My Aged Care Physiotherapy at Home in Melbourne

If someone in your family is getting older and struggling with pain, balance or getting around, you have probably heard that physiotherapy “through My Aged Care” might help. It can, but the system changed in late 2025, and a lot of the information online still describes the old rules. This guide explains how physiotherapy for older people at home is funded through My Aged Care today, who is eligible, what it costs, and how to get a physiotherapist to your door in Melbourne.

It is general information, current as at September 2026. It is not advice about your individual situation, and aged care rules can change. My Aged Care, your aged care provider or your care partner can confirm what applies to you.

What is My Aged Care?

My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s starting point for aged care services. It is where you register, arrange an assessment and find out which services you are eligible for, including help at home, nursing and allied health such as physiotherapy.

Aged care services are generally for people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You can register online at myagedcare.gov.au or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Two programs that can fund physiotherapy at home

Most older people living at home get funded physiotherapy through one of two programs. Which one depends on your assessed needs.

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

The CHSP provides entry-level support for people who need a little help to keep living independently. Its services include allied health and therapy, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry.

• CHSP clients usually pay a contribution towards their services. The amount varies between providers and must be agreed before services start.
• You will not be asked to pay the full cost of services, and you cannot be refused services because you are unable to contribute.
• The CHSP continues for now. The government has said it will move into Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Support at Home

Support at Home started on 1 November 2025, replacing the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. If you had a Home Care Package, you were moved across to Support at Home. You may still hear people say “home care package”, but the rules that now apply are Support at Home rules. Our guide to home care package physiotherapy covers the transition in more detail.

• Ongoing services are funded through a quarterly budget based on your assessed classification. 10% of each quarterly budget goes to care management, which pays for your provider’s help planning and coordinating your care.
• Physiotherapy is a clinical support. You do not pay a contribution towards clinical supports such as nursing and physiotherapy: the government pays the full price. Contributions, based on your income and assets, apply to other service types such as help with independence and everyday living.
• Short-term help is also available. The Restorative Care Pathway offers a short burst of intensive, allied health focused support to help you regain or maintain function, for example after an illness or a decline in mobility.
• Prices are published. 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.

For a closer look at how physiotherapy fits into this program, read Support at Home physiotherapy: what older Australians need to know.

How to get physiotherapy at home through My Aged Care

• Step 1: register. Register with My Aged Care online or on 1800 200 422. A family member or carer can help, with your permission.
• Step 2: have an assessment. An assessor talks with you, usually at home, about your health, your daily activities and what support you need. Mention any falls, near misses, pain or difficulty with stairs, showering or getting out of a chair.
• Step 3: get your outcome. You will be told which program and services you are approved for.
• Step 4: ask for physiotherapy. Under Support at Home, tell your provider or care partner that you would like physiotherapy included in your care plan, and why. Under the CHSP, contact a provider that offers allied health and therapy services. If you would like a particular mobile physiotherapist, ask your provider whether they can engage them. We are happy to talk with your provider directly.
• Step 5: first visit. Your physiotherapist assesses you at home, sets goals with you and your family, and builds a program around your real environment.

Why physiotherapy matters for older people

Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among Australians aged 65 and over, and this age group has the highest rate of fall-related hospital stays. But physiotherapy for older people is about much more than preventing falls. It helps people:

• keep the strength and mobility needed to stay living at home
• get back on their feet after a hospital stay, illness or surgery
• manage long-term conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease or the effects of a stroke
• move with less pain and more confidence
• use walking aids safely and choose the right equipment

Why physio at home works well for older people

Getting an older person to a clinic can be exhausting: getting in and out of the car, finding parking, walking through a car park and sitting in a waiting room. With home physiotherapy, all of that disappears, and treatment happens where it matters most.

Your physiotherapist can see the actual stairs, bathroom, bed and favourite chair you use every day, spot hazards, and set exercises that fit your space. Family members and carers can join in, ask questions and learn how to help between visits. If you have just come home from hospital, our guide to physiotherapy after hospital discharge explains what the first weeks usually involve.

What home physiotherapy can help with

• Falls and balance training. A tailored program to improve balance, coordination and confidence, plus a check of your home for hazards. See our guide to balance exercises for seniors.
• Strength and mobility. Gentle, progressive exercise to keep everyday tasks manageable.
• Rehabilitation after hospital or surgery. Rebuilding strength and function after a joint replacement, fracture or illness, following your surgeon’s plan.
• Chronic pain and arthritis. Exercise, hands-on treatment and practical strategies to help you stay active.
• Neurological conditions. Support with movement, walking and daily tasks for people living with stroke, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
• Everyday function. Practising the tasks you find hard, such as getting in and out of bed, chairs and cars, or managing steps.

If you are still waiting for services

Approval and waiting times vary, and you do not have to wait to start physiotherapy. Some people begin privately or with private health insurance extras. Others use a Medicare GP chronic condition management plan through their GP, which can cover part of the cost of up to 5 allied health sessions a year: see does Medicare cover physio? Veterans may be able to use DVA funding. You can then continue under your aged care services once they start.

How Khy Physio works with My Aged Care clients

Khy Physio provides mobile physiotherapy for older people across Melbourne and the Geelong region, including in their own homes and in residential aged care. We work with clients funded through Support at Home and the CHSP, as well as privately and through other funding.

• We come to you, bringing the equipment we need.
• We coordinate with your aged care provider or care partner so your physiotherapy fits your care plan.
• We can provide progress reports to your provider and your GP.
• Our team can communicate in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Sinhala.

Learn more on our Support at Home physiotherapy and physiotherapy for seniors pages.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for physiotherapy through My Aged Care?

Generally people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who need some help to keep living at home. An assessment decides which services you can receive.

Do I pay anything for physiotherapy under Support at Home?

No contribution applies to clinical supports, which include physiotherapy: the government pays the full price. Contributions can apply to other types of services, depending on your income and assets.

Do I pay anything for physiotherapy under the CHSP?

Usually a contribution applies, set by the provider’s contribution policy and agreed before services start. You cannot be refused services because you are unable to pay.

I had a Home Care Package. What happens now?

Home Care Packages were replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025, and people with a package were moved across. Talk to your provider or care partner about including physiotherapy in your care plan.

Can you visit someone in residential aged care?

Yes. We provide mobile physiotherapy to people living in residential aged care homes across Melbourne and coordinate with the care team.

Let’s get physiotherapy to your door

Navigating aged care funding can feel like a lot, but getting physiotherapy started does not have to be. Tell us about your situation and we will help you work out what to ask your provider for. Make a referral or contact our team on 03 8824 0712.

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