"It's the getting up out of the chair," Neville told his daughter over the phone. "I've started thinking about it before I do it." At 81, he'd had two near-misses in the hallway that fortnight, both caught on the wall. His GP had mentioned physiotherapy, some work on strength and balance. Neville liked the idea. What he didn't know was whether his new Support at Home budget would foot the bill, or whether this was one more thing he'd be paying for himself.

Neville's story is an illustrative scenario, created to show how Support at Home works in practice. It is not a real client testimonial.

The short answer is yes. Since Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, physiotherapy sits squarely on the government service list, and for someone in Neville's position it is one of the most useful things a budget can buy.

Physiotherapy is a clinical support

The Support at Home service list groups everything into three categories: clinical supports, independence supports and everyday living supports. Physiotherapy is a clinical support, in the same category as nursing, occupational therapy and podiatry. That matters for two reasons. It means physio is a recognised, fundable service. And it means how it's paid for follows the clinical rules, which are the most generous on the list.

Clinical supports are fully funded

Here's the part that surprises people. Clinical supports are fully government funded. There is no participant contribution on physiotherapy, whether you're a full pensioner or a self-funded retiree. Neville doesn't pay a share of each session out of his own pocket. If physio is in his care plan, his budget covers it in full. The system is built so that the more health-critical a service is, the less you're asked to contribute, and clinical care sits right at the top of that logic.

What physio actually does for older Australians

For Neville, the value isn't abstract. A physiotherapist can assess why he's unsteady standing up, build a simple strength and balance program, and adjust it as he improves. This is the bread and butter of falls prevention, and a fall avoided is a hospital stay avoided. Physio can also help with recovering movement after surgery, managing arthritis pain, and keeping mobility as steady as possible over time. Many physiotherapists offer home visits, which suits balance work done in the actual hallway where the near-misses happened.

Before you book: physio being on the service list doesn't automatically put it in your budget. It also has to be in your care plan. Ask your provider "is physiotherapy in my plan, and how many sessions does it cover?" With Partner with Care you get an instant answer for routine questions and a same-day answer from a real person for the rest, before you commit to anything.

The care plan is still the gatekeeper

The service list says physio can be funded. Your care plan says whether it's funded for you, and how much of it. That plan is built from your aged care assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422). If Neville's needs change, say the near-misses become an actual fall, he can ask for a review rather than rationing the sessions he already has. Worth knowing too: physio funded through your Support at Home budget is separate from anything you might access under Medicare, so ask your provider before booking if you're unsure which pays for what.

Self-managing keeps you in control of who and when

As a registered Support at Home provider, Partner with Care handles the claiming and compliance behind the scenes. Because you self-manage, you choose the physiotherapist and set the schedule that works for you. And your budget is live on screen, so you can see the funding for your clinical supports before each session, not weeks later on a statement. Neville got his strength work. He also got to pick a physio his daughter had heard good things about, and book the visits for mornings, when he feels steadiest.