How do most people receive aged care? In a nursing home? If you said yes, you’d have to guess again. The largest aged care program in Australia is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). It helps more than 850,000 older people to remain in their own homes as they age, staying connected with family, friends, community and culture.
On March 10, Eastern Sydney will see people from across the state and around Australia coming together to share, celebrate, and explore what Commonwealth Home Support means now and into the future at the You Ain’t Seen Nothin‘ Yet 2020 CHSP Futures Conference. The keynote address will be delivered by Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians. Researchers, workers, volunteers and home support consumers will be presenting innovative and practical ways to support older Australians, and looking at how support may change to respond to the changing nature of ageing in Australia.
“We’re excited about home support, and we’re excited that it helps so many older people to live their lives the way they want,” said Tim Horton, CHSP Sector Support and Development Officer with Inner Sydney Voice. “I’m always amazed at how much older people love what home support gives them.”
There is a wide diversity of CHSP services, helping people through meals on wheels, community transport, community nursing, allied health, and home maintenance and modifications. With the help of home support, hundreds of thousands of older people get out and about, going to the shops, meeting friends and making new ones, and visiting galleries, parks and other attractions. They can also receive help with cleaning, personal care, shopping, or just having a chat.
“We believe the CHSP needs to be celebrated for the success it is,” Mr Horton said. “The conference will provide us with a valuable opportunity to share good practice and what’s working well in the aged care sector, including reflections and insights that positively impact our community. Innovations in how we provide service and how research translates into practice will be a key feature of our presentations.”
Addressing the themes of connection, the future, and quality, speakers will include researchers and service providers from Eastern Sydney and beyond, including the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, and Randwick Waverley Community Transport. Conference goers will also hear from consumers and volunteers, who will share their stories of the impact of home support. “Home support doesn’t just help older people, it also enriches the lives of the tens of thousands of staff and volunteers who support older people to stay well at home and access their community.”
The conference is a cross regional collaborative partnership of NSW Sector Support and Development Officers and will be held at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre on March 10. More information and bookings at www.youaintseennothinyet2020chspfuturesconference.com.au.
