CHSP Extended to 2029: What It Means for You

If you or a family member rely on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for in-home support, there’s good news: the federal government has confirmed the CHSP is extended to 2029, giving older Australians and their families certainty that the program isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

What actually changed

CHSP was previously due to be folded into the newer Support at Home program from July 2027 onwards. That planned merger has now been delayed, and CHSP will instead continue to operate as its own standalone program until at least 30 June 2029 — two years longer than previously planned.

Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the change on 20 August 2026, saying the government had “listened to the feedback people have given us about CHSP” and wanted to give “providers and older Australians the certainty they need to continue.” The full announcement is covered here, and the official government position is outlined on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s CHSP reforms page.

Why the delay happened

The uncertainty around the original 2027 merger date had already started to cause real problems. According to sector advocates, some CHSP clients were being turned away or told providers’ “books are full” as services quietly wound down services ahead of the planned changeover. Around 830,000 older Australians and roughly 1,300 providers — including councils, not-for-profits and community organisations — rely on CHSP, so the government’s decision to pause the merger and properly consult on CHSP’s long-term future is a meaningful reassurance for anyone currently receiving, or considering, CHSP-funded services.

What this means if you’re a CHSP client

In practical terms, if you’re already receiving CHSP-funded services — including in-home physiotherapy — nothing changes for you right now. Your existing funding and service arrangements continue as normal through to at least mid-2029. If you’ve been putting off arranging in-home physiotherapy because you weren’t sure whether CHSP would still be around, this extension removes that uncertainty.

Bayside Mobile Physio and CHSP

At Bayside Mobile Physio, we continue to welcome CHSP referrals and CHSP clients across our service areas. Unlike some providers who’ve had to scale back due to the funding uncertainty, we’re not closing our books to CHSP clients — if you or someone you care for needs in-home physiotherapy support, we’re here and ready to help.

If you’d like to find out more about how our Support at Home and aged care physiotherapy services work, or you’re ready to arrange a visit, get in touch with our team and we’ll talk you through the next steps.