Sometimes life throws something unexpected our way – like a fall, a hospital stay, a bout of illness or a health scare that leaves you needing a bit more support than usual, even if only for a little while. For many older Australians, this is exactly the moment the Restorative Care Pathway was made for. 

The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term, goal-focused pathway within the Support at Home program. It’s designed to help people regain independence with daily tasks, reduce the need for more services down the track, and support you in doing the activities you enjoy – rather than providing ongoing, long-term care. 

It replaced the former Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme when Support at Home began on 1 November 2025. If you had an active STRC approval that hadn’t yet started before that date, it now carries over into the Restorative Care Pathway automatically. 

The focus here isn’t managing symptoms indefinitely. It’s rebuilding the skills and strength needed for everyday life, whether that means walking safely again after a fall, regaining confidence in the kitchen after a hospital stay, or building back independence after surgery or illness. 

Under the Restorative Care Pathway, you may: 

• Have access to up to 16 weeks of restorative care 

• Receive an extra budget of about $6,000 (or up to $12,000 if required) for multidisciplinary allied health services 

• Access restorative care separately, or in addition to ongoing Support at Home services 

• Have access to assistive technology and home modifications through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme if needed 

 

Who is it For? 

The Restorative Care Pathway is designed for people who: 

• Have experienced a recent decline in function, such as following a fall, hospitalisation, surgery, or illness 

• Have clear goals around restoring or improving their functional independence 

• Are motivated and willing to actively participate in the program to work toward those goals 

Eligibility is worked out through a formal aged care assessment. Your assessor will sit down with you, talk through whether the pathway is the right fit, and if it is, help you set some goals and build a support plan together. 

One thing worth knowing upfront: the pathway isn’t available if you’re already on the End-of-Life Pathway, receiving or eligible for transition care, or living in permanent residential aged care. 

How Does the Funding Work? 

Each episode of restorative care provides funding of around $6,000 for up to 16 weeks. This funding is completely separate from your regular Support at Home quarterly budget – using it doesn’t reduce your classification budget or affect your ongoing services. 

Sometimes 16 weeks isn’t quite enough. If your provider identifies that you need a bit more support partway through, they can request a Support Plan Review on your behalf. This can add a further unit of funding, bringing your total to around $12,000 for that episode. One thing to keep in mind: using this extra funding means you won’t be able to access another episode of restorative care within the same 12-month period. 

You can access the Restorative Care Pathway up to twice in a 12-month period, with a minimum gap of around 90 days between episodes – they can’t run back to back. 

Clinical services like nursing and physiotherapy delivered through the pathway are fully government-funded. You may need to make a personal contribution toward independence and everyday living services within the pathway, based on your income and assets assessment – the same way contributions work under regular Support at Home services. 

What Services are Included? 

Care under the Restorative Care Pathway is delivered by a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by a dedicated Restorative Care Partner. Depending on your goals and assessed needs, your team might include: 

• Physiotherapists 

• Occupational therapists 

• Exercise physiologists 

• Speech pathologists 

• Dietitians 

• Registered nurses 

Your Restorative Care Partner works with you and your team to build what’s now called a Goal Plan (replacing what used to be called a Care Plan). It covers the same ground, but with a sharper focus on the specific, measurable goals you want to achieve within your 16-week window. Family members and carers are encouraged to be part of this process too, especially if they help you day-to-day. 

At Chris Barnard Health, clients receive the same support worker 80% of the time – so even during a short, intensive 16-week episode, you’re working with a familiar face who understands your goals and progress, rather than a rotating door of strangers. 

If needed, you may also be approved for funding through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, covering equipment or minor home changes that support your recovery and independence. 

Can I Access this if I Already Receive Support at Home Services? 

Yes. If you’re already receiving ongoing Support at Home services, you can access the Restorative Care Pathway at the same time. Your provider will make sure there’s no overlap between your existing services and your restorative care episode, so everything works together rather than duplicating. 

This makes the pathway useful in two different situations: helping someone access short-term, intensive support without needing to permanently increase their ongoing funding level, or helping someone who isn’t yet receiving any Support at Home services get back on their feet, sometimes without needing ongoing support at all afterward. 

What Happens at the End of the 16 Weeks? 

Towards the end of your restorative care episode, your team will work with you to develop an exit plan. For many people, the goal is achieved – you’ve regained the independence you were working toward, and no ongoing services are needed. 

For others, it becomes clear that some ongoing support would help maintain progress. In that case, your Restorative Care Partner can support you through a reassessment via My Aged Care, which may result in a Support at Home classification that reflects your needs going forward. 

You’ll also need to start your restorative care services with a provider within 56 days of your approval date, so it’s worth acting promptly once you receive your Notice of Decision. 

Source: health.gov.au/support-at-home-short-term-supports 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Can I use the Restorative Care Pathway more than once? 

Yes — up to twice in a 12-month period, with at least a 90-day gap between episodes. 

• Does using the Restorative Care Pathway affect my regular Support at Home budget? 

No. The funding is completely separate and doesn’t reduce your ongoing quarterly budget. 

• Do I need a new assessment to access the pathway? 

Yes, in most cases. Eligibility is confirmed through a formal aged care assessment, or an urgent review if you’re already receiving Support at Home services. 

• How quickly do I need to start? 

You’ll need to begin services with a provider within 56 days of your approval date. 

If you’d like a broader overview of how Support at Home funding works more generally, take a look at our guide, What is Support at Home? 

Why Chris Barnard Health for Your Restorative Care Pathway? 

At Chris Barnard Health, our in-house team includes registered nurses and a broad allied health network, so your multidisciplinary team is coordinated directly by us – people we know and trust – not outsourced to unfamiliar providers. Your dedicated Restorative Care Partner walks alongside you and your family from day one, setting realistic goals together and keeping your 16-week episode on track. 

Because we work across the full spectrum of Support at Home, from everyday domestic support through to complex clinical care, we can also make sure your restorative care episode and any ongoing services fit together smoothly, without the disjointed handovers that come from juggling multiple providers. We take a hands-on, attentive approach rather than a “set and forget” service – your Restorative Care Partner is actively tracking your progress against your goals throughout the 16 weeks, not just checking in at the start and the end. 

If you or a loved one have recently had a fall, a hospital stay, or a health scare, and you’re wondering whether some short-term, focused support could help you bounce back, give our team a call on 1300 133 291.  

We’re always happy to talk it through, and help you work out whether the Restorative Care Pathway is right for you. 

Chris Barnard Health is an approved aged care provider delivering home care, Support at Home, and healthcare workforce solutions across Australia. Australian owned and managed since 2010.