My Aged Care | Home Physiotherapy Funding | Physio to Home

Did you know your Home Care Package can fund in-home physiotherapy? North Tasmania's home physiotherapist explains exactly how My Aged Care works — and how to use it for physio visits.

Did you know your Home Care Package can fund in-home physiotherapy? North Tasmania's home physiotherapist explains exactly how My Aged Care works — and how to use it for physio visits.

Micheal Ghattas

3/6/2026 · 7 min read

How to Use My Aged Care to Fund Home Physiotherapy in Tasmania

By Michael Ghattas, DPT | AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist | 18 Years Experience

Physio to Home, North Tasmania | Last reviewed: March 2026

One of the most common things we hear from older Tasmanians is that they had no idea their aged care funding could cover home physiotherapy visits. Many people receiving Home Care Packages are spending their funding on cleaning and personal care — important services — while a physiotherapy programme that could dramatically improve their mobility, reduce their falls risk, or support their recovery from surgery goes unfunded and unaccessed.

This guide explains exactly how the My Aged Care system works, which programmes cover physiotherapy, and what steps to take to get physiotherapy added to your care plan — whether you are new to the system or already receiving support.

Who this guide is for

This article is for older Australians in North Tasmania — and their families and carers — who are currently receiving or considering applying for aged care support through My Aged Care, and who want to understand how physiotherapy fits into that funding.

What Is My Aged Care?

My Aged Care is the Australian Government's entry point to the aged care system. It is the website, phone service, and assessment pathway through which older Australians access government-funded aged care support — including home care services, residential care, and short-term care programmes.

My Aged Care is not a single programme. It is the gateway to several different funding streams, the most relevant of which for home physiotherapy are:

• The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) — entry-level support for older Australians who need some help to live independently at home
• Home Care Packages (HCP) — more comprehensive, coordinated support for people with higher or more complex needs, delivered at four funding levels

Both programmes can cover physiotherapy. Which one applies to you depends on your level of assessed need.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

The CHSP provides entry-level support to help older Australians remain living independently at home. It is designed for people who need some assistance but do not yet require the more intensive support of a Home Care Package.

Who is eligible?

To access CHSP services, you must be aged 65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and have been assessed as needing entry-level support. An assessment is arranged through My Aged Care.

Does CHSP cover physiotherapy?

Yes. Allied health services — including physiotherapy — are a covered category under CHSP. The service is typically subsidised, meaning you pay a co-contribution rather than the full cost. The availability of CHSP-funded physiotherapy varies by region, and in rural areas of North Tasmania, home-based delivery is the most practical option.

How to access CHSP physiotherapy

Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to register and request an assessment. An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will conduct a brief assessment — either by phone or in person — to determine your eligibility and the level of support appropriate to your needs. Once approved, you will be connected with a service provider for the specific support categories you are assessed for.

Home Care Packages (HCP)

Home Care Packages are designed for older Australians with more complex or ongoing care needs. Unlike CHSP, which funds individual services, a Home Care Package is a coordinated care plan with a dedicated budget that you and your care coordinator manage together.

The four package levels

Level 1 — Basic care needs. Annual funding approximately $11,000.

Level 2 — Low-level care needs. Annual funding approximately $19,000.

Level 3 — Intermediate care needs. Annual funding approximately $41,000.

Level 4 — High-level care needs. Annual funding approximately $63,000.

These figures are approximate and are indexed periodically by the Australian Government. Your package coordinator will advise on the current amounts applicable to your level.

Does a Home Care Package cover physiotherapy?

Yes. Physiotherapy is a covered allied health service under all Home Care Package levels. The number of sessions that can be funded depends on your package level and the other services included in your care plan. At higher package levels, regular ongoing physiotherapy — fortnightly or even weekly — is fully feasible within the budget.

How physiotherapy fits into your care plan

Your Home Care Package is managed through a care coordinator — either employed by your package provider or, under the new Support at Home programme being implemented from July 2025, through a revised coordination model. The care coordinator works with you to allocate your package budget across the services you need.

To add physiotherapy to your care plan, you simply request it from your care coordinator. You do not need a GP referral to add allied health to a Home Care Package, although a GP Management Plan can provide additional Medicare-funded sessions on top of your package. Your coordinator will arrange the service and manage the invoicing against your package budget.

If your current care coordinator is not familiar with physiotherapy as a funded service, or suggests it is not covered, this is incorrect — physiotherapy is explicitly listed as a covered allied health service under Home Care Packages. Contact Physio to Home and we can assist you with the conversation.

The Support at Home Programme: What Is Changing in 2025

The Australian Government is implementing a new Support at Home programme to replace both CHSP and Home Care Packages, with a transition underway from July 2025. The new programme maintains allied health — including physiotherapy — as a covered service category. If you are currently receiving a Home Care Package, you will transition to the new programme gradually. Your access to physiotherapy will not be reduced as a result of this change.

