The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) stands at the threshold of major change. From 1 November 2025, the new Aged Care Act 2024 will apply to CHSP services, driving new legal, operational and administrative obligations. Providers across Australia must act now to ensure continuity of services, compliance with new rules and readiness for a transformed aged-care landscape.
Whether you lead a small community provider or oversee a large network, this article gives you clear, actionable steps. We dig into the key reforms, break down what your organisation must do, present a practical table of deadlines and responsibilities, and answer the top trending questions. Focused. Practical. Trustworthy.
What is changing for CHSP providers?
The CHSP is being reshaped under the Aged Care Act 2024 and associated rules and manuals. Providers must understand both the what and the when of these changes — including eligibility shifts, service agreements, reporting requirements and system reforms.
From 1 November 2025, CHSP providers must align with the following:
- Clients must be registered with My Aged Care and formally assessed for eligibility under the Act. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Providers must have a Service Agreement in place with each client, covering the required elements set out in the rules. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Providers must develop a Care and Services Plan for each eligible client that meets specified criteria (goals, services, review dates, client engagement). (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Reporting and compliance obligations increase: monthly data submissions via the Data Exchange (DEX), and deeper governance and quality-assurance expectations. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- The CHSP 2025-27 Manual sets out the full landscape: eligibility, delivery, service lists, funding and provider responsibilities from 1 Nov 2025. (Health and Ageing Australia)
For providers, this means more than ticking boxes. It is a call to review strategic governance, client workflows, data systems and workforce training.
Key operational implications
- Client eligibility and assessment workflows: Must ensure all clients are registered and assessed by the effective date. Existing unassessed clients may face service disruption. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Service agreements and documentation: Agreements must reflect the Act’s requirements. Existing clients should have their agreements reviewed at next formal review. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Service planning and review: The Care and Services Plan becomes mandatory. Providers must work with clients and their supporters to co-design the plan and review at least annually. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Data, reporting and systems readiness: Monthly DEX reporting, mapping of service lists, digital systems to capture quality and outcome metrics. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Governance, workforce and quality frameworks: Boards and leadership must show readiness for a rights-based, person-centred model. IT literacy, client voice and diversity are central. (Social Futures)
For many providers this is a significant shift from historic CHSP practices. It demands a structured readiness approach. Below are recommended steps.
Steps to prepare your organisation for the 1 November 2025 transition
1. Review and update agreements and plans
Begin a full audit of all active clients and service agreements.
- Check every client’s registration and assessment status on My Aged Care.
- For each active client, ensure a compliant Service Agreement is in place or scheduled for review.
- For each client eligible under the Act, draft or update the Care and Services Plan: include current situation, goals, service volume/frequency, review date and how the client and supporter were involved.
- Communicate clearly with clients and their family/carers about the upcoming changes and their role in the review process.
2. Assess internal governance, workforce and systems
Your organisation’s structure must respond to the new regulatory environment.
- Does the board and leadership team have a clear strategy for rights-based care, person-centred approaches and cultural safety? (Social Futures)
- Review workforce training: ensure staff understand the Act’s changes, client voice, diversity requirements and governance obligations.
- Examine your IT systems: Are they capable of capturing required data, supporting monthly DEX reporting, service-list mapping and being accessed by staff easily? (Social Futures)
- Quality assurance: Ensure incident management, auditing, compliance frameworks (as per Manual Appendix F) are updated. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Financial readiness: Moving to unit-based costing and payments in arrears. Ensure you can track cost per service and client contribution policies. (Social Futures)
3. Prepare clients and stakeholders
Change will affect clients as well. Clear communication is essential.
- Send letters or hold information sessions to older people you serve and their families explaining what they need to do: confirm assessment status, engage with review of their plan, ask questions. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Support clients who may not yet be assessed: Guide them through My Aged Care registration, or contact your local assessor. Without this they risk losing access to subsidised services after 1 Nov. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Update subcontractors, allied services, volunteers on your organisation’s policy changes, documentation requirements and data collection expectations.
- Ensure vulnerable clients (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, those at risk of homelessness, younger age groups) understand how the new eligibility rules may impact them. (Health and Ageing Australia)
4. Implement a compliance roadmap with timelines
Mapping out key deadlines will help you avoid non-compliance and operational disruption. Use a simple table of what must happen, by when, by whom.
