Home Nursing and Aged Care Agencies Australia 2026 | Tenax Supports
19 June 2026
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As Australians age, maintaining independence, social connections, and quality of life becomes increasingly important.
Social connection is not a luxury in aged care. It is a clinical need. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW 2024), approximately 16% of Australians aged 65 and over experience loneliness, and 11% are socially isolated. Research published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2024 found that in aged care facilities, the mean prevalence of moderate loneliness is estimated at 61%, and severe loneliness at 35%. These figures reflect a systemic gap between the clinical and domestic care older Australians receive and the social and community connection that has an equally significant effect on their health, cognitive function, and quality of life
Community support services exist specifically to address that gap. They cover social visits, group activities, community transport, home-delivered meals, and volunteer companionship programs. Most are funded through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or the Support at Home program, and the majority are accessible with a simple phone call to My Aged Care. This guide covers every type of community support available to older Australians, how the funding works, how to access services, and what the research says about why these services matter.
Social isolation and loneliness in older Australians are not simply quality-of-life issues. They are health risks with documented clinical consequences. Research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cited widely in Australian aged care literature, suggests social isolation may increase the risk of premature death as much as obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. The evidence base is significant and growing.
In 2024, AIHW data confirmed that around 16% of older Australians aged 65 and over experience loneliness, and approximately 11% are socially isolated. These figures are not uniform across settings. Among people living in aged care facilities, the burden is substantially higher: research published in the Medical Journal of Australia (August 2024) estimates moderate loneliness affects around 61% of aged care residents, with severe loneliness affecting approximately 35%.
Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of dementia, depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and hospitalisation. It is also linked to higher use of acute health services, which has direct cost implications for the Australian health system. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Strengthened Quality Standard 7 (The Residential Community), which took effect on 1 November 2025, specifically requires providers to actively support residents’ social connection, reduce boredom and loneliness, and foster participation in activities both within and beyond the care setting.
In 2024, AIHW data confirmed that around 16% of older Australians aged 65 and over experience loneliness, and approximately 11% are socially isolated. These figures are not uniform across settings. Among people living in aged care facilities, the burden is substantially higher: research published in the Medical Journal of Australia (August 2024) estimates moderate loneliness affects around 61% of aged care residents, with severe loneliness affecting approximately 35%.
Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of dementia, depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and hospitalisation. It is also linked to higher use of acute health services, which has direct cost implications for the Australian health system. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Strengthened Quality Standard 7 (The Residential Community), which took effect on 1 November 2025, specifically requires providers to actively support residents’ social connection, reduce boredom and loneliness, and foster participation in activities both within and beyond the care setting.
Reviews of interventions for loneliness in older Australians consistently find that regular social support, whether from paid workers, volunteers, or community programs, reduces self-reported loneliness and is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. A systematic review by Gardiner, Geldenhuys, and Gott (Health and Social Care in the Community, 2018) identified group activities, befriending programs, and skills-building interventions as the most effective approaches. Getting community support in place early, before acute clinical deterioration occurs, produces better and more cost-effective outcomes than crisis intervention.
Community support services in Australia’s aged care system cover a broad range of needs beyond clinical care. Under the Support at Home program and the CHSP, these services are organised to help older Australians remain connected to their community, maintain daily routines, and live independently at home for longer. The main categories are described below. Most can be accessed through the same My Aged Care pathway, and in many cases, multiple types of support can be arranged concurrently.
Community support services sit primarily within the Independence and Everyday Living categories of the Support at Home program. Under CHSP, they are delivered by approved local providers across all states and territories. The types of support available in a given area depend on which CHSP providers operate locally, so availability varies more at the ground level than the program descriptions suggest.
Social support is a formal service category within both CHSP and Support at Home. It covers organised activities and interactions designed to reduce isolation, maintain existing social relationships, and help older people build new community connections.
Individual social support typically involves a paid support worker spending one-on-one time with an older person in their home or community. This might mean conversation and companionship during a home visit, accompanying the person to an activity they enjoy, helping them stay connected with family (including through video calls), assisting with correspondence, or supporting them to attend a community event or cultural activity. The support is scheduled, regular, and tailored to the person’s preferences and goals.
