Restorative care pathway

Helping you get back to what matters most

The Restorative Care Pathway offers short-term restorative care as part of the Support at Home program. It provides short‑term, intensive allied health and nursing support to help you regain strength, confidence and independence after a setback. At Care Connect, our experienced Restorative Care Partners expertly lead this program with warmth and personal attention. so you can continue living safely at home. Want to find out how you can benefit from this program?

What is the Restorative Care Pathway?

The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term, goal focused program within the Support at Home program. Launched by the Australian Government on 1 November 2025, it replaces the old Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) program, so if you are looking for STRC, this is its new name.

The Restorative Care Pathway provides you with intensive allied health and nursing support for up to 12 weeks, or 16 weeks in some cases. It is focused on helping you rebuild strength, confidence and independence at home after a fall, accident or other circumstance, reducing your need for more permanent care. As it is short-term, unlike the Support at Home ongoing services, the care you receive under the restorative care program will be focused completely on your specific recovery goals, giving you peace of mind while you take the time you need to get better.

Who is the Restorative Care Pathway for?

The Restorative Care Pathway may be right for you if you need short-term support to get back on track at home. You may be suitable if:

- you have had a recent illness, injury, fall or hospital stay
- you have noticed changes in your strength, balance or daily activities
- you want to improve your independence at home
- an aged care assessment shows this pathway may help you.

You may be able to access short term restorative care even when you receive other aged care services.

What support does the Restorative Care Pathway include?

At Care Connect, your support is guided by one of our Restorative Care Partners, an experienced health professional who oversees your care plan and coordinates your services, so everything works together smoothly. They will work with you to understand your recovery goals and build a plan around what matters most to you. You may receive a mix of allied health services and nursing support, including:

Nursing support

for clinical monitoring and recovery

Physiotherapy

to help with movement, strength and balance

Occupational therapy

to make daily tasks safer and easier

Exercise physiology

for structured exercise and recovery support

Speech pathology, dietitian and podiatry services

where needed

Home safety advice

and support to make your home easier to use

Find out more about our allied health services Find out more about our home nursing services

How much funding is available under the Restorative Care Pathway?

The Restorative Care Pathway includes a short-term budget of up to $6,000 for 12 weeks. In some cases you could access up to $12,000 for 16 weeks of support.

Clinical services, like nursing and allied health, are fully funded by the government, however everyday living and independence services may involve a contribution payment. These contributions will depend on your income and assets. For more information about costs, see our Support at Home page.

What happens when the Restorative Care Pathway ends?

When your short term restorative care comes to an end, your Restorative Care Partner will review your progress and talk with you about your future care needs. If you will benefit from further support, they may suggest accessing the Support at Home program or the Commonwealth Home Support Program. In some cases, if your needs change again, you may be eligible to access the Restorative Care Pathway more than once within 12 months.

How do I access the Restorative Care Pathway?

Register with My Aged Care

Visit www.myagedcare.gov.au to register your details
Get Assessed

An Assessor will contact you to carry out an assessment
Receive Approval

Once approved, Care Connect will work with you to develop your tailored care plan

Find out more

Looking for more information about the Restorative Care Pathway?

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Ready to get started with the Restorative Care Pathway?

Taking the first step starts with a simple conversation.

Talk to our dedicated Care Connect team. They're here to listen to your needs and guide you on a journey to better health. Don't wait. Take that first positive step towards getting your health back on track. Call us at 1800 694 262 or enquire online to learn more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Restorative Care Pathway provides short‑term support to help you rebuild strength, confidence and everyday skills after an illness, injury or hospital stay, so you can continue living independently at home.
1. Register with My Aged Care: Call 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website.
2. Have your Assessment: A local assessor will call your or visit to carry out your assessment.
3. Receive Approval: If suitable, you will be approved for a tailored, short-term care plan (up to 16 weeks).
4. Contact Care Connect: If you are already a client, please let your Care Manager know once you are approved. Otherwise contact our friendly team and we can get in everything in place for you.
It may be suitable for older people over the age of 65, who have registered with My Aged Care and been assessed. They may:
- have recently been in hospital
- have had a fall, illness or injury
- have noticed changes in mobility, strength or confidence
- want support to stay independent at home
Restorative care is short‑term, usually running for up to 12–16 weeks. The length depends on your needs, goals and progress.
Yes. An aged care assessment is required to access restorative care. This is a free assessment by the government that helps determine what support you’re eligible for. You must register with My Aged Care before an assessment can take place.
For Clinical supports (like nursing), you don’t need to contribute personally – these services are fully funded under your budget. For Independence or Everyday Supports you may need to make a contribution. This will depend upon your personal situation (as set by Services Australia) and we will explain this to you clearly before any services begin.
What is an allied health professional?
An allied health professional is a trained health worker who supports you to stay well, safe, and independent in your own home. They work alongside your doctor and other health staff to help with everyday activities and health needs. This may include improving your movement and balance, making daily tasks easier, helping you recover after illness or a hospital stay, or giving advice to keep you safe at home. Allied health professionals focus on practical support so you can continue doing the things that matter to you.

Examples of allied health professionals include:
- Physiotherapists – help with movement, balance, strength, and pain
- Occupational therapists – help make daily activities safer and easier at home
- Speech pathologists – support communication, speech, and swallowing
- Dietitians – provide advice about healthy eating and nutrition
- Podiatrists – care for foot and lower leg health

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