From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government began rolling out the Support at Home program, merging the current Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home Care Packages system. 

While the Government says this will simplify aged care, the reality is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander old people and Elders will face new financial barriers to the essential care they rely on to live healthy and well, stay culturally safe and be independent at home. 

Under the new rules:

• Essential non-clinical care will be less accessible and affordable: Elders will be forced to pay co-contributions for essential non-clinical services like meals, cleaning, transport, and personal care – costs that could reach up to $150 per week. The solution the Government proposes is for Elders to apply for financial hardship, which is undignified and culturally unsafe.
  
  
• Further entrenches systemic disadvantage instead of delivering equity: Under the proposed legislation, Aboriginal Elders could face up to an extra 15 years of fees and co-contributions for aged care services without access to superannuation. Survivors of the Stolen Generations, many already living with lifelong poverty and disadvantage, will be among the hardest hit.
  
  
• Undermines culturally safe, community controlled care: Despite Priority Reform Two of Closing the Gap committing to strengthen the ACCO sector, the reforms weaken it by ending CHSP block funding, providing no pathway for new ACCO-led residential services, and requiring ACCOs to charge Elders income-tested fees and co-contributions which is incompatible with the Community controlled model. 

This is unacceptable. These reforms risk forcing Elders to withdraw from the basic essential support they need to live a dignified and healthy life, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. Aboriginal Elders deserve better. These reforms contradict the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap in health and life expectancy. 
  
What We’re Calling For 
We are calling on the Australian Government to: 

• Exempt Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders from co-contributions and means testing under Support at Home. 
  
  
• Legislate an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Pathway consistent with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, develop an aged care pathway for Elders that recognises and appropriately funds the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector.
  
  
• Ensure all policy changes uphold the Closing the Gap Reforms especially the commitment to partnership and shared decision-making, and strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector. Furthermore, the Australian Government should accept and implement all the recommendations from the Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people report.

  
Add Your Voice 
Sign this petition to stand with our Elders and demand fair, equitable and culturally safe aged care.