Self-manage nursing and allied health services under Support at Home 

Self-managed aged care can include more than everyday services such as cleaning, gardening and transport. 

If nursing or allied health services have been approved in your Support at Home plan, you may be able to take a more active role in choosing the professionals who support you, arranging appointments and monitoring service costs. 

However, self-managing clinical services does not mean managing clinical decisions alone. Your registered Support at Home provider continues to oversee the safety, quality and suitability of your funded care. 

Support at Home includes a clinical supports category covering nursing and a range of allied health services. 

Depending on your assessed needs and approved support plan, these services may include: 

Support at Home funding can only be used for services included in your assessment outcome and support plan. The service must also appear on the government’s Support at Home service list. 

Self-management gives you greater involvement in how approved services are arranged and delivered. 

Depending on your agreement with your provider, you may be able to: 

You do not have to manage every part of the arrangement. For example, you may choose your own physiotherapist while asking your care partner to coordinate nursing services. 

The responsibilities you take on must be agreed with your registered provider and documented in your care plan. 

You may be able to request an independent nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, podiatrist or other health professional. 

Your registered provider must agree to engage them before their services can be paid through your Support at Home budget. The provider may need to check their qualifications, professional registration, insurance, experience and ability to meet aged care requirements. 

Clinical and allied health services must be delivered by appropriately qualified professionals working within their scope of practice. Your provider remains responsible for services delivered by third-party clinicians, even when you selected the professional yourself. 

Your provider continues to oversee your care and may: 

Health professionals may also contribute to your care plan. For example, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist may help identify your goals, recommended services and preferences for how support is delivered. 

Nursing and many allied health services sit within the clinical supports category. 

Participants do not make a contribution towards approved clinical supports under Support at Home. The Australian Government pays the full cost of these services, although the amount charged still comes from the funding available in your Support at Home budget. 

If you choose an external clinician, your provider may apply a third-party overhead of up to 10% of the clinician’s actual service cost. Ask for the complete service price before the arrangement begins. 

With Leora self-managed aged care, you may choose approved nursing and allied health providers while still receiving care planning, payment support and ongoing oversight. 

Leora can help organise nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other approved services through our team or suitable partner providers, depending on your support plan and needs. 

Talk to Leora about having more choice over your clinical services, with an experienced care team behind you.