Under Support at Home, individual social support sits within the Independence supports category and attracts an income-tested participant contribution. Under CHSP, small co-payments apply. For people on the NDIS rather than the aged care system, social support and community access sit within the Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation category (Core Supports). Tenax Supports provides individual social support as part of our home care services for both Support at Home participants and NDIS clients.
Group social support programs bring together older people in community settings for shared activities, peer connection, and meaningful engagement. Programs vary widely by provider and location, but commonly include day centres and lunch clubs, craft and art groups, music and reminiscence programs, exercise classes, walking groups, computer and technology literacy sessions, and cultural and faith-based social activities. Group programs tend to be more cost-effective than individual support in terms of budget use, and many older people find the peer connection of group activities more beneficial than one-on-one worker visits.
CHSP-funded group social support programs are available through local councils, community organisations, and not-for-profit providers across Australia. Some programs are linked to day respite services. Ask your provider or search the My Aged Care provider directory for group social support programs in your area.
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, formerly known as the Community Visitors Scheme, is a free Australian Government-funded program that connects trained volunteers with older people who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness. It has operated in various forms since 1991 and remains one of the most accessible community support programs in the aged care system.
The ACVVS is available to older Australians who are either living in an aged care facility or living in their own home and receiving a Support at Home package (or on the waitlist for one). People who are approved and waiting for a Support at Home package can access the scheme even before their services begin. Monash University was appointed by the Australian Government to evaluate the ACVVS from 2023 to 2026, with the evaluation examining its effectiveness in reducing social isolation across diverse and culturally complex groups.
Volunteer visitors are recruited, trained, and matched with older people by community organisations funded by the Australian Government to deliver the scheme. Volunteers visit for a minimum of one hour per fortnight, in person, to provide friendship and companionship. Visits might involve a cup of tea and conversation, a shared activity, accompanying the person on a short outing, or simply sitting together. The relationship is ongoing rather than transactional, and many volunteer-recipient pairings continue for years.
The ACVVS is completely free for the older person. There is no means testing and no government assessment required to access it, beyond being in an eligible program. The scheme works alongside, not instead of, formal paid support services.
To request a volunteer visitor, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 who can provide a referral to the ACVVS network partner in your state. You can also contact your current aged care provider, who can make the referral on your behalf. Alternatively, visit myagedcare.gov.au and use the Find a Provider tool to locate ACVVS coordinators in your area. Wait times for matching vary by location and volunteer availability, but coordinators aim to make matches as quickly as possible given available volunteers.
People interested in becoming volunteer visitors contact their local ACVVS coordinating organisation to apply. Volunteers typically undergo screening (including a police check), induction training covering aged care principles and their role, and are matched with a recipient based on shared interests, location, and cultural background where possible. The minimum commitment is one hour per fortnight. The volunteer visitor role requires no prior aged care experience, only a willingness to provide consistent companionship and connection.
Loss of transport access is one of the most significant contributors to social isolation among older Australians. When driving becomes unsafe or no longer possible, people lose access to medical appointments, shopping, social activities, community groups, and family connections. Community transport services exist specifically to address this gap.
Under the CHSP and Support at Home programs, community transport covers: transport to medical and allied health appointments, transport to shopping and banking, transport to social outings and community activities, and in some cases transport to educational or interest-based programs. The service is provided in two main formats. Direct transport involves a support worker driving the older person in a vehicle, often adapted or accessible. Indirect transport involves the provider arranging taxi or rideshare vouchers that the older person uses for their journeys.
Community transport under aged care funding does not cover private vehicle purchase, registration, fuel, or repairs. It does not cover public transport fares, flights, ferries, or holiday travel. Driver’s licence costs and state or local government travel programs are also excluded from aged care funding, though many councils have their own subsidised transport programs that can be accessed separately.
The CHSP includes a dedicated community transport sub-program, delivered by approved providers across all states and territories. CHSP transport services typically require a simple assessment through My Aged Care and are available to Australians aged 65 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples). Co-payments are small, typically in the $5 to $15 range per trip. Under the CHSP extension to 30 June 2027, these services continue without major changes.
