Staff Meeting - 16 July 2025

Assister
Jul 16
3 min read

Recording of Teams Meeting

Please click on this link to watch the recording of our meeting: TEAMS MEETING

Documents

As discussed in our meeting there are a few documents we have prepared for you...

Q&A

Below is a question we received after the meeting...

Question:

I would be interested in having more information on how the age care package is working as I don’t understand how it works. Additionally, if I could have more info on all the services you provide, to be able to better refer you to people that could need your services.

Answer:

We have prepared a cheat sheet of information which could help you understand the system. Please see further below.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any other specific questions as the system is quite complicated and always changes.

🏡 Home Care Packages (HCP) – Staff Cheat Sheet

🔄 CHSP vs HCP – What’s the Difference?

There are currently two major aged care systems in Australia.The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP) both support older Australians to live at home, but they are different:

➡ CHSP provides entry-level support for people with low care needs. It offers individual services (e.g., cleaning, meals, transport) on a short-term or occasional basis. Assister cannot provide services under the CHSP system.

➡ HCP provides more comprehensive, ongoing support for people with higher or more complex care needs. It includes case management and a package of services tailored to the client.**How to tell the difference:**- CHSP clients usually receive only one or two services and pay small contributions per service.- HCP clients have a Care Plan and budget managed by a provider and access a wider range of supports.

💡 What is a Home Care Package?

The Home Care Package program is an Australian Government initiative that provides ongoing funding to support older people who wish to remain living safely and independently in their own homes. Each package is tailored to the client’s needs and goals, providing flexibility in the types of services they can receive. Packages range from Level 1 (basic care needs) to Level 4 (high care needs).

🔑 How Does It Work?

1️⃣ Assessment

Clients are assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and assigned one of four levels based on their care needs:

Level 1: Basic care needs
Level 2: Low-level care needs
Level 3: Intermediate care needs
Level 4: High-level care needs

2️⃣ Funding

The Government pays package funds directly to a registered Home Care Provider. Clients may contribute to their package through:

Basic daily fee (up to a set amount, may be waived by provider)
Income-tested care fee (assessed by Services Australia)

3️⃣ Care Planning and Budgeting

The provider works with the client to develop a Care Plan outlining their goals and preferences, and a Budget showing how funds will be used.

👥 Our Role as Care Coordinators

We work alongside the registered provider and clients to:

✅ Assist with implementing and managing the Care Plan

✅ Arrange and coordinate services and supports

✅ Monitor services to ensure they meet the client’s goals and adjust as needed

✅ Be the main point of contact for clients, families, and service workers

✅ Advocate for clients and help them understand how their package can be used

📝 What Services Can Be Funded?

✅ Personal Care – showering, dressing, grooming, mobility support

✅ Domestic Assistance – cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping

✅ Social Support & Transport – companionship, help attending activities, transport to appointments

✅ Clinical & Allied Health Services – nursing care, physiotherapy, podiatry, OT

✅ Home & Garden Maintenance – minor safety repairs, lawn mowing, pruning

✅ Equipment & Modifications – walkers, grab rails, ramps, non-slip mats

✅ Respite Care – temporary support for family carers

🚫 What’s NOT Funded?

✘ Major renovations or non-care related home improvements

✘ Large household appliances unless essential for care

✘ Services already covered by Medicare, DVA, or private health insurance

✘ Holidays, entertainment, or unrelated leisure activities