Commonwealth Home Support Programme
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: What is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is central to the Government's aged care reform plan and will support thedevelopment of anend-to-endaged care system.
From 1 July 2015, the Commonwealth HACC Program, the National Respite for Carers Program, the Day Therapy Centres Program will be combined under a single streamlined Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
Together, they will provide basic maintenance, care, support and respite services for older people living in their own homes, and the community, and their carers.
The current Assistance with Care and Housing for the AgedProgram was originally planned to form part of the new Programme. However, given the specialised nature of this service, the Department is seeking feedback from stakeholders on whether this should form part of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or be a separate programme.
Q: Why establishthe new Programme?
A: The current home support system is built on a number of separate programmes which have expanded and changed significantly over the past few decades.
This has led to a fragmented system that is difficult for clients and their carers to navigate, and complex for service providers to operate in.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will deliver a nationally-consistent system that continues to provide older people with the care they need in their own home and community, while being more efficient and easier to understand and administer.
The new, streamlined Programme will have less red tape and easier ways to report and plan to giveservice providers more time to focus on caring for older people.
Q: Will there be a change to the way existing home support programmes are delivered before 1 July 2015?
A: From now until 1 July 2015, business-as-usual arrangements will be in place for all existing Commonwealth-funded home support services. This means no changes, until then, in the services delivered or received under Commonwealth HACC, National Respite for Carers Program, Day Therapy Centres Program and the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged.
Q: When will service providers and clients be notified about new arrangements under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A:The Department has released a Discussion Paper on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme’sproposed broad directions and key design features, including changes the sector can expect during the transition to future arrangements. The paper is available on the Department of Social Serviceswebsite at
Further detail about the new Programme, including government and service provider responsibilities will be detailed in the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual, which is expected to be released later in 2014.
Q: How will HACC services in Victoria and Western Australia be impacted by the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: Coinciding with the establishment of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, from 1July2015 it is anticipated that the Commonwealth will take on full policy and funding responsibility for Home and Community Care (HACC) and related services for older clients in Victoria.
The introduction of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme will seek to build on the strengths of the existing jointly funded HACC Program in Victoria. The transition arrangements in Victoria will be consistent with other jurisdictions where a period of stability was provided prior to full integration. Detailed transition arrangements are currently being developed jointly with Victoria. Further communication activities will be undertaken with Victorian HACC service providers.
Negotiations on a HACC transition in Western Australia are underway but at an early stage. While these negotiations are underway the jointly funded HACC Program will continue in Western Australia.
Q: How will contestability apply in the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: The Government supports the use of contestable processes to maximise client outcomes and achieve value for money.
Contestability will be implemented with the following considerations:
- Ongoing transition of Victoria and WA HACC services to the Commonwealth;
- Existing capacity to operate new services and programme infrastructure;
- Whether all service types are suitable for tendering (e.g. Meals on Wheels where there is a high volunteer contribution);
- The feasibility of tendering minimally funded services (e.g. where an organisation receives less than $50,000 per annum); and
- Trialling different approaches to contestability (such as ‘cashing out’ respite funds to carers/consumers).
The Key Directions for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Discussion Paper outlines that contestability will need to be applied to create the new Regional Assessment Services and Sector Support and Development roles in advance of the programme commencement.
Discussion Paper and Feedback Process
Q: What is the purpose of the Key Directions for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Discussion Paper?
A: The release of the Discussion Paper is the next major step in the development of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. The paper will seek feedback from aged care clients, their carers and their advocates, aged care providers, workers, health professionals and academics on the proposed design of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
The paper covers the strengths and challenges of the current home support system, key directions and design elements of the new programme, transition arrangements for activities no longer in scope and considerations beyond 2015.
Q: How do I have my say on the development of the new Programme?
A: Stakeholders are invited to provide their written feedback on any questions raised in the Discussion Paper, which is now available on the Department of Social Services website at
Templates are available on the DSS’s website. You can download these and save them as a Microsoft Word document on your computer.
Q: How will my feedback be used?
A: Feedback will be analysed by the department and used to help prepare the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual, due for expected release later in 2014.
Feedback will also inform longer–termpolicy and programme development in the context of the five-year review of the aged care reforms in 2016-17.
Q: How do I submit my written submission?
A: You should send completed submissions to the Department by:
- emailing a Microsoft Word documentto inbox (preferred method)
- mailing a hard copy of the completed submission to Home Support Policy Team, Level 6, Sirius Building, PO Box 7576, Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610,
Sendsubmissions to the Department by 5pm on 30 June 2014. Any submissions received after this closing date may not be considered.
