The Community Assistance Support Program (CASP), Flexible Family Support program and the Transitional Care Program are ending on 30 November 2023.
If you are currently receiving CASP, Flexible Family Support or Transitional Care Program supports contact the provider who you currently receive services from about the changes to these programs.
A new program, the Community Assistance and Temporary Supports (CATS) Program commences on 1 October 2023.
You and/or your carer may be able to get temporary supports through the CATS Program to help you leave hospital safely or remain safely in your home while you recover from an illness, injury or other health issue. If you are eligible, the CATS Program provides you with short-term and low-level supports.
For more information about the CATS Program visit www.health.act.gov.au/CATS
The Community Assistance and Support Program (CASP) aims to enhance your health and wellbeing, and facilitate your independence and participation in the community.
CASP provides you and your carer with support if you are finding daily living activities difficult due to a health issue. This health issue may be one that comes and goes (is episodic) or is short-term.
CASP will assist you by carrying out daily living activities for you, such as mowing the lawn or providing meals, or by supporting you to perform these activities yourself.
These support services can help you to stay well and, where possible, prevent you from suffering a decline in health or needing to present to hospital. When you do go to hospital, these services will help you to return to your home safely following your stay.
Services can include: domestic assistance; food services; linen service; personal care; community participation and social support; counselling support, information and advocacy; carer support; minor home maintenance; and transport.
For more information about CASP and CASP service providers, refer to the CASP Service Directory.
To access CASP, follow these four easy steps:
1. Check your eligibility
To be eligible for CASP you must live in the ACT, be under 65 years and require home and community support for daily living activities due to a health issue.
Eligibility for CASP includes, but is not limited to, people with:
- an illness that comes and goes;
- short-term health or mental health requirements*;
- a need for post-hospital care and support, or assistance with hospital outpatient visits;
- a disability that is not of a ‘significant and permanent’ nature (as required for NDIS eligibility);
- A combination of any of the above characteristics; and
- The unpaid carers and family members of any of the above individuals.
To receive services under the program, you cannot be receiving identical home and community care support services from another government program.
If you are a current NDIS client, you may be eligible for CASP if you require additional support arising from a temporary health issue e.g. recovering from surgery.
*Important Note: CASP cannot provide long-term, high level care or specialist mental health services.
2. Check if CASP is right for you:
To have a look at what services are available through CASP, and to see if the program is right for you, go to the CASP Service Directory.
Available services include:
Care coordination
Services to help you identify and arrange access to community-based services that will meet your needs and achieve your recovery goals.
Services may include domestic assistance, personal care, transport, social support, advocacy, respite care, carer support, housing services, mental health services.
Carer support
Support for carers, including short courses, workshops and individual sessions on looking after your health and wellbeing, managing stress, managing legal and financial matters, and health conditions.
Support can also include connecting carers through social activities, including culturally appropriate activities that celebrate a carer’s culture and their community. This includes support for people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and/or LGBTI.
Community participation
Includes services to help you reengage with your community and focuses on building your capacity and independence.
Counselling support, information and advocacy
Independent and individual advocacy is provided on issues where your rights are not being upheld or you are experiencing discrimination. Issues can include access and quality of service.
A range of information and counselling services are available, including specifically for people with dementia and their family/carers.
Domestic assistance
Assists you with chores around the house, including house cleaning, washing, ironing and unaccompanied shopping.
Flexible multi-service supports
Flexible multi-service supports can provide you with a range of services through one provider, including personal care, domestic assistance, basic home and yard maintenance, minor home modifications, social support, and respite care.
Food services
Service providers will deliver meals to you while also checking on your wellbeing. Meals are affordable and nutritious, and cater for most dietary requirements. You can select from a range of chilled fresh meals and frozen meals.
Linen service
Assistance if you require support with continence management. Provides collection and delivery of linen products such as bed sheets, towels, pillow cases and absorbent bed pads.
Minor home maintenance
Minor home maintenance tasks may include carpentry repairs, window and gutter cleaning for single storey locations, gardening, and installation of hand rails or small modifications/maintenance that will assist you to stay safe at home.
Personal care
Assistance with bathing, use of bathroom, dressing, grooming, getting in and out of bed and assistance with eating.
Re-ablement Groups
These strength and conditioning based groups are designed to support you with recovery back to health.
Social support
Can include group activities, individual outings, home visits, accompanied shopping, and assistance to access groups (transport to activities may be included).
Social support for children
Social support and activities to enable community inclusion of children (up to the age of 18 years) who experience social isolation because of the impact of disability within their family.
Transport
Transport support services to assist in accessing medical appointments and other health services to support your recovery.
3. Select a service and contact the provider of your choice
Once you have reviewed the services available, contact the provider you want so they can confirm your eligibility, discuss your needs and conduct a needs assessment.
4. Once assessed as eligible, begin receiving CASP supports
Note that:
- There may be waiting times before you can access services or before services may start.
- Although services are subsidised by the ACT Government, some fees usually apply.