Under Support at Home, transport is included in the Independence supports category. It attracts an income-tested participant contribution based on assessed financial circumstances. As with other Independence services, full Age Pensioners pay a lower contribution than self-funded retirees. From 1 July 2026, government price caps apply to all Support at Home services including transport.
Beyond the formal aged care funding system, many local councils, community organisations, and state government programs provide subsidised transport for older residents. The My Aged Care website lists providers by location. State-based programs such as Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) medical transport schemes and various local government transport programs can supplement aged care-funded transport, particularly in areas with limited provider availability.
Nutritional decline is a frequently underrecognised risk in older Australians living at home. Mobility limitations, social isolation, cognitive changes, and the practical challenges of cooking alone all contribute to inadequate nutrition, which in turn accelerates physical decline and increases falls risk and hospitalisation. Meals programs address both the nutritional and social dimensions of eating.
Home-delivered meal programs, commonly associated with the Meals on Wheels model, deliver prepared hot or chilled meals directly to an older person’s home. Delivery is typically by volunteer drivers or paid workers, and the visit itself provides a brief but regular social contact point that has value beyond the food. Programs operate through local councils, not-for-profit organisations, and community groups across all states and territories. Under CHSP, home-delivered meals are available with small co-payments. Under Support at Home, meal preparation support is in the Everyday Living category. Note that the cost of food itself is not covered by aged care funding. Only the preparation and delivery service is funded.
Community dining programs, sometimes called lunch clubs or community meals, bring older people together at a local venue (community centre, church hall, council space) for a shared meal. These programs combine the nutritional benefit of a regular cooked meal with the social benefit of group connection. Costs vary by program. CHSP funding often contributes toward these programs, and many operate with volunteer support. Group meals programs are available in most metropolitan areas and many regional centres through local council-funded services.
For older people with clinical nutrition needs, such as those with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or significant unintentional weight loss, dietetics is a clinical support funded under the Support at Home program’s Clinical Supports category. Dietitian assessment and ongoing support under clinical supports carries no participant contribution, unlike general meal preparation which attracts an Everyday Living contribution. If you are concerned about an older person’s nutritional status, a GP referral to a dietitian is the appropriate first step, alongside consideration of Support at Home assessment if it has not already occurred.
Safe, well-maintained home environments support older people’s independence and reduce falls risk. Home maintenance and gardening support are included in aged care community services because the practical reality of living alone in an older home often creates safety risks that an older person cannot address independently.
Under CHSP and the Support at Home Everyday Living category, home maintenance services typically cover minor repairs (replacing lightbulbs, fixing leaking taps, securing loose railings), garden maintenance (lawn mowing, weeding, pruning), and seasonal outdoor tasks. Services are not intended to replace major renovation or building work. They focus on tasks that are practical barriers to safe independent living at home.
Home modifications for safety (installing grab rails, ramps, non-slip surfaces, improved lighting) are a related but distinct service. Under Support at Home, minor home modifications are funded within the Independence supports category. Major modifications and assistive technology are funded through the separate Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, which has its own dedicated budget outside the regular quarterly budget. Our full guide to home care services in Australia covers the AT-HM budget in more detail.
Home maintenance and garden services are available through local councils, community organisations, and registered CHSP providers. In many areas, volunteer-run handyperson programs supplement funded services, particularly for low-income older people who do not qualify for government subsidies. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or search myagedcare.gov.au for providers in your postcode.
Understanding which funding program applies to community support services helps families plan what to request and what to expect to pay.
The CHSP is the primary source of community support funding for older Australians with lower-level needs. It is the entry-level program, available to people aged 65 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) who need a small amount of support with specific daily tasks. Community transport, social support, meals, home maintenance, and garden services are all available through CHSP providers. The CHSP has been extended until at least 30 June 2027 before it transitions to Support at Home. Services can often begin quickly after a referral, sometimes within days, without requiring a comprehensive aged care assessment.