Table: Provider readiness roadmap for CHSP 1 Nov 2025 transition
| Milestone | Action Required | Responsible Party | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client assessment review | Confirm all clients are registered and assessed through My Aged Care or local assessor | Client Services Team | 31 Aug 2025 |
| Service Agreement audit | Review existing agreements; ensure compliance with new requirements | Legal/Compliance Unit | 30 Sep 2025 |
| Care & Services Plan rollout | Draft or update plans for eligible clients, set review schedule | Care Planning Team | 31 Oct 2025 |
| Data & IT systems check | Test DEX reporting interface, map new service list, confirm staff IT capability | IT & Reporting Unit | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Workforce training session | Deliver training modules on new Act, rights-based care, diversity and documentation | Learning & Development Team | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Quality and governance update | Board reviews governance framework for new obligations, update policies | Board/Executive | 30 Sep 2025 |
| Client communication campaign | Send information to clients and families, hold Q&A sessions | Communications Team | 31 Aug 2025 |
By spacing these actions and assigning clear responsibilities you will reduce last-minute pressure and ensure smooth transition.
Why these changes are happening and what they mean
The reform behind CHSP and broader aged-care changes is driven by multiple factors: the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, demographic pressures, rights-based care expectations and digital transformation. (Social Futures)
From 1 November 2025 the Aged Care Act 2024 changes how providers are regulated: moving from block grant and service-type lens to a model grounded in client rights, continuous improvement and stronger regulatory oversight. (Health and Ageing Australia)
What this means in practice:
- Providers will be held accountable not just for delivering services but for outcomes, safety, cultural and trauma-aware practices and ensuring clients have real choice and voice.
- Documentation becomes a key asset. The Service Agreement and Care and Services Plan are not just paperwork; they form the foundation of compliance and client oversight.
- Data and digital systems become critical. The ability to capture, report and analyse service delivery will increasingly determine funding and sustainability.
- Strategic governance, workforce capability and cultural safety will no longer be optional. Boards and executive teams must demonstrate readiness.
- Eligibility rules are tighter. Providers cannot deliver subsidised services to clients who are unassessed or outside the eligibility criteria post 1 Nov 2025. (Health and Ageing Australia)
For providers who act early the opportunity is to move from compliance stress to strategic advantage. Use the transition to refine service delivery, engage clients more deeply, strengthen IT systems and differentiate your organisation as high-quality, client-centric and future-proof.
What happens if a provider is not ready?
Failure to meet these obligations carries practical risks:
- Clients may lose access or face interruption of subsidised services if their assessment or documentation is incomplete.
- Funding may be impacted: late or incorrect DEX reports can delay payments, or lead to audit findings and potential recoupment. (Health and Ageing Australia)
- Compliance breaches may trigger regulatory action under the Act’s compliance and provider sanction frameworks.
- Service quality and safety risks rise: client dissatisfaction, complaints and brand damage may follow.
- Organisations unable to demonstrate digital readiness, governance capacity or client-centred approaches may find themselves at a disadvantage in competitive funding or service allocation contexts.
The message is clear: readiness is not optional.
Trending FAQ
Q: What is the exact date when the Aged Care Act applies to CHSP?
A: The Aged Care Act 2024 takes effect for the CHSP on 1 November 2025. Providers must ensure full compliance by that date. (Health and Ageing Australia)
Q: Do existing clients need to be reassessed?
A: Yes — clients must be registered with My Aged Care and assessed under the Act to continue accessing subsidised services post-1 Nov. Providers should verify all active clients have a valid assessment. (Health and Ageing Australia)
Q: Can providers continue with current Service Agreements after 1 November?
A: Existing agreements must be reviewed and brought into compliance. From 1 Nov new clients require agreements that align with the Act’s requirements. (Health and Ageing Australia)
Q: What are the reporting obligations for providers?
A: Providers must submit monthly performance data via the Data Exchange (DEX), track their client eligibility and service delivery against the new service list and comply with the CHSP 2025-27 Manual requirements. (Health and Ageing Australia)
Q: How should providers prepare their workforce?
A: Providers should train staff on the rights-based approach, person-centred care, new documentation standards, cultural safety, use of IT systems, data capture and compliance expectations. Boards and leadership also need to engage strategically. (Social Futures)
Q: Will there be funding changes or new service types?
A: The CHSP 2025-27 Manual outlines updated service lists, funding frameworks, eligibility rules and provider obligations. While the program is extended until 30 June 2027, providers cannot assume additional funds will be available to cover reform costs. (Health and Ageing Australia)
In conclusion, the 1 November 2025 transition represents a turning point for CHSP providers. Taking early action will not only secure compliance, it will position your organisation for a future focused on quality, client-centred care, and sustained sustainability. Use the roadmap, organise your governance, train your team and engage clients now. The reform is clear; readiness is your best response.
