Do I need to be an Australian citizen to receive CHSP services?

Commonwealth Home Support Programme
Navigating CHSP
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In short...
No, not necessarily. You do not have to be an Australian citizen to access Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services. However, you generally need to be an Australian resident and meet the eligibility requirements for government-funded aged care. Permanent residents and some New Zealand citizens may also be eligible.
The details...
Do I need to be an Australian citizen to receive CHSP services?
No. Australian citizenship is not a requirement for accessing CHSP services.
To receive government-funded aged care, including CHSP, you generally need to:
meet the age requirements
live in Australia
be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold an eligible visa status
complete an aged care assessment through My Aged Care.
Who may be eligible?
You may be eligible if you are:
an Australian citizen living in Australia
an Australian permanent resident living in Australia
a Protected Special Category Visa holder from New Zealand
another person who meets the residence requirements under Australian aged care legislation.
In addition, you generally need to be:
aged 65 years or older, or
an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years or older, or
homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 years or older.
What if I am on a temporary visa?
People visiting Australia on temporary visas are generally not eligible for Australian Government-funded aged care services.
If you do not meet the residency requirements, you may still be able to access private home care services, but you would usually need to pay the full cost yourself.
What if English is not my first language?
You do not need to speak English to access CHSP services.
My Aged Care can arrange:
telephone interpreter services
translated information
culturally appropriate assessment support where available.
You may also nominate a family member or representative to help communicate with My Aged Care and providers.
What if I am unsure about my residency status?
Residency rules can sometimes be complicated, particularly for:
recent migrants
certain New Zealand citizens
people holding humanitarian or special visa categories
people who spend significant time overseas.
If you are unsure, My Aged Care can discuss your circumstances and advise whether you meet the requirements for an assessment.
What should I do next?
If you think you may be eligible, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask:
Do I meet the residency requirements?
Can I proceed with an aged care assessment?
What documents do I need to provide?
Are interpreter services available?
Before calling, it may be helpful to have:
your passport
visa information
Medicare details (if applicable)
proof that Australia is your usual place of residence.
If you are not eligible for government-funded aged care, ask about private home care options in your local area.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
Check the official guidance
Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances, age and residency status.
Official guidance:
The Australian Government advises that people who do not meet the eligibility requirements for government-funded aged care may still access services privately.
Takeaways
You do not need to be an Australian citizen to receive CHSP services.
Permanent residents and some New Zealand citizens may also be eligible.
You generally need to live in Australia and meet aged care residency requirements.
Temporary visitors are usually not eligible for government-funded aged care.
Interpreter services and support representatives are available.
About Local Home Help
How Providers Are Listed
How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.
Independence Statement
Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.
Quality Signals
What to look for when choosing a provider ​ Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.
About the Author
Local Home Help Editorial Team
This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.
Our content is based on publicly available information from:
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My Aged Care
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Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
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Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.
Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.
Important information
Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.
Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.
Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.
Source data
Last reviewed
20/7/26, 9:08 pm