Support at Home for Occupational Therapists

Support at Home has changed how Occupational Therapists work within Australian community aged care, from how services are funded and delivered to the pathways available for assistive technology, home modifications and restorative care.

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For OTs, understanding the program means being able to translate these requirements into everyday practice: knowing where occupational therapy fits, how different funding pathways interact, what providers may require, and where professional judgement remains essential.

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This guide brings together key Support at Home information specifically for Occupational Therapists working in community aged care.

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Last updated: September 2026

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Where does Occupational Therapy fit within Support at Home?

Occupational Therapy forms part of the clinical supports available through Support at Home. The services that fall under Clinical Supports attract 0% client co-contribution. 

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Depending on the person's assessed needs and goals, Occupational Therapy involvement may include functional and environmental assessment, reablement, assistive technology, home modifications, falls prevention, cognitive and functional assessment, manual handling, pressure care, education and strategies to support safety, independence and participation.

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Our role as Occupational Therapists extends beyond recommending equipment or completing reports. Occupational Therapists apply clinical reasoning to understand the relationship between the older person's goals, function, environment, preferences and risks and determine an appropriate intervention.

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How is Occupational Therapy funded?

Occupational Therapy activities are funded from a range of the funding pathways. Not all activities necessarily sits within the same Support at Home funding pathway.

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Occupational Therapy direct and indirect services, not related to ATHM, may be delivered through a participant's ongoing Support at Home services, while other needs may involve separate funding arrangements.

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The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme provides funding for eligible AT and home modifications, including relevant clinical support.

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The Restorative Care Pathway provides time-limited funding for eligible participants who may benefit from multidisciplinary, goal-directed restorative care.

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The End-of-Life Pathway provides additional time-limited support for eligible participants approaching end of life.

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For OTs, understanding which pathway applies is important because it can influence how a referral progresses, what funding is available and what needs to happen before recommendations can be implemented.

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Assistive Technology and Home Modifications

The AT-HM Scheme has introduced a different funding and delivery pathway for assistive technology and home modifications under Support at Home.

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Occupational Therapists have an important role where AT or home modifications require clinical assessment, advice or prescription. However, not every intervention requires the same level of involvement, and the clinical support required should reflect the complexity and risk of the intervention.

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One of the practical challenges for OTs is knowing what to do when a need has been identified but there is not yet sufficient funding or approval to complete trials, obtain further information or reach a specific recommendation.

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In these situations, it is important to distinguish between identifying and providing evidence of a need and completing a clinical prescription.

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Explore: [AT-HM Webinar for Occupational Therapists →]

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Practice resource: [AT-HM Documentation Bundle →]

 

What is the Restorative Care Pathway?

The Restorative Care Pathway provides a time-limited period of multidisciplinary support for eligible older people who may benefit from improving or maintaining function.

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Occupational Therapy can contribute through functional assessment, goal-directed intervention, task practice, environmental changes, assistive technology, falls prevention, education and strategies that support independence and participation.

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For OTs, the important distinction is that restorative care is not simply another source of funding for a standard OT assessment. Intervention should be goal-directed, restorative and coordinated within a multidisciplinary approach.

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Explore: [Restorative Care Pathway for Occupational Therapists →]

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What should OTs know about documentation?

There is no single universal "Support at Home OT report" that suits every referral.

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An initial OT assessment, AT prescription, home modification recommendation, request for additional AT-HM funding and clinical progress note all serve different purposes.

 

Documentation should therefore be proportionate to the purpose, complexity and risk of the work being completed and meet the OT's professional record-keeping obligations.

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A useful starting point is understanding who will receive the information and what they need to do with it.

The goal is not more documentation. It is clear, efficient and defensible documentation that communicates the OT's clinical reasoning and supports the next step in the person's care.

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Explore: [Documentation and Workflow for Community OTs →]

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Working as an Associated Provider

Many independent Occupational Therapists and allied health organisations deliver Support at Home services as Associated Providers. In these arrangements, the Registered Provider engages another organisation or practitioner to deliver agreed services while retaining its responsibilities for the participant's Support at Home services.

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For OTs, this makes clear referral and communication processes particularly important. Before providing services, Associated Provider OTs should understand the scope of the referral, authorisation processes, documentation expectations, communication and escalation pathways, pricing and invoicing arrangements.

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Being an Associated Provider does not replace the Occupational Therapist's own professional responsibilities. OTs still need to exercise independent clinical judgement and meet applicable professional and regulatory requirements.

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Explore: [Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for OTs →]

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Billing and invoicing under Support at Home

Support at Home has also changed some of the commercial and administrative arrangements surrounding allied health service delivery.

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OTs providing services to Registered Providers should have clear arrangements regarding pricing, service codes, travel, cancellations, invoicing and approval for additional work.

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Processes used under Home Care Packages, NDIS or other funding schemes should not automatically be assumed to apply under Support at Home.

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Clear processes at referral help reduce uncertainty later, particularly where the scope of OT involvement changes following assessment.

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Practice resource: [Support at Home Invoicing Template & Guidance →]

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Common Support at Home questions for OTs

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Does every Support at Home participant have access to Occupational Therapy?

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OT involvement depends on the person's assessed needs, goals, care plan, available funding and relevant pathway. Older adults must have Occupational Therapist approved as part of their Support Plan, as part of their aged care assessment. If a person has not been approved for OT, and there is an identified need relating to their care and goals, a Support Plan Review request can be undertaken by their Registered Provider, to request additional supports.

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Is AT-HM funded from the participant's ongoing quarterly budget?

​No, AT-HM items, and or clinical support/wrap-around, cannot be funded through the quarterly ongoing budget. AT-HM has separate funding arrangements under Support at Home. OTs working with assistive technology or home modifications should understand the relevant funding pathway before assuming funding is available for assessment, prescription or implementation.

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Does every assistive technology item require an OT prescription?

No. The level of clinical support required varies according to the type, complexity and risk of the intervention. The OT's involvement should be proportionate to the clinical support required. Processes may vary across Registered Providers. 

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Can an OT identify an AT-HM need before a specific item has been prescribed?

Yes. Identifying that a person has an AT-HM need is different from completing the clinical assessment and prescription of a specific solution. This distinction becomes particularly important where additional funding is required before trials or further assessment can occur.

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Does every OT assessment need a comprehensive report?

Not necessarily. The type and extent of documentation should reflect the purpose of the service, clinical complexity and risk, professional requirements and what the intended recipient reasonably needs to understand or act on.

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Support at Home practice support for Occupational Therapists

Support at Home continues to evolve, and working effectively within the program requires OTs to understand both clinical practice and the funding system surrounding it.

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Way Forward OT provides education, practical resources and practice guidance specifically for Occupational Therapists working in Australian community aged care.

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Continue exploring:

[Support at Home professional development →]
[AT-HM guidance and resources →]
[Templates & clinical tools →]
[Latest aged care practice insights →]

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About this resource

This information is intended as general education and practice guidance for Occupational Therapists. It does not replace current Australian Government Support at Home guidance, professional standards, organisational requirements or consideration of an individual person's circumstances.

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Support at Home requirements may change. Refer to current Australian Government guidance where specific program, eligibility or funding requirements affect practice.