Funding and eligibility

AccessCare brochures are open on a dining table with prospective clients looking over them

When considering home care services, it’s important to know what funding options you may be eligible for.

Depending on your personal situation and the level of care you require, there are three key funding options available to you.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme

If you are still relatively fit and healthy and only need help with a few tasks around the house or in the community, then you could be eligible for government-subsidised support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). This program is designed to help people with low level support needs to continue living independently at home, with services ranging from light housework to assisted shopping or transportation to medical appointments.

Find out more about the CHSP

Home Care Packages

A Home Care Package is a government-funded program that is designed to assist people with more complex care needs than those using the CHSP. These packages provide eligible clients with access to all the services you need to stay in your home for as long as you wish.

There are four levels of home care packages designed to help meet different levels of care needs:

Level 1: Basic assistance (this includes help with everyday tasks such as cleaning, grooming, preparing meals and shopping, and typically consists of one or two visits from a support worker per week)
Level 2: Low care needs (the same as level one, but with three or four visits from a support worker per week)
Level 3: Intermediate care (this includes more care on most days of the week, and could include visits from nursing and medical staff as well as a support worker)
Level 4: High level care (this level is suitable for people with complex care needs who may require daily visits)

AccessCare currently provides Home Care Packages to people living in the Local Government Areas of Kingston, Bayside, Glen Eira, Stonnington and Port Phillip.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

Private fee-paying

AccessCare can also offer advice on a private fee-paying basis. There may be a variety of reasons why you may choose this option, including:

You may be ineligible for a government-funded support
You are a self-funded retiree and choose to go privately rather than pay high income tested fees connected to a package
You or your family members need help navigating the aged care system while waiting for a Home Care Package
You prefer not to go through the assessment process for a Home Care Package

With private fee-paying advice, you can start receiving your support straight away. If you are waiting for a Home Care Package and need immediate access to services, this might be a good option.

More information

Our friendly team is here to help you, so if you have any questions about what funding options may be available to you, please get in touch.