CHSP Provider Community of Practice Hub

Specialisation verification

The Department of Health and Aged Care encourage CHSP Providers to work their way through the specialisation framework and become verified.

Specialisation verification helps older people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to access more reliable information when choosing aged care providers. It also assists their loved ones, care finders, Elder care supports, the single assessment teams and potential workers to find the most appropriate CHSP Provider. The Department of Health and Aged Care provides information here.

Aged care providers may choose to offer specialised services for people with diverse experiences, backgrounds and characteristics, and people who may identify with one or more of the groups defined by the Department. To apply, providers must show that they give care that is sensitive to the needs of these individuals, and goes eyond the standard obligations of the Aged Care Quality Standards.

The Specialisation Verification Framework applies to the following groups:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• people who are financially or socially disadvantaged
• veterans
• people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• care leavers
• parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex people
• people who live in rural or remote areas.

Very few providers across Queensland and Australia have been verified. Specialisation verification is important as it:

• ensures verified providers listed on My Aged Care offer specialised care over and above the Aged Care Quality Standards
• sets a standardised benchmark for specialised care
• helps people make informed decisions about care by improving the information about providers on My Aged Care
• recognises providers who are going over and above to specialise in the needs of specific diverse groups of older people
• helps attract workers with diverse backgrounds and life experiences by recognising skills and qualifications

An additional benefit is that the Department of Health and Aged Care has released the following thin market grant. This is for providers moving into Support at Home 1 July 2025, however, take note as a similar grant may be available to CHSP Providers. The thin market grant is open to HCP and STRC providers who deliver services in MMM 3,4,5,6 or 7, and/or currently hold a valid Specialisation Verification. This indicates that the definition of thin market has been expanded from being MMM focused to also focusing on providers who deliver services to identified population groups. As a CHSP provider, becoming a verified provider now will assist you in receiving thin market grants in the future, if and when they are released.

GO ID: GO7600
GO Title: Support at Home Thin Markets (rural, remote and specialised) 2025-26
Agency: Department of Health and Aged Care
Primary Category: Aged Care
Close Date and Time: 23-Apr-2025 2:00 pm (ACT Local Time)

The Sector Support and Development Team at Council on the Ageing Queensland encourages you to view the following resources, and to become verified where appropriate. Even if you do not go through the Verification process, the framework will still be very beneficial for your service.

• Specialisation verification for aged care services - DoHAC
• Towards Specialisation Video & Resource Kit for CHSP Providers - Victorian based CHSP Sector Support and Development Providers
• Register now for the webinar - The Experiences and needs of Older LGBTIQA+ people and the Specialisation Verification Framework - 9 April 2025