"It's the getting up out of the chair," Neville told his daughter. At 81, he'd had two near-misses in the hallway that fortnight. His GP had mentioned physiotherapy, some work on strength and balance. What Neville didn't know was whether his Support at Home budget would foot the bill.

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 has sat on the government service list.

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, alongside nursing, occupational therapy and podiatry, so it follows the clinical funding rules.

Clinical supports are fully funded

Clinical supports are fully government funded. There's no participant contribution on physiotherapy, whether you're a full pensioner or a self-funded retiree. If physio is in your care plan, your budget covers it in full.

What physio does for older Australians

A physiotherapist can assess why Neville is unsteady standing up, build a strength and balance program, and adjust it as he improves. That's the bread and butter of falls prevention, and a fall avoided is a hospital stay avoided. Physio also helps with recovering movement after surgery, managing arthritis pain, and keeping mobility steady over time.

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?" Routine questions get an instant answer from Partner with Care; the rest get a same-day answer.

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. That plan comes from your aged care assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422). If Neville's needs change he can ask for a review rather than rationing the sessions he has. Physio funded through your Support at Home budget is also separate from anything you access under Medicare.

Self-managing keeps you in control of who and when

Partner with Care handles the claiming and compliance as your registered provider. Because you self-manage, you choose the physiotherapist and set the schedule, and your budget is live on screen, so you see the funding for your clinical supports before each session rather than weeks later on a statement. Neville picked a physio his daughter recommended and booked mornings, when he feels steadiest.