For people with more complex or ongoing support needs, community support services are available within the Support at Home program under the Independence and Everyday Living categories. Social support, transport, and respite sit in Independence supports. Domestic assistance, meal preparation, and garden maintenance sit in Everyday Living. Both categories attract income-tested participant contributions, unlike the Clinical Supports category which is fully government-funded. Under Support at Home, the total funding available is higher than under CHSP, and services are coordinated through a single provider care management arrangement. For a full breakdown of how Support at Home works, see our guide to home care services in Australia.
For Australians under 65 with a permanent or significant disability, community support is funded through NDIS plans rather than the aged care system. Social support and community access falls within the Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation category (Core Supports). The two systems do not overlap and are accessed separately. For people who turned 65 while on the NDIS, the choice between staying on the NDIS or transitioning to aged care is outlined in our guide to choosing an Australian aged care provider.
Community support service costs vary by funding program, service type, and the person’s income and assets. The following gives a general picture of costs in 2026, verified against current program rules.
CHSP services attract small co-payments set by the provider within government guidelines. In 2026, typical CHSP co-payments range from approximately $5 to $15 per service session for social support, transport, and meals. Home maintenance services may attract slightly higher co-payments. These are heavily subsidised with the Australian Government covering the majority of the actual service cost. People with very limited financial means can discuss reduced co-payments with their provider, as CHSP providers cannot deny services based solely on inability to pay a co-payment.
Independence services (social support, transport, respite) and Everyday Living services (domestic assistance, meal preparation, garden maintenance) both attract income-tested contributions under Support at Home. Contribution rates depend on Services Australia’s assessment of the person’s income and assets. Full Age Pensioners pay the lowest rates, typically around 5% of the Independence service cost. Self-funded retirees may pay up to 50% of Independence costs and up to 80% of Everyday Living costs. From 1 July 2026, government price caps apply to all Support at Home services, which limits what providers can charge for any individual service type.
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is completely free for recipients. There are no co-payments, means testing, or assessment fees. The entire program is funded by the Australian Government through community organisations.
One of the most significant equity gaps in Australia’s community support system is the difference in service availability between metropolitan and regional or rural areas. People living outside major population centres face a smaller pool of approved CHSP providers, longer wait times for services, limited public transport alternatives, and in some cases, no group social support programs within a reasonable distance.
The CHSP includes community transport as a specific sub-program, and many regional areas have local government transport programs that operate alongside CHSP-funded services. The My Aged Care website’s provider search includes a filter for geographic area and service type, and lists providers by postcode including regional operators. Telehealth and phone-based social support programs have expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic and are now available through some CHSP providers as an alternative to in-person visits for people in remote areas.
Meals on Wheels programs maintain coverage in many regional towns through volunteer driver networks, even where formal CHSP services are limited. Local government area social services teams and community health centres are worth contacting directly in areas where the formal provider network is thin. They often have knowledge of informal community support options not listed in the My Aged Care directory.
If My Aged Care’s provider search does not return results in your area, call 1800 200 422 and ask the contact centre team specifically about services available in your postcode. My Aged Care coordinators have access to regional information that is not always visible in the online directory. They can also refer you to Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) if you are supporting an older person at home and need help finding local services.
The access pathway for government-funded community support is the same for most services. These are the steps in order.
Call 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au. You can also apply in person at a Services Australia office. You will need the person’s Medicare card. The initial application takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You can make the call on behalf of an older family member with their permission.
After your application, My Aged Care will conduct a brief phone screening to determine what level of assessment is needed. For CHSP entry-level services (transport, social support, meals), an in-person Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment is usually arranged at home. For Support at Home, a comprehensive assessment by the Single Assessment System is required. Assessments are free.
After assessment, you receive a written outcome letter listing the approved service types. My Aged Care can provide referrals to specific local providers who deliver those services. For CHSP services, some referrals lead to direct provider contact within a short time. For Support at Home, a written classification and funding letter is issued and you then choose from registered providers in your area.
You have the right to choose your provider. Use the Find a Provider tool at myagedcare.gov.au to compare options. Contact your chosen provider, confirm their fee schedule, ask how quickly they can start, and check whether they specifically deliver the community support types you need (not all providers deliver all service types in all areas). Once services are agreed, you sign a Home Care Agreement or service agreement and support begins.
