Aged care service providers in Australia play a vital role in delivering essential support and assistance to older individuals, ensuring they can maintain their independence and quality of life as they age. Central to this mission are various Aged Care Packages designed to address the diverse needs of older Australians. These packages encompass a comprehensive range of services, from in-home care to residential options, providing flexibility and tailored solutions to meet the unique requirements of each individual.

Key components of Australia’s aged care framework include the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), Home Care Packages, Residential Care, and Flexible Care. As service providers, understanding the intricacies of these packages is essential for effectively meeting the needs of clients and delivering high-quality care and support.

This page aims to provide service providers with a comprehensive overview of each Aged Care Package.

Unlike the Home Care Package (HCP), which applies to those with greater or more complex care needs and who need many care and support services on an ongoing basis, CHSP is a lighter package applicable to less complex care needs.

Both the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home Care Package (HCP) offer similar services to older people, such as domestic assistance, personal care, social support, respite care, and transport, but at different levels.

Compared to the HCP, the main advantage of CHSP for the providers is that they do not need to apply for approval to start providing their service. However, the providers need to comply with the related Quality and Safety Commission Act, Rules, and the Aged Care Act, as well as the Aged Care Quality Standards, but there is no hassle as we have developed our CHSP package in compliance with these documents. The CHSP Grant opportunities are advertised on the Australian Government Grant Connect website.

Home care services provide a range of services that help old people live independently within their homes. It may include getting help with shopping and cooking, receiving personal care to bath, dress, and get in and out of bed or getting modifications to improve their safety and movement around the house.

The Home Care Package (HCP) is for those with greater or more complex care needs who need many care and support services on an ongoing basis beyond the CHSP. There are four levels of care that can be assigned to senior people:

• Level 1: Basic assistance – Help with tasks such as cleaning, grooming, meals, shopping, and transport. Usually, one or two visits a week.
• Level 2: Low care needs – The same as Level 1, but can be three or four visits a week from an aged care worker.
• Level 3: Intermediate care – More support at home, most days of the week. It can include visits from a care worker, nurse, and medical staff.
• Level 4: High-level care – For high-level or complex care needs, that can include daily visits.

Residential services provide a range of care, accommodation, hospitality and services for older people who are unable to continue living independently in their own homes. It is also called a “Nursing Home” or “Aged Care Home”. It includes accommodation and personal care that is delivered 24 hours a day, as well as access to nursing and general health care services.

As service providers, delivering Residential Care involves creating a safe, nurturing environment where residents can receive round-the-clock assistance with activities of daily living, medical care, and social engagement. The focus is on promoting dignity, autonomy, and quality of life for residents, ensuring they receive personalised care tailored to their individual needs and preferences. By prioritising compassion, professionalism, and respect, service providers can create a supportive and enriching environment that fosters the well-being and satisfaction of residents in Residential Care settings.

Flexible care acknowledges that the needs of aged care consumers may require a different care approach than those provided through residential care and home care services. It may include the Short Term Restorative Care Programme (STRC), Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Program, Transition Care Program (TCP), and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program. Flexible care may be delivered in a home care setting, a residential care setting, or a combination of both.

The STRC program is an early intervention to reverse or slow functional decline in older people. Functional decline is when a person is having difficulty performing their day-to-day activities, including bathing, dressing, feeding, shopping or driving. This program provides a range of care and services for up to 8 weeks (56 days) to help prevent or reduce difficulties older people are having with completing everyday tasks.

The MPS Program combines funding for aged care services from the Australian Government with state and territory health services. This joint initiative means small regional and remote communities can offer flexible aged care services that meet the needs of their community.

The TCP program helps older people get back on their feet after a hospital stay. It provides short-term care for up to 12 weeks (with a possible 6-week extension), including social work, nursing support, personal care and allied health care.

The NATSIFAC Program is a specialised initiative designed to address the unique cultural and care needs of Indigenous Australians as they age. This program aims to provide flexible and culturally appropriate aged care services that respect the diversity and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.