Help at Home

Short-term Personal care

This service is generally offered to people who have a temporary incapacity or have returned home after a hospital stay.

The amount of assistance provided can be up to 30 hours per year.

Personal care may include:

• Showering
• Assistance with dressing
• Assistance with grooming/ hair care

Long-term cleaning assistance

This service is generally offered to people who need ongoing assistance with cleaning in their home.

The amount of assistance provided can be up to 2 hours per fortnight.

Assistance many include:

• Mopping of floors
• Vacuuming 
• Cleaning of bathroom & toilet
• Laundry
• Changing bed linen
• Cleaning bench tops

Home maintenance & modifications

This service provides basic home maintenance assistance, with a focus on safety in the home environment.

The Council's Home Support Services are provided on the basis of assessed need and eligibility.

To be eligible for Home Support Services you need to:

• live in the Council area
• live at home
• be an older (over 65 years of age) person with a moderate to severe disability or their carer
• be an adult (18 to 64 years of age) living with a moderate to severe disability or their carer
• be likely to need to go into an aged care home or hospital for care if you are not being provided with support. 

Residents in need of Services can refer themselves or may be referred to the Council by a family member, carer or General Practitioner.

Adults living with disability

Residents living with a disability who are aged 18-64 years of age can refer themselves or may be referred to the Council by a family member, carer or General Practitioner.

Once a referral is received a Home Support Officer from the Council will contact the resident to organise a convenient time to meet and discuss his or her needs. This initial meeting will take approximately 45-60 minutes. 

Older residents

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) has replaced the former Home and Community Care (HACC) Program. 

Older residents (i.e. aged 65 years and over or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) who need assistance with daily living and would like to access services from the Council’s Home Support Program, must first register with the My Aged Care contact centre.

Please note that My Aged Care may refer you to a Regional Assessment Service so your needs and goals can be properly explored and services co-ordinated.

Once the Council receives the referral from My Aged Care, a Home Support Officer from the Council will contact you to discuss the service requested.

To register, visit My Aged Care or call them on 1800 200 422.