Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Updates

Published 13th July 2021

Updated Grant Opportunity for CHSP COVID-19 Emergency Support GO3877

The Grant Opportunity for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme – Emergency Support for COVID-19 (GO3877) has been updated with Addendum Number 2. The Grant Opportunity has been extended until 2:00pm, 30 June 2022. Please visit the GrantConnect website for further information.

CHSP COVID-19 Emergency Support reporting requirements

As advised on 4 May 2021, all unspent funding from 2020-21 has been approved for carry-over into 2021-22, including CHSP Emergency Support for COVID-19 funding.

This means that all CHSP COVID-19 Emergency Support Agreements have been extended until 30 June 2022. Providers no longer need to submit a Financial Declaration on 30 October 2021. Instead, providers will submit only one Financial Declaration covering the whole Activity period.

COVID-19 Emergency Support Agreements will now have the following reporting milestones:

• Performance Report for whole Activity period (due 31 July 2022)
• Final Report for whole Activity period (due 31 July 2022)
• Financial Declaration for whole Activity period (due 30 October 2022).

CHSP meals unit price increase

The Australian Government recently announced an additional $7 million in 2021-22 to increase the minimum meals unit price under the CHSP from $4.90 to $7.50. This increase will provide a safety net boost to the base funding level for all meals providers who are currently receiving below $7.50.

In scope CHSP meals providers have been contacted. There will be no reduction in funding for those meals providers with a unit price above $7.50.

CHSP meals providers are reminded that funding is not intended to meet the full cost of preparing and delivering a meal. Providers are encouraged to charge clients a contribution to cover costs. This recognises that senior Australians have a responsibility to contribute towards the cost of their care, while also supporting the financial sustainability of the program.

The department is currently undertaking further review work on unit pricing.

Changes to CHSP Program Manual

The department has recently updated the CHSP Program Manual 2020-2022. Changes include:

• additional information around the Carers Gateway, the installation of lifts and elevators and the new National Goods, Equipment and Assistive Technology (GEAT) Panel
• clarification around the intent, scope and delivery of the Assistance with Care and Housing (ACH) and Sector Support and Development (SSD) Sub-Programs
• new information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting Tool available through the My Aged Care Portal
• an update to the section on CHSP Flexibility Provisions to reflect the recent announcement about the extension of these arrangements
• an update to reflect the new Financial Declaration reporting due date of 30 July 2021
• an update to the Continuity of Support section to reflect the program’s name change to the Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) effective 1 July 2021.

Copies of the revised seventh edition of the CHSP Program Manual and a companion document outlining the changes are now available for download from the department’s website.

CHSP Financial Declaration

In line with CHSP Funding Agreements (section E.4), service providers must provide a financial declaration for each financial year. A financial declaration:

• states that all grant funds were spent for the purpose as outlined in the Agreement
• declares the amount of unspent grant funds.

The department reminds all CHSP providers that the financial declaration for 2020‑21 is due by 30 July 2021.

Source:
Unknown Author, 2021, Department of Health (https://www.health.gov.au/)