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What does wellness and reablement mean under CHSP?

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In short...

Wellness and reablement are approaches used under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to help people maintain or improve their independence, rather than simply doing tasks for them. The focus is on helping you continue doing as much as possible for yourself for as long as possible.

The details...

What does wellness and reablement mean under CHSP?

Wellness and reablement are important principles that underpin the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

Rather than focusing only on providing ongoing assistance, CHSP providers are encouraged to work with you to maintain, restore or improve your ability to live independently.

In simple terms:

  • Wellness means focusing on your strengths, goals and abilities, rather than your limitations.

  • Reablement means providing short-term supports or interventions designed to help you regain confidence, skills or function.

The aim is to support you to remain independent and continue living safely at home for longer.

What does this look like in practice?

Instead of automatically doing everything for you, a provider may encourage and support you to continue participating in activities where possible.

For example:

  • Traditional approach

    • Doing all your shopping for you

    • Preparing every meal

    • Taking over all household tasks

    • Providing ongoing mobility support

  • Wellness and reablement approach

    • Supporting you to regain confidence shopping independently

    • Helping you relearn meal preparation skills

    • Helping you safely continue doing parts of the task

    • Referring you to physiotherapy to improve strength and balance

The approach is often described as "doing with" rather than "doing for."

Why is this approach used?

Research shows that maintaining activity and independence often leads to better outcomes for older people, including:

  • improved physical health

  • reduced falls risk

  • greater confidence

  • improved mental wellbeing

  • reduced social isolation

  • delaying the need for more intensive aged care services.

For many people, even small improvements in strength, mobility or confidence can make a significant difference to everyday life.

Does this mean services will be refused?

No.

Wellness and reablement do not mean support will be withheld if you genuinely need assistance.

The approach should always consider:

  • your preferences and goals

  • your safety

  • your health conditions

  • what is realistically achievable.

For some people, maintaining their current level of independence may be the most appropriate outcome.

What types of services may support reablement?

Examples include:

  • physiotherapy

  • occupational therapy

  • falls prevention programs

  • exercise programs

  • mobility aids

  • confidence-building support after illness or hospitalisation

  • short-term assistance designed to restore function.

Some supports may only be required for a limited period, while others may continue on an ongoing basis.

What if my condition is progressive?

For people living with dementia, neurological conditions or other progressive illnesses, reablement may focus on:

  • maintaining current abilities

  • slowing functional decline

  • adapting the home environment

  • supporting carers

  • maximising quality of life.

Success does not always mean improving function. In many situations, maintaining independence for longer is considered a positive outcome.

What should I do next?

Talk with your provider about your personal goals and ask:

  • What activities would I like to continue doing myself?

  • Are there therapies or programs that could improve my independence?

  • Are there aids, equipment or modifications that may help?

  • What outcomes are realistic for my situation?

Remember that aged care should be based on what matters most to you, not simply on the services available.

Helpful Local Home Help resources

Check the official guidance

The CHSP Manual states that providers should adopt a wellness and reablement approach that supports older people to maximise independence, build capacity and achieve their personal goals.

Official guidance can be found here:

Takeaways

  • Wellness focuses on strengths and goals rather than limitations.

  • Reablement aims to restore or maintain independence where possible.

  • The approach is often described as "doing with" rather than "doing for."

  • It does not mean support will be denied if assistance is genuinely required.

  • Maintaining existing abilities can be a successful outcome.

  • The approach may delay the need for more intensive aged care services.

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:

  • My Aged Care

  • Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

  • Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

  • 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

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