Short answer: Under Australia’s Support at Home program, clinical supports include services such as physiotherapy and exercise physiology when they are approved in a person’s Notice of Decision and support plan. The Australian Government fully funds clinical supports, so eligible participants do not pay a contribution for those services. Alera Healthcare delivers mobile physiotherapy and exercise physiology across Sydney Metro as an associated Support at Home provider (not a registered provider). A registered provider holds the participant’s funding and plan; we deliver authorised Physio and EP in coordination with that organisation.
What is Support at Home, in plain English?
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program that brings together earlier home-support arrangements. From 1 November 2025, eligible older people receive a support plan and budget after a My Aged Care assessment. Services sit in three categories:
- Clinical supports (for example nursing, physiotherapy, exercise physiology)
- Independence services (for example personal care, transport, respite)
- Everyday living services (for example domestic assistance and home maintenance)
That structure comes from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Support at Home service list and program materials for older people, families and carers (2025).
What counts as a clinical support?
The Support at Home service list describes clinical supports as specialised services to maintain or regain functional and/or cognitive capabilities. They must be delivered directly, or supervised, by university-qualified or accredited health professionals using evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management practices.
Physiotherapist and exercise physiologist both appear on that clinical list. In practice, that means help to regain or maintain physical function so someone can stay safer and more independent at home. Care may include clinical assessment, treatment, education for self-management, and advice. Sessions can be in person or via telehealth, and individually or in a clinically supervised group format, where appropriate.
Important limits (from the department’s service-list FAQs, October 2025):
- Activities must aim to help the person remain safe and independent at home
- Gym or pool memberships are not funded as a standalone clinical service
- Exact services must match what is documented in the Notice of Decision and support plan
Do you pay for physiotherapy under Support at Home?
For clinical supports, the government pays the full cost. Department materials are clear: participants contribute to independence and everyday living services based on an income and assets assessment, but not to clinical supports such as physiotherapy.
That does not mean every visit is automatically approved. Eligibility and the mix of services still depend on assessment, the support plan, and what the registered provider has authorised.
What about the Restorative Care Pathway?
Some people need a short, intensive burst of allied health and/or nursing after a setback. The Restorative Care Pathway sits inside Support at Home for that purpose.
My Aged Care and Department of Health materials (updated late 2025) describe it like this:
- Up to 16 consecutive weeks of intensive services per episode
- Funding of around $6,000 per episode (separate from ongoing Support at Home funding)
- In some cases an additional unit may be approved (up to around $12,000 in one episode)
- People may be eligible for up to two non-consecutive episodes in 12 months, with at least three months between episodes
- Multidisciplinary teams can include physiotherapy and exercise physiology alongside other disciplines as assessed
- Clinical supports on this pathway remain fully government-funded
There are no leave provisions that pause the 16-week clock. Start dates and take-up rules still apply, so families should read the Notice of Decision carefully and contact My Aged Care if timing needs an extension.
Registered provider vs associated provider (why the wording matters)
This is where many family conversations get muddy.
- A registered provider holds the participant’s Support at Home arrangement, service agreement and legal responsibilities under the aged care framework. They claim funding and remain accountable for quality and safety.
- An associated provider delivers specific services on behalf of a registered provider, like a clinical subcontractor. Department guidance notes that registered providers can engage associated providers, but they cannot contract out their legal responsibilities.
Alera Healthcare is an associated Support at Home provider for physiotherapy and exercise physiology. We are not a registered Support at Home provider. When funding applies, we work with the registered organisation that holds your plan.
We provide physiotherapy and exercise physiology only. We do not offer occupational therapy or NDIS services. We also see private-paying clients and families, and DVA clients where eligible.
How Physio and EP help under clinical supports
Physiotherapy assesses mobility, balance, gait, pain and transfers, then builds a home-based plan that matches real rooms and routines.
Exercise physiology designs progressive exercise for capacity, chronic conditions and healthy ageing, with clear safety parameters.
Both professions appear on the Support at Home clinical service list. Many Sydney seniors benefit from one or both across a reablement journey. If another kind of care would suit a specific goal better, we say so early.
Alera Healthcare has delivered mobile in-home care across Sydney Metro since 2004, with the same therapist returning where possible so progress is not reset each week.
A practical path for Sydney families
- Register or update details with My Aged Care and complete an assessment if needed
- Read the Notice of Decision and support plan: which clinical supports are listed?
- Confirm who the registered provider is (or will be)
- Ask that provider to authorise physiotherapy and/or exercise physiology with Alera Healthcare if that matches goals
- Book a short discovery call with us so we can check Sydney Metro coverage and clinical fit
If someone already has a registered provider, carers can often start at step 4. Care partners and discharge planners can use our referral pathway when home clinical follow-through is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Are physiotherapy and exercise physiology clinical supports under Support at Home?
Yes. Both physiotherapist and exercise physiologist appear on the Support at Home clinical supports service list when the activity helps the person remain safe and independent at home and is approved in their plan.
Will I have an out-of-pocket cost for clinical Physio or EP on Support at Home?
Clinical supports are fully government-funded under Support at Home arrangements. Participants still contribute for independence and everyday living services where those apply. Always confirm the person’s plan and authorisations; private payment or DVA pathways (where eligible) are discussed separately on enquiry.
Is Alera a registered Support at Home provider?
No. Alera Healthcare is an associated provider. A registered provider holds the participant’s funding and plan. We deliver authorised physiotherapy and exercise physiology in coordination with that organisation.
Is the Restorative Care Pathway the same as ongoing Support at Home?
No. Restorative Care is a short-term pathway (up to 16 weeks per episode) focused on intensive allied health and/or nursing to regain or maintain function. Ongoing Support at Home uses the person’s classification budget and approved service list over time. Clinical supports can appear in both settings when approved.
Is Alera’s 15-minute call a free treatment session?
No. We offer a 15-minute call to understand needs, check Sydney Metro coverage, and explain next steps. It is not a free clinical treatment consultation.
Soft next steps
If you are sorting Support at Home clinical supports for someone at home in Sydney, book a 15-minute call. Referrers can use the referral pathway. Explore services, including physiotherapy and exercise physiology, plus funding and locations.
Call 040 55 77 555 or email reena@alerahealthcare.com.au.
Clinical supports are a defined part of Support at Home. Alera Healthcare’s role is careful, continuity-focused Physio and EP at home when that is what the plan authorises.
Sources
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Support at Home service list (August 2025 PDF)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Support at Home service list FAQs (October 2025)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Services under Support at Home and Restorative Care Pathway pages (updated 2025)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Associated providers guidance
- My Aged Care, Restorative Care Pathway participant information (16-week episodes; ~$6,000 funding units)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Support at Home program – classifications and budgets (July 2026; Restorative Care Pathway ~$6,000 / up to ~$12,000 when eligible)