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Accessing vision services under Commonwealth Home Support Services (CHSP)

Updated

If funding is not available under SAH funding, clients can access vision services and Assisted Technology (AT) under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). Register with My Aged Care. A professional assessor will then evaluate your needs and provide a unique referral code/voucher for approved low vision supports.

Getting approved and connected to vision services involves a few key steps:

Check Your Eligibility
To qualify for CHSP, you generally need to be:

  • Aged 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples).
  • Experiencing difficulty with everyday activities due to your vision and needing assistance to live independently.

Register with My Aged Care
Before you can receive services or assistive technology through CHSP, you must undergo an assessment. You can initiate this in a few ways:

Call the My Aged Care contact centre directly on 1800 200 422.
Apply online using the https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/apply-online portal.
Ask your GP or hospital to submit a referral on your behalf.
Tip: Have your Medicare card handy when you contact them.

Complete the Assessment
The assessment is a two-part process:

Phone Assessment: A My Aged Care team member will ask questions about your health, vision, and how you are managing at home.

In-Person Assessment: For specialized vision equipment and support, a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessor will visit your home. They will determine what specific vision services and AT you need.

Receive Your Referral Codes: Once approved, you will be issued a unique CHSP referral code (sometimes called a voucher) for vision services. You can then take this code to an approved, specialized vision provider (like Vision Australia or other state-based low vision organizations) to access your approved aids, training, and technology. If you tell me what specific types of vision aids or support (like magnifiers, lighting, or mobility training) you are looking for, I can point you toward the right specialized providers in your area.