The CHSP provides entry-level support to help older people continue to live safely and independently at home and in their communities. It is available to people aged 65+ years, and Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+ years.

CHSP is suitable for people who live independently at home but need small amounts of support, rather than for people with intensive or complex care needs. People with higher needs are supported through other programs such as Home Care Packages and residential aged care. 

CHSP clients can access services including domestic assistance, transport, meals, personal care, home maintenance, home modifications, social support, nursing, and allied health. Planned respite services are also available and services may be accessed on a short-term, intermittent, or ongoing basis.  

The HCP Program supports older people aged 65+ years (or First Nations people aged 50+ years) with complex ageing-related care needs to live independently in their own homes.

It is important that, as people age, they have choice about their care, playing an active role in where they live, which provider they choose to deliver their care and how they provide services.

In consideration of the Consumer Directed Care principles, Albany Community Care works with care recipients to agree on their own level of involvement in their care. 

Home Care Packages (‘packages’ or HCPs) deliver coordinated care and services to meet people’s assessed ageing related care needs within the limits of their individual home care budget and the scope of the program. 

The new Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 July 2025. 

Support at Home will bring together current in-home aged care programs, ensuring a simpler and more equitable system for older people that helps them to stay at home for longer.  It provides:

• upfront supports to maintain independence, such as allied health, assistive technology and home modifications,

• new classification and budget levels to better meet a person’s aged care needs,

• participant contributions set by government.

To know more, see the Department of Health and Aged care website.

Details of the Support at Home program are available in the program manual.