Warrnambool City Council and Colac Otway Shire Council have joined forces to appoint external consultants to evaluate the future of their home care services, becoming the latest in a long line of Victorian councils reconsidering – and exiting – their Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services.
Moyne Shire Council is also starting to review its aged and disability services – including home and community care and services for 586 clients, The Standard has reported.
Warrnambool City Council currently provides services to 1,500 customers and says they would continue to provide services until 30 June 2025.
REFORMS FROM 2025
From 1 July 2025, the CHSP, the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme will merge into the new Government run In-Home Aged Care program.
The new model will mean home care providers have to expand their range of services, which is posing a challenge to Victorian councils in terms of governance, compliance, and financial implications.
Last week, Victoria’s Gannawarra Shire Council made the decision to withdraw from being an aged care and disability services provider, services it has provided for 35 years, as of 31 October 2023.
The SOURCE: With so many Councils exiting the CHSP program, will home care providers be able to fill the gaps?
