300 222 721.

CHSP Advisory Hub – for members and non-members

ACCPA is also supporting non-member CHSP providers, and members providing CHSP services, through the CHSP Advisory Hub.

The Hub aims to equip CHSP providers with the knowledge, tools and strategies necessary to support planning for the changes between now and 2027.

View the instructional video to find out more about the The CHSP Advisory Hub.

Careers and Professional Development

Home Care Workforce Support Program

Delivered by ACCPA in conjunction with the Human Services Skills Organisation and PowerHouse Hub, this government funded program is aimed at attracting more personal care workers, nurses and allied health professionals to work in home and community care roles in Victoria and Tasmania.

Discovering Aged Care Careers

Discovering Aged Care Careers is a national workforce initiative to highlight real career opportunities and pathways in aged care. The DACC campaign is an important step in the promotion of aged care careers and invites all Australians to consider building a meaningful career while making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Support at Home Alliance

The Support at Home Alliance advocates on reform issues and is working with Professor Kathy Eagar to develop a preferred funding model for the new Support at Home Program commencing mid 2024. The Alliance submission on home care reform proposes a funding model that is based on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC). This would ensure a consistent approach to funding across residential and home and community care.

The Alliance’s previous paper on seamless aged care sets out important principles for Support at Home program design. The Alliance advocates for a home care system that recognises:

a human rights-based approach
a person’s freely and competently exercised choice to the care they wish to receive, including the manner and source of care
a sustainable balance between consumer need and fiscal constraints, maintaining a clearly detailed, holistic service for good to inform older Australians, carers and communities of choice and affordability.

How home care is delivered in Australia

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

An entry-level home support program that helps older people to live independently in their homes and communities and provides respite services to give carers a break. CHSP providers receive Australian Government funding through grant agreements. They then provide subsidised services to older people, who pay a contribution. There are around 1,400 CHSP providers in Australia and most are not-for-profit organisations. Visit our What's On page to find learning opportunities for CHSP providers.