Q: Will the Department of Social Services confirm that my submission was received?
A: DSS will reply with anemail confirmation within two working days of receiving the submission.
Submissions sent via post will not receive a confirmation.
Q: Where can I get more information about the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: Information on the CHSP is available on the Department of Social Services website. Further updates will be provided over the coming months.
If you have any further enquiries about the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, you can contact the Home Support Policy Team at .
Aged Care Stakeholder briefings
Q: Will the upcoming aged care stakeholder briefings cover the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: Yes. Although the roadshow will largely cover the upcoming 1 July 2014 changes, an update will be provided on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
In capital cities, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme briefings will run at the same times as the briefings on the 1 July 2014 changes to residential care.
Inregional areas, the key directions for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme are being covered as part of an integrated briefing session, rather than a separate, concurrent stream.
Q: Where can I find out more information on the aged care roadshow?
A: Please go to the Department’s website at for further information about the upcoming stakeholder briefings, including registering your interest to attend a session in your areas.
My Aged Care
Q: What is My Aged Care?
A: My Aged Care is creating a national, identifiable information and service resource for aged care. People will be able to access services in several ways, making it easier for older people, their carers and family members to obtain timely and reliable information on ageing and aged care. My Aged Care is simplifying the way older people can have their needs assessed, as well as how they locate and access the services that are most appropriate for them.
My Aged Care consists of an Australian Government website (www.myagedcare.gov.au) and national phone line (1800 200 422). The phone line is open from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and from 10am-2pm Saturday throughout Australia.
Q: How will assessment change under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme given the role of My Aged Care?
A:The assessment capability for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme will sit with My Aged Care. Assessment will be independent from service provision and will include the introduction of a screening and face-to-face assessment capability for entry to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, which will be supported by a standardised national assessment tool and central electronic client record.
Q: How can My Aged Care help me?
A: My Aged Care provides you with information about the aged care system and how to access services within your local area, whether for yourself, a family member or someone you’re caring for.
You can call the My Aged Care phone line on 1800 200 422 between 8:00am and 8:00pm weekdays and between 10:00am and 2:00pm on Saturday or visit the My Aged Care website (www.myagedcare.gov.au).
Q: When will I be able to use My Aged Care?
A: Now. My Aged Care website commenced in July 2013 and is accessible through the My Aged Care website ( and phone line (1800 200 422).
Q: What impact will My Aged Care have on aged care service providers?
A: As an aged care provider, My Aged Care provides them with a channel to promote their services. It is important that they ensure information about their service is current by regularly updating their service details.
The Department is continuing to work with service providers, the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) and peak bodies (amongst others) to design the next stage of My Aged Care.
Information about the development of My Aged Care will be available on the Department’s website at dss.gov.au or if you have any questions, you can email
Q: What will change for health professionals with the introduction of My Aged Care?
A: Health professionals will not need to change their work practices for now, other than telling their patients about My Aged Care. In the future, the main changes that will impact them include:
- promoting My Aged Care as the entry point for aged care information and access to services by providing patients with the My Aged Care website address ( and phone number (1800 200 422)
- referring patients to My Aged Care for aged care needs assessments by providing them with the website and phone line details, or calling the My Aged Care phone line on the patient’s behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions for Consumers
Q: Where can I get more information about the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
Information on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme is available on Department of Social Serviceswebsite at In coming months there will be further updates.
The My Aged Care website at also be updated with information, particularly as we approach closer to 1 July 2015.
Q: When will the changes be happening?
A: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is due to begin on 1 July 2015. The services you are currently receiving will not change before this date. More information about services under the new Programme will be available soon.
Q: Will I have to pay for services I receive under the new Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
A: Yes, a nationally consistent fees policy will be introduced on 1 July 2015, as part of the design of the new Programme. Currently, fees policies for home support services are different across Australia.
The new policy will mean a fairer system where clients of similar means will pay consistent fees (regardless of location).
Through the introduction of a nationally consistent fees policy, home support fees will increase over time from a current national average of around five per cent collection to fifteen per cent nationally by 2017-18 in order to ensure the sustainability of the home support system. Not everyone will pay this amount; it will depend on the person’s income, determined through a simple means test.
The fees policy will ensure that people who need services receive them regardless of any inability to pay the set fee.