Webinars address upcoming CHSP changes

Commonwealth Home Support Program support leads in three states have come together to assist the sector’s leaders to start preparing now for major reforms down the track through two online events this month.

A working group of CHSP Sector Support Officers in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia are behind the initiative – which includes a two-part fully-funded webinar series for CHSP and community care providers.

The webinars – which feature a panel of industry leaders – target the changes that will see CHSP merged into the incoming Support at Home program at the delayed date of 2027.

Despite the later date, home support organisations should not delay their preparation for the new program, said initiative lead Kim McLean – who is ageing coordinator at Orange City Council and sector support and development officer for the Central-West region of NSW.

“CHSP leaders, be they boards, CEOs, executives or senior teams should be taking a proactive approach to understanding where their organisation is at today and what it needs to operate in a managed marketplace where customers have choice and control,” Ms McLean said.

The first webinar – which is taking place next Thursday – focuses on the importance of contemporary organisational leadership, strategy, structures and systems to support organisational development and service growth, and how CHSP leaders can objectively assess their organisation.

The panel will be moderated by Australian Strategic Services senior consultant Aaron Goldsworthy and include:

• Carole Wandin, general manager community care at Northern Districts Community Health
• Doug Kimberly, principal consultant at DMK & Associates
• Michael Goldsworthy, principal consultant at Australian Strategic Services.

Speaking ahead of the webinar, Ms Wandin said CHSP leaders needed to have honest and objective conversations about where their organisation is at.

“We all work in aged care because we have a passion for helping the clients. To deliver truly client-centred care that exceeds client and family or carer expectations, leaders need to ensure care staff are supported by contemporary organisational leadership, strategy, structures and systems. These come about through leaders being honest about where the organisation is at today and implementing specific strategies and projects to get the organisation to where it needs to be.”

Mr Kimberly, who was until recently chair of large rural and regional home care provider Integratedliving said merging CHSP into Support at Home would place that program into a government-regulated marketplace that sought to give customers full choice and control.

“Many systems and process that were developed and adapted for CHSP – a block-funded environment – will not be appropriate for a customer-driven competitive marketplace where funding is allocated against client need and government will pay in arrears for work completed.

“Organisations need to be strengthening or transforming their organisational leadership, strategy, structures and systems, and this cannot happen overnight.” The delay in CHSP’s inclusion gives leaders the time to undertake this work, he said.

Ms McClean said the series format aimed to provide leaders with a chance to deep dive into where their organisation is at today and how to assess it in the first webinar. “Then follow this up and exploring in webinar two the principles, practices, processes, and tools to support organisational development and growth.”

Supporting organisational growth

On this latter topic, Michael Goldsworthy said establishing the strategic destiny of the organisation was a key leadership role of any board.

“A robust strategic plan informs both internal and external stakeholders about what the board wants the organisation to look like in three-to-five years including what strategies and projects are required for the organisation to achieve this position.”

There are a range of key principles, practices, processes and tools that CHSP leaders must understand and enact to deliver these strategies and projects, he said. “Understanding and enacting these will be critical for CHSP leaders as we head towards Support at Home in 2027.”

Both webinars are open to all CHSP and community care leaders from around Australia. Registrants will have access to the recording post stream, and a resource pack.

They are funded under the CHSP Sector Support and Development program – which is a sub-program of CHSP that aims to uplift organisational capability ahead of the aged care reforms.

Program partners include Central Coast SSD, MDS Sector Support & Training, Eastern Sector Development Team, Central Gippsland Health, Orange City Council, Ethic Community Council of NSW, Inner-West Sydney Sector Support, and Australian Strategic Services.

Click on the dates to register for the two webinars, which are scheduled to run on 20 March and 28 March respectively from 12pm to 1.30pm AEDT both days.

Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to our premium content or AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.