Can You Use Your Home Care Package for Physiotherapy?
Approved physiotherapy is a clinical support under Support at Home and has no participant contribution. It must be included in your approved care plan, fit the available funding and be arranged with the relevant provider. Confirm the service, budget and payment arrangements with your care coordinator before booking.
Short Answer: Yes, Physiotherapy Is Fully Covered
Approved physiotherapy is a clinical support under Support at Home and has no participant contribution. It must be included in your approved care plan, fit the available funding and be arranged with the relevant provider. Confirm the service, budget and payment arrangements with your care coordinator before booking.
This applies to mobile physiotherapy delivered in your home, aged care facility or retirement village. You do not need to travel to a clinic. Your physiotherapist comes to you, and the government pays the provider directly.
There is no fixed cap on the number of physiotherapy sessions you can receive. Your care coordinator works with you and your physiotherapist to determine what is clinically appropriate based on your individual needs and goals. As long as physiotherapy remains part of your care plan, it continues to be funded.
For a complete overview of all funding pathways available for physiotherapy - including Support at Home, DVA, Medicare and the Restorative Care Pathway - visit our funding and payment options page.
What Changed: Home Care Packages Are Now Support at Home
The Australian Government's Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages from 01/11/2025. If you were already receiving services under a Home Care Package, your services continue automatically under the new program. You do not need to reapply or take any additional steps - the transition is managed for you.
The key structural change is how services are organised. Under the old Home Care Package system, all services - including physiotherapy - came from a single pooled budget. If you spent more on domestic assistance or personal care, there was less available for allied health. Under Support at Home, services are now grouped into three distinct categories:
- Clinical Care - physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology. Fully government-funded with no client contribution.
- Independence - personal care, home modifications, assistive technology. Means-tested client contribution may apply.
- Everyday Living - domestic assistance, meal preparation, transport. Means-tested client contribution may apply.
Physiotherapy does not have a guaranteed separate budget protected from spending on other services. Approved clinical supports have no participant contribution, but your service plan and available Support at Home budget still determine what can be arranged. Check the allocation with your care coordinator.
What Types of Physiotherapy Are Covered?
Support at Home covers a broad range of physiotherapy services, provided they are clinically appropriate and form part of your care plan. All of the following can be delivered as mobile physiotherapy in your home, retirement village or aged care facility:
Falls prevention and balance training
Fall risk assessments, progressive balance exercises, gait retraining and home environment reviews to reduce your risk of falling.
Post-surgery rehabilitation
Structured recovery programs after hip replacement, knee replacement and other orthopaedic procedures, helping you regain strength and mobility.
Mobility and strength training
Targeted exercise programs to maintain and improve your ability to move safely, get in and out of chairs, and manage daily activities independently.
Pain management
Manual therapy, exercise prescription and education to help manage chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, back pain and joint stiffness.
Neurological conditions
Specialised physiotherapy for stroke recovery, Parkinson's disease, dementia-related mobility decline and other neurological conditions affecting movement and balance.
Respiratory physiotherapy
Breathing exercises, airway clearance techniques and exercise programs for COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and other chronic respiratory conditions.
How to Access Physiotherapy Through Your Support at Home Package
If you already have a Support at Home package, accessing physiotherapy is straightforward. Here is the typical process:
Contact your care coordinator or aged care provider
Let them know you would like to include physiotherapy in your care plan. If you have a specific concern - such as a recent fall, pain, or difficulty with mobility - mention this so they can prioritise the referral.
Your coordinator arranges a physiotherapy referral
Based on your assessed needs, your care coordinator organises a referral to a physiotherapy provider. You have the right to choose your own provider - you are not required to use whoever your coordinator nominates.
Your physiotherapist visits you at home
No travel required. Your physiotherapist comes to your home, retirement village or aged care facility for an initial assessment and then for ongoing treatment sessions.
Funding pays the provider directly
Approved physiotherapy is a clinical support under Support at Home and has no participant contribution. It must be included in your approved care plan, fit the available funding and be arranged with the relevant provider. Confirm the service, budget and payment arrangements with your care coordinator before booking.
Don't have a Support at Home package yet?
To start the process, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to register for an aged care assessment. The assessment determines your eligibility and the level of support you may receive.
What If You Don't Have a Support at Home Package?
If you are not currently on a Support at Home package, or if you are waiting for your assessment, there are other funding pathways that may cover or subsidise your physiotherapy:
Medicare - GP chronic condition management plan
With a valid GP referral and eligible care plan, Medicare usually provides rebates for up to 5 individual allied health services per calendar year, shared across professions. Eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients may access up to 10. Your GP assesses eligibility; we check the referral, services remaining and any gap before booking.
DVA - Department of Veterans' Affairs
Eligible veterans with a Gold or White card can access physiotherapy at home with a GP referral. DVA covers the full cost of treatment for accepted conditions, with no out-of-pocket expense for eligible participants.
Restorative Care Pathway
A short-term, intensive rehabilitation program of up to 16 weeks, designed to help older Australians recover after illness, injury or a period of decline. Clinical services including physiotherapy are fully funded with no client contribution for eligible participants.
Private Health Insurance
Rebates for physiotherapy may be available depending on your fund and level of cover. Check with your health insurer to confirm whether home-visit physiotherapy is included in your extras cover.
Self-Funded
If you do not have a funding pathway in place, we offer competitive rates for self-funded clients. Contact us for current pricing and availability.
For a detailed breakdown of all available funding options, visit our funding and payment options page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many physiotherapy sessions can I get through Support at Home?
The number and frequency of sessions depend on your clinical needs, approved service plan and available budget. Your care coordinator confirms the funded arrangement with you; Support at Home is not an unlimited session entitlement.
Can my care coordinator choose which physiotherapist I see?
You have the right to choose your own service providers under Support at Home. You are not obligated to use a provider nominated by your coordinator. If you would like to use Wellworx Physio, let your coordinator know and they can arrange the referral.
What happens to my physiotherapy if my quarterly budget runs out?
Physiotherapy does not have a guaranteed separate budget protected from spending on other services. Approved clinical supports have no participant contribution, but your service plan and available Support at Home budget still determine what can be arranged. Check the allocation with your care coordinator.
Funding information checked 11/09/2026. New GP care plans use the GP chronic condition management plan (GPCCMP). Eligible older GP management plans and team care arrangements prepared before 01/07/2025 can support services under the transition rules until 30/06/2027. Referral validity and the annual service allowance are separate checks. Check your current service approval, available budget and any gap before booking. Sources: Services Australia, My Aged Care and DVA.
Content reviewed by Jovi Villanueva, AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist (PHY0001876394), Principal Physiotherapist at Wellworx Physio.
Last updated: 19/09/2026
Not Sure If Your Funding Covers Physiotherapy?
Call us and we can check your eligibility in a few minutes. No obligation.