Since 1 July 2021, 80 local Councils have exited, at least in part, the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), the low-care Government-funded program that currently delivers services to more than 800,000 older Australians in the community.
Of those Councils to exit, more than half - 46 - have been in Victoria, Russell Herald, Assistant Secretary, Home and Residential Division, told Senate Estimates on 15 February in response to questioning from Greens Senator Janet Rice (pictured).
Victoria has been impacted by the exodus from CHSP more than other States and Territories because of its historically high number of Councils delivering services.
The City of Port Phillip is the latest Victorian Council to vote to "relinquish", in part, its CHSP services back to the Government.
Last week, City of Port Phillip voted to stop providing in-home support with plans to transition its 650 clients to other providers by August 2024. Up to 45 staff may be made redundant.
The City will continue to offer some community-based services, such as meal delivery, transport, and social connection programs, including the continued operation of a 'hop on hop off' bus service, and the establishment of a Community Connector role within the Council who will be a point of contact for older people to help them navigate the aged care system.
The City of Port Phillip said this new model will be implemented "no later than September 2024".
