AGED CARE REFORMS
& TRANSITION NEWS
Community Care Leaders Forum – Key Issues and Questions Raised with Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing have responded to key issues and questions raised at Western Sydney Community Forum’s most recent Community Care Leaders Forum, held on 20 May 2026. These issues include (but are not limited to) interim access to CHSP services for clients awaiting commencement of Support at Home, availability of urgent or crisis pathways through My Aged Care to prioritise high-risk clients, and whether clients can return to CHSP after transitioning to Support at Home, and, if so, under what conditions.
Training and Education Catalogue
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission have put together a list of learning modules and education resources to assist service providers of aged care in improving their knowledge and understanding the new Aged Care Act. This includes key concepts, supported decision making, culturally safe care, a Support at Home overview, and more.
Support at Home Escalation Pathway
An escalation pathway is due to be established for people with complex circumstances that are not fully captured by current arrangements when they are assessed for support. This includes people are assigned an ongoing home support classification level (for Commonwealth Home Support Program or Support at Home) and people who are assigned a priority category for Support at Home. The pathway intends to allow for consideration of possible adjustment to assessment outcomes. The Australian Government is also reviewing the Support at Home prioritisation process, which will be informed by targeted sector and stakeholder consultation. More details will be released soon, including opportunities for engagement.
Retrospective Changes for Support at Home Services
There will be an opportunity for retrospective changes to Support at Home services in the Aged Care Provider Portal. This will create Adjustment Claims which will apply to changes to entry and departure events, approvals, classifications and budgets, and backdated means and hardship assessments. Adjustment Claims can be viewed in the Portal through the Claims Summary, Claim Details (Invoice Summary), and Invoice Details, in Payment Details History.
OPAN Explains Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF)
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has developed a factsheet for older people that explains the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) which came into effect on 1 November 2025, replacing the Additional Service Fee and Extra Service Fee frameworks. HELF is an optional fee which gives residents access to additional premium services beyond the standard of care required under the Residential Care Service List and the Aged Care Quality Standards. This can include premium meal services, in-room TV, and Wi-Fi usage. This factsheet explains HELF, as well as outlining the key protections and rights of residents. There is also additional information for providers to understand the changes, in order to communicate them to residents and their support networks.
Senate Passes Bill to Restore Human Override in Aged Care Assessments
A bill has passed in the Senate to restore assessor override, require clearer explanation of how the Integrated Assessment Tool informs decisions, and allow reassessment for people assessed since November 2025. This comes after sustained advocacy due to return control to assessors whose clinical judgement can now be used to not only complete clinical assessments, which sets the funding classification, but also to address where funding does not match need after the assessment has been completed.
Regulatory Bulletin: Support at Home Pricing
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released a regulatory bulletin on Support at Home pricing. This will assist providers in understanding what they need to do to meet their legal obligations when delivering Support at Home services. This includes service agreements, transparent pricing and reporting, and reasonable pricing.
Support at Home: New Funding Classifications
From 1 July, funding amounts for each Support at Home classification’s budget will increase in line with annual indexation. This applies to participants already receiving Support at Home funding and recipients who have transitioned from Home Care Packages. Participants receiving services under the End-of-Life Pathway, Restorative Care Pathway and Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme are also included. Updated information on classification funding amounts are available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website, as well as Support at Home pricing information.
Support at Home Late Claiming Process
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has provided guidance on provider payment arrangements for Support at Home, including the late claiming process. Late claims will no longer be placed on hold by Services Australia, and will instead be reviewed and verified as part of claims approvals. For claims submitted through the Aged Care Provider Portal, evidence is no longer able to be submitted for late claims.
Executive Webinar Series: Transitioning from CHSP to Support at Home
When: 5 August, 12.00pm-1.00pm, 12.00pm-1.00pm
Where: Online
How much: $50-$463.50
Ageing Australia is hosting a two-part webinar series discussing the transition from CHSP to Support at Home, due to begin no earlier than July 2027. The webinars will focus on operational performance, financial viability, and strategic options available to providers.
