How Much Does a Home Visit Physio Cost in Melbourne?

If you are weighing up a physiotherapist who comes to your home, the first question is usually simple: what will it cost? The honest answer is that the cost of a home visit physio in Melbourne depends far more on who is paying than on the visit itself. The same appointment can be fully funded for one person, partly covered for another and privately paid for a third.

This guide explains what drives the price of a home visit, what each of the main funding programs covers, and how to work out your own out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment. It is general information only, not financial or medical advice, and program rules change, so always confirm the details for your own situation.

Why a home visit is priced differently to a clinic session

When you see a physio in a clinic, you do the travelling. With a mobile physiotherapist, the physio does it instead, so their time on the road is part of the cost of care. In return, you avoid organising transport, parking and waiting rooms, which for many older people or people with disability is the difference between getting treatment and going without.

A home visit also tends to cover more than hands-on treatment. Your physio sees how you actually move around your kitchen, hallway, bathroom and steps, sets exercises that fit your space, and often talks with family, carers or your care coordinator. That practical, real-world focus is a big part of the value.

What affects the price of a home visit

• Length of the appointment. An initial assessment usually takes longer than a follow-up session.
• Travel. Where you live and how far the physio travels can affect the price, or how travel is built into it.
• Reports and paperwork. Some funding programs require written reports, plans or progress updates, which take time to prepare.
• Your funding program. Many programs set maximum prices or pay set rates, which shapes what you are charged.

At Khy Physio, private and self-funded rates are quoted on enquiry because they depend on your location and care needs. Fees under funding programs follow each program’s rules. A travel fee applies to home visits and depends on your location. Contact our team for the cost to your area. You can see how each funding stream works with us on our pricing and funding page.

What you pay under each funding type

Paying privately

You do not need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately. You simply book, and pay the fee agreed with your physio. When you ask for a quote, check how long the session is, whether travel is included and whether a written home exercise program is part of the visit. If you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim part of it back (see below).

Private health insurance extras

If your extras cover includes physiotherapy, your fund may pay a rebate towards each session. How much you get back depends entirely on your policy, including your annual limit for physio. Before booking, ask your fund whether your policy pays for physiotherapy at home and how much of your yearly limit is left. You pay the difference between the fee and the rebate.

Medicare with a GP chronic condition management plan

Medicare does not cover standard physiotherapy. However, if you have a chronic condition and your GP prepares a GP chronic condition management plan, you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 5 allied health services each calendar year. Those 5 services are shared across all allied health types, so 5 physio sessions, or a mix such as 3 physio and 2 podiatry.

From 1 July 2026, the Medicare schedule fee for a physiotherapy service under a plan (item 10960) is $74.55 and the rebate is $63.40. Each service must last at least 20 minutes. If a physio bulk bills, you pay nothing. If they charge more than the rebate, you pay the difference, which is often called the gap. We explain eligibility and the 2025 changes in detail in does Medicare cover physio?

NDIS

If physiotherapy is part of your NDIS plan, it is funded as a therapy support, listed under the Improved Daily Living Skills category of your Capacity Building funding. The NDIA publishes a maximum price for physiotherapy: from 1 July 2026 the national price limit is $183.99 an hour, and the pricing schedule also includes a separate item for a physio’s travel time. Your physio’s fees are drawn from your plan in line with these rules, and the details are set out in your service agreement.

Khy Physio is a registered NDIS provider and works with self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants. Learn more on our NDIS physiotherapy page.

DVA

If you hold a Veteran Card (All Conditions, the gold card, or Specific Conditions, the white card), DVA can pay for clinically necessary physiotherapy. With a Specific Conditions card, it covers treatment for your accepted conditions only. You need a referral from your GP, which lasts for up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever comes first, and your GP can refer you again if you need more.

A provider who accepts your Veteran Card must accept the DVA fee as full payment, so there is no gap for you to pay. See our DVA physiotherapy page for how our home visits work.

TAC

If you were injured in a transport accident in Victoria and have a TAC claim, tell your physio you are a TAC client and give them your claim number. The TAC pays for treatment at its own rates. In the first 90 days after your accident, physiotherapy can be funded without prior TAC approval. After that, your physio needs TAC approval before further treatment is funded. If a provider charges more than the TAC rate, you may be asked to pay the difference, and the TAC generally will not reimburse it. For approved TAC clients we bill the TAC directly.

WorkSafe Victoria (WorkCover)

If you have an accepted WorkSafe claim for a work-related injury, you can see a physiotherapist without prior approval from WorkSafe and without a referral from a doctor. WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs of physiotherapy you need because of your injury. With an accepted claim we bill your insurer directly for approved physiotherapy.

Support at Home

Support at Home is the government’s in-home aged care program. It replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Physiotherapy sits in the clinical supports category, and you do not pay a contribution towards clinical supports: the government pays the full price. Contributions apply to other service types, such as help with independence and everyday living.

Support at Home providers must publish their prices, including on the My Aged Care website, and the government has set price caps for Support at Home services from 1 July 2026. Our Support at Home physiotherapy page explains how we work with your provider.

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

The CHSP provides entry-level help at home, including allied health such as physiotherapy. CHSP clients usually pay a contribution towards their services. The amount varies between providers and must be agreed before services start, and you cannot be refused services because you are unable to contribute.

How to find out your own out-of-pocket cost

The quickest way to get a real number is to have your funding details ready and ask a few clear questions. We are happy to go through these with you on the phone.

• Which funding will you use? Have your NDIS plan details, Veteran Card, TAC or WorkSafe claim number, Medicare plan and referral, or Support at Home provider details handy.
• How long is each session? Ask about the length of the first assessment and of follow-ups.
• Is travel included? Check how travel is charged or whether it is built into the price.
• Who is billed? Ask whether the practice bills your plan, insurer or DVA directly, or whether you pay and claim back.
• What happens if you need to cancel? Ask about the cancellation policy before your first visit.
• How many sessions are you likely to need? Your physio can give you a better estimate after the first assessment, once your goals are set.

If you are not sure which funding you are eligible for, our guide to physiotherapy funding options in Australia is a good starting point, or just call us.

Frequently asked questions

Is a home visit physio more expensive than going to a clinic?

It can be, because the physio’s travel time is part of the service. For many people, though, the out-of-pocket cost is the same or lower because their funding program covers the visit. It also removes the cost and effort of getting to a clinic, such as taxis, parking or a family member taking time off work.

Why don’t you publish your private fee online?

Our private rates depend on where you live and what care you need, so we quote them on enquiry. We always confirm the cost before your first visit, so there are no surprises.

Do I need a referral to get a quote?

No. You can call us for a quote at any time. A referral is only needed for certain funding, such as a Medicare GP chronic condition management plan or DVA.

Is there a separate travel or call-out fee?

A travel fee applies to home visits and depends on your location. Contact our team for the cost to your area. Some funding programs, such as the NDIS, also have a separate item for a physiotherapist’s travel time.

Which areas do you visit?

Our physiotherapists travel to homes, retirement villages and aged care settings across Melbourne and the Geelong region. If you are not sure whether we visit your suburb, just ask.

Get a clear answer on your cost

Working out physio costs should not be the hardest part of getting help. Tell us your situation and funding, and we will confirm your options and any out-of-pocket cost before you book. Contact our team or call 03 8824 0712, or make a referral and we will be in touch to arrange your first home visit.

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