Understanding the New Restorative Care Pathway
As part of the Support at Home program, there is a new Restorative Care Pathway that has replaced the Short Term Restorative Care Program (STRC). It came into effect on the 1st of November in 2025. This is a short-term funding stream within the overall “Support At Home” program. If you have recently had a hospital stay or experienced a sudden health issue, your assessor may recommend the Restorative Care Pathway. Here is what this new pathway entails.
What is the Restorative Care Pathway?
The Restorative Care Pathway is a stream of Support at Home funding. It’s built around intensive allied health and nursing services, with the specific purpose of helping older Australians maintain or regain function after an adverse health event rather than long-term care. The pathway enables people to recover enough independence so that they may not require ongoing Support at Home services. It can also be helpful for people who are already using some services, so they don’t need to permanently increase their funding level.
You can access up to 16 weeks of funding through the pathway. This funding sits in a separate account from any ongoing Support at Home budget you might already have.
Who is Eligible for the Restorative Care Pathway?
Eligibility is determined through a formal aged care assessment. Generally, you will qualify if your situation suggests that a short, intensive period of clinical support could meaningfully improve your function, and that without it, you’re likely to decline or require a higher level of ongoing care.
There are three main conditions for eligibility:
- A functional decline, such as illness or injury, that impacts independence and the ability to perform daily activities.
- The potential for improvement and return to independence is likely with intensive support.
- The client participates in active goal setting towards recovery.
There are also clear exclusions. You cannot access this funding if you’re on the End-of-Life Pathway, if you’re receiving or eligible for transition care, or if you’re in permanent residential aged care. Having already received two units of restorative care funding in the past 12 months also disqualifies you.
How Much Funding Does The Pathway Provide?
The Pathway comes with around $6,000 in funding for a 16-week period. That’s separate from any ongoing Support at Home quarterly budget.
If, during an episode, the provider believes your requirements will exceed what was originally assessed, the provider may apply for a Support Plan Review and, as a result, obtain permission to add another unit of funding. If the Support Plan Review is successful, this would bring the overall amount of money you could have in one episode close to $12,000. It should be noted that when an individual receives this additional unit of funding, it will mean there will not be funds available to support them with another episode in that same 12-month period.
You can alternatively access up to two non-consecutive episodes of restorative care, each with its own $6,000 budget. There must be at least three months between episodes.
What Home Care Services Can You Receive?
The services available include Clinical and Allied Health supports, such as nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy are fully funded, so you pay nothing for these.
Your care is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team, the composition of which depends entirely on your goals and assessed needs. It might include a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a dietician and an exercise physiologist.
You may also be approved for assistive technology and home modifications funding during your episode, with the exception of high-tier home modifications.
What Is A Goal Plan and Why Does It Matter?
What used to be referred to as the Care Plan has now become the Goal Plan. It still addresses all the areas previously covered by the Care Plan. You will be assigned a Restorative Care Partner who will work collaboratively with you and your Multidisciplinary Team to outline goals for recovery. Your care partner will work with you to ensure these goals can be realistically measured and achieved in the time frame of 16 weeks. Your loved ones are encouraged to participate in this process, especially those who are involved on a daily basis with helping you manage your activities at home.
At the end of those 16 weeks, if your care partner or team believes you need ongoing Support at Home services or a higher level of support than you were receiving before, they document that and can request a Support Plan Review on your behalf.
What if you were receiving STRC services before November 2025?
If you were already receiving Short-Term Restorative Care when the program ended in 2025, your care will continue, and the team at Catholic Homes will ensure your services align with the new program. If you already receive ongoing Support at Home services, you can access the Restorative Care Pathway at the same time.
Recovery looks different for everyone. If you or someone you care for has recently experienced a health event, or you’re finding that current services aren’t keeping pace with changing needs, the Restorative Care Pathway may be worth exploring. We offer a free home care consultation and will discuss your options with you. Get in touch with our team to find out whether you’re eligible and what the next steps look like.