If there is a wait for CHSP or Support at Home services, local council social services, neighbourhood centres, Meals on Wheels programs, Red Cross social support programs, and community health centres often provide immediate or low-barrier support independently of the formal system. For urgent situations involving an older person at risk, contact the Aged Care Crisis Line (1800 700 250) or, in cases of risk to life or safety, call 000.
Tenax Supports is a registered home care and NDIS provider delivering community support services to older Australians and NDIS participants across [insert service regions]. Our community support services include individual social support, community access, assistance with daily activities, community nursing, and coordination of care across programs.
We recognise that community support is not a secondary service. For many older people, a consistent social support worker who knows them, visits regularly, and helps them stay connected to their community is the single most protective factor in their continued independence at home. Our workers are matched to clients with shared interests and communication styles where possible, and we aim for consistency of visit rather than rotating through different faces.
We work across both Support at Home and the NDIS, covering the full age range. Families navigating the question of whether aged care or NDIS is the right pathway for someone can talk through that question with our care team rather than spending time in the system finding out. If you want to discuss what community support looks like for your situation, contact us here and we will be in touch.
The evidence on social isolation in older Australians is unambiguous: it is a health risk, not just a quality of life issue. Community support services, from social visits and volunteer companionship through to transport, meals, and home maintenance, address the daily practical and social needs that formal clinical care does not cover. These services are largely funded by the Australian Government through CHSP and Support at Home, and all of them are accessed through the same starting point: My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Getting these services in place early, before social isolation becomes entrenched, consistently produces better outcomes than waiting until clinical deterioration creates urgency. For help understanding which services are right for your family and how to access them locally, reach out to Tenax Supports.
The evidence on social isolation in older Australians is unambiguous: it is a health risk, not just a quality of life issue. Community support services, from social visits and volunteer companionship through to transport, meals, and home maintenance, address the daily practical and social needs that formal clinical care does not cover. These services are largely funded by the Australian Government through CHSP and Support at Home, and all of them are accessed through the same starting point: My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Getting these services in place early, before social isolation becomes entrenched, consistently produces better outcomes than waiting until clinical deterioration creates urgency. For help understanding which services are right for your family and how to access them locally, reach out to Tenax Supports.
Services include social support (individual and group), community transport, home-delivered and group meals, the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) for free companionship, domestic assistance, home maintenance, garden support, and respite care. Most are funded through the CHSP or Support at Home program and accessed via My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
The ACVVS is a free Australian Government-funded program that matches trained volunteers with older people at risk of social isolation. Volunteers visit for at least one hour per fortnight to provide companionship. The scheme is available to people in aged care facilities or receiving a Support at Home package. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or search myagedcare.gov.au to access it.
Very significant. AIHW (2024) data shows 16% of Australians aged 65+ experience loneliness and 11% are socially isolated. In aged care facilities, moderate loneliness affects an estimated 61% of residents (MJA, 2024). Social isolation is linked to dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The Aged Care Quality Standards now specifically require providers to address loneliness and social connection.
Yes. Community transport for medical appointments, shopping, and social activities is funded under both CHSP and Support at Home. Two types exist: direct transport (a support worker drives the person) and indirect transport (taxi or rideshare vouchers). Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for assessment and referral to a local transport provider.
Yes. Home-delivered meals and group community dining programs are funded under CHSP and within the Everyday Living category of Support at Home. The cost of food itself is not funded, only the preparation and delivery service. Contact My Aged Care or search myagedcare.gov.au to find local meals providers. Meals on Wheels programs operate through councils and community organisations in most areas.
In limited circumstances, yes, provided there is no funding duplication and the services are not already covered under the Support at Home plan. The rules on co-access are specific. Confirm arrangements with your provider or My Aged Care before accessing both programs simultaneously.
Start with My Aged Care: call 1800 200 422 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 10am-2pm), go to myagedcare.gov.au, or visit a Services Australia office. Assessment is free. For immediate help while waiting, contact your local council’s social services team, Red Cross, or Meals on Wheels. In urgent situations, call the Aged Care Crisis Line on 1800 700 250.