Fees & Funding

We understand that accessing Home Care services for the first time can be daunting. That’s why we are here to help you every step of the way.

There are two primary ways to access Home Care services;

• Privately funded services - no eligibility requirements and can be accessed immediately as needed
• Australian Government-supported services – assessment and eligibility requirements apply – waiting times and/or service limits may apply

Many people choose to access our Home Care services through Australian Government support programs. We offer a free service to help people register for Government funding support, which helps to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. To access this free service, please call our friendly team on 1800 852 772.

There are two different Australian Government support programs for Home Care services;
 

Commonwealth Home Support Programme

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is designed to provide entry-level support services. CHSP funding is limited to specific geographical regions, time periods and service types. These limitations mean that from time to time, access to CHSP-funded services may be limited for some clients.
 

Home Care Packages Program

Home Care Packages are designed for people with more complex care and support needs. Home Care Packages are provided at four different levels - with the level increasing from 1 to 4 as needs increase.

If you choose to take up your Home Care Package with Southern Cross Care, you will have access to a wide range of high-quality services and exclusive benefits.
 

Eligibility

There are no minimum eligibility requirements for privately-funded Home Care services. These are available to anyone at any time.

To be eligible for Government-funded support programs, you must meet the eligibility criteria set by the Australian Government.

To be eligible for CHSP, you must be aged;

• 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.

To be eligible for a Home Care Package, you must be

• an older person who needs coordinated services to help them stay at home, or
• a younger person with a disability, dementia or other care needs not met through other specialist services.