Chronic Wound Consumable Scheme

From May 2025, the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) will cover the cost of wound consumable products for older people aged 65 and over, or First Nations people aged 50 and over, who have diabetes and a chronic wound.

Chronic wounds impact a person’s quality of life and require long-term care. This has a significant burden on our healthcare system. Currently, most patients must pay the full cost of wound consumable products. These costs can put significant financial pressure on people. This can lead to patients delaying care. The CWCS will ensure patients can get the wound care they need when they need it.

The CWCS will support people with diabetes with a chronic wound who either:

• are aged over 65 years
• are a First Nations person aged 50 years or over.

Patients are not eligible if they receive wound care through:

• public and private hospitals – including post-operative and outpatient care
• public or community health services run by or on behalf of state and territory governments
• the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• the Department of Veterans' Affairs rehabilitation and treatment programs, including Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) dressings
• Australian Government-funded residential aged care homes.

Health professionals will be eligible if they are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners
• medical practitioners in a primary care setting, including general practitioners
• nurses (registered and nurse practitioner)
• podiatrists.

Eligible health professionals will need to complete the specified training to use the online portal. 

For further information, please visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website or reach out via email chronicwounds@health.gov.au