$115M for more Commonwealth Home Support services across Australia

The Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, MP, recently announced that approximately 245 organisations will receive funding to deliver additional aged-care services nationally through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Growth Funding Round. 

"The CHSP supports more than 640,000 older people across Australia to live at home and maintain their independence," he said.

"These services assist older Australians to live at home longer and enjoy all the benefits of being in their local community. 

"The extra $115 million in funding will be used to help older people - 65 years and over or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - who are assessed as needing assistance with household chores, preparing meals, personal care and home maintenance.

"It will provide extra transport services to take clients to appointments as well as social events in their local community. 

"In addition, the funding will support vulnerable people, including the homeless, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people and those in rural Australia. 

"It will provide much needed additional nursing services, respite care services, allied health and therapy services, such as physiotherapy and speech pathology, and assistance with care and housing that is responsive to local community needs. 

"Helping older people to stay at home and in their communities for longer is another way the Government is providing choice in aged-care services so that the people who built this nation can live a dignified old age.

"It’s about providing quality services for older Australians in the right way, at the right time."

Information about the CHSP Growth Funding Round is available on the Tenders and Grants page on the Department of Health website.