Expressions of Interest to deliver CHSP Cottage Respite (overnight respite) services for older people in the ACT from 1 July 2027

Overview

The Australian Government has committed $10 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to upgrade the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre (Burrangiri) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The upgrade is intended to support the delivery of Commonwealth funded respite services in a community setting at this location from 2028 onwards.

Burrangiri is expected to need to close for up to 12 months from 30 June 2027 to enable these works to be undertaken.

The Commonwealth and ACT Government are committed to working together to minimise impacts on access to respite services in Canberra during this period. To support this, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the Department) will be undertaking processes to test the market and identify relevant providers who can deliver required replacement services.

Through this Expression of Interest, the Department is now seeking proposals from registered aged care providers that can deliver overnight respite services to eligible older people in the ACT from 1 July 2027.

Registered providers who meet requirements and are already approved to deliver Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) in the ACT are encouraged to submit a proposal as:

• the aim is to ensure service continuity for older people accessing cottage respite services at Burrangiri when the building is closed for upgrades, and
• the Department required, in the first instance, to consider currently funded CHSP providers who could deliver replacement cottage respite services through existing CHSP relinquishment processes.

Other registered providers who currently deliver Commonwealth funded residential care services and/or service through the Support at Home program are, however, also welcome to participate. This includes where they meet requirements and could either:

• deliver cottage respite, or equivalent overnight respite services, in the ACT, or
• provide surge capacity support to another preferred provider.

This is because other proposals submitted through this EOI process (including from non-CHSP providers) will only be considered if CHSP relinquishment and selection processes are unable to secure continuity of care for the relevant period. The Department is also keen to understand other opportunities to grow service access in the ACT in future.

Consideration will be given to advanced proposals that maximise service continuity, impact and value for money, and meet the mandatory and preferred requirements set out below.  
One or more preferred respondents may be invited to apply for a targeted grant opportunity to support service delivery from 1 July 2027.

Providers should prepare proposals on the basis that the maximum annual Commonwealth aged care funding likely to be available is around $7.9 million, alongside any contributions made by older people to their own care needs.

Please note: This EOI relates to overnight (cottage) respite services only. Arrangements for day respite services in the ACT will be considered separately through existing CHSP processes and are not within the scope of this EOI.

How to participate

Interested providers should download and complete the EOI Questionnaire from the Consultation Hub and return application via email to ACTSENSWRegional@Health.gov.au by 17 November 2026.

Download application for ACT Respite EOI

Questions about this EOI should be directed to  ACTSENSWRegional@Health.gov.au.