If you are new to the aged care system, you will be assessed under the new Support at Home framework. The assessment and access process through My Aged Care remains the starting point regardless of which programme applies.

How Much Does Home Physiotherapy Cost With My Aged Care?

Under a Home Care Package, physiotherapy is funded directly from your package budget at the agreed rate with the provider. There is no out-of-pocket cost beyond any care plan management fees that apply under your specific package arrangement.

Under CHSP, a co-contribution is typically required — a subsidised fee that varies by region and provider.

Physio to Home works with Home Care Package clients and CHSP clients across North Tasmania. When you contact us, we confirm your specific funding arrangement before booking and ensure you understand the cost implications before committing to any visits. There are no surprises.

What Can Physiotherapy Be Used For Under My Aged Care?

Under both CHSP and Home Care Packages, physiotherapy can be used for any clinically appropriate purpose relevant to your health and independence. Common reasons older Tasmanians use package-funded physiotherapy include:

• Falls prevention assessment and exercise programme
• Balance and mobility rehabilitation
• Post-surgical rehabilitation following hip or knee replacement
• Chronic pain management including arthritis, back pain, and neck pain
• Stroke or neurological rehabilitation in the community
• Parkinson's disease physiotherapy and gait retraining
• General deconditioning and strength work to maintain independence
• Home environment assessment for falls and safety hazards

If you are unsure whether your specific needs are appropriate for physiotherapy under your package, contact Physio to Home — we are happy to advise at no cost.

Steps to Access Home Physiotherapy Through My Aged Care

Step 1 — Contact My Aged Care

Call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Register if you have not already done so. Request an aged care assessment.

Step 2 — Undergo an assessment

An assessor will contact you to determine your needs and eligibility. Be honest about your functional difficulties — the assessment determines your funding level, and underreporting your needs can result in a lower level of support than you require.

Step 3 — Receive your approval and package assignment

Once approved, you will be assigned to a funding level (for CHSP or HCP) and placed on a waiting list if a package is not immediately available. Wait times for Home Care Packages have reduced significantly in recent years following government investment, but can still be several months for higher-level packages.

Step 4 — Choose a package provider

You have the right to choose your Home Care Package provider. This is the organisation that manages your budget and coordinates your services. Some providers have a broader allied health network than others — it is worth asking whether they have an established relationship with local physiotherapy providers before committing.

Step 5 — Request physiotherapy on your care plan

Contact your care coordinator and request that physiotherapy be included in your care plan. Mention Physio to Home by name if you would like us to be your provider. We can liaise directly with your care coordinator to arrange the service agreement and scheduling.

Step 6 — Begin your home physiotherapy

Your physiotherapist will contact you to arrange the first visit, conduct an initial assessment, and develop your personalised programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am already receiving a Home Care Package but physiotherapy is not in my plan. Can I add it?

Yes, at any time. You can request a care plan review with your coordinator to add, change, or remove services at any point. If you feel physiotherapy would benefit your health and independence, raise it at your next scheduled review — or contact your coordinator to request an unscheduled review if your needs have changed.

My package provider says I have used my budget. Can I still get physiotherapy?

If your package budget is fully allocated to other services, you may need to review your care plan to reallocate funds. A care plan review can identify whether existing services are still meeting your needs at the right frequency, or whether adjustments would free up budget for physiotherapy. Your coordinator is obligated to help you manage this.

I am on the waiting list for a Home Care Package. Can I access physiotherapy in the meantime?

Possibly, through CHSP — depending on your assessed needs and regional availability. Alternatively, a Medicare GP Management Plan may provide up to five subsidised physiotherapy sessions per year while you wait. Contact Physio to Home and we will help identify the most appropriate pathway for your situation.

Does My Aged Care cover physiotherapy for conditions other than falls?

Yes. Home Care Package funding covers physiotherapy for any condition relevant to your health, function, and independence. There is no restricted list of approved conditions.

Ready to Use Your Aged Care Funding for Home Physiotherapy?

If you are receiving a Home Care Package or CHSP support in North Tasmania and want to include physiotherapy in your care plan, Physio to Home can help. We work directly with care coordinators to arrange funded home visits across Launceston and within a 20 km radius.

Contact us today — we will check your funding eligibility at no cost and no obligation →

About the Author

Michael Ghattas, DPT

AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist | Doctor of Physical Therapy | 18 Years Clinical Experience

Michael is the founder of Physio to Home, a mobile physiotherapy practice serving older adults and rural residents across North Tasmania. He specialises in aged care physiotherapy, falls prevention, and post-surgical rehabilitation delivered entirely in the home setting.

References & Further Reading

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Home Care Packages Program. www.health.gov.au, 2025.

My Aged Care. Getting started with aged care. www.myagedcare.gov.au, 2025.

Australian Physiotherapy Association. Physiotherapy in aged care: position statement. APA, 2023.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Your rights as a home care recipient. Commonwealth of Australia, 2025.