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20 August 2026: CHSP to continue until at least 2029

Last updated 21 August 2026

The government has abandoned its plan to fold the Commonwealth Home Support Programme into Support at Home. CHSP - used by around 830,000 older Australians - will continue as a standalone program until at least 30 June 2029, with consultation on its long-term future starting in 2026.

What was announced

Health Minister Mark Butler and Aged Care Minister Sam Rae confirmed on 20 August 2026 that:

  • The merger is off. CHSP will not transition into Support at Home. The previous position - a transition “no earlier than 1 July 2027” - is superseded.
  • CHSP continues to at least 30 June 2029. Current 2025-27 grant agreements with roughly 1,300 providers will be extended.
  • Consultation begins in 2026 on the program’s long-term design: the future of block funding, “fair and equitable” contributions for home care, and strengthening early intervention.

Butler said merging programs that “deliver quite different services, drawing on quite different capabilities” had never made sense to him. Rae said CHSP should stay separate but become “better integrated” with Support at Home. The reversal followed a Senate inquiry, an ANAO audit, Support at Home’s difficult first year, and a sustained campaign by the CHSP Alliance - though the Alliance’s Professor Kathy Eagar noted the extension “did not include a significant increase in funding”.

Who it affects

  • Current CHSP clients: nothing changes now - same services, same providers, same small contributions, and no deadline pushing anyone onto Support at Home.
  • People considering applying: CHSP is a stable choice for entry-level needs for years to come. See how to apply.
  • People on the Support at Home waitlist: CHSP remains the standard interim bridge while you wait, now secured through to 2029.
  • Everyone reading about aged care: pages citing a “1 July 2027” CHSP transition are now out of date - including many that rank well in search.
The one thing to watch

The 2026 consultation includes “fair and equitable contributions” for home care. Whether CHSP’s small flat fees eventually rise toward Support at Home’s means-tested model is the most consumer-relevant open question. Nothing has been announced, and any change to your fees requires notice and your agreement under your service agreement.

For the full picture - what was previously planned, how the reversal happened, and what clients should watch - read our guide: Is CHSP ending?

Wondering what this means for you?

Whether you’re on CHSP, waiting for Support at Home, or helping a parent get started - tell us where you’re up to and we’ll explain your options. Free, no obligation.

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Sources

  1. Ministers Mark Butler and Sam Rae - media release, “Certainty for older Australians and aged care providers on CHSP”, health.gov.au, 20 August 2026.
  2. ABC News - “Government extends home support program for older Australians”, 20 August 2026.
  3. Australian Ageing Agenda; Inside Ageing; Health Services Daily - coverage and sector reaction, 20-21 August 2026.
  4. CHSP Alliance - public statements, 2026.
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