10 Aug 2026

RCP: The Restorative Care Pathway and the Support at Home Transition

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Key Takeaways

• STRC was replaced on 1 November 2025: The Short-Term Restorative Care programme transitioned to the Restorative Care Pathway under the new Support at Home program.
• The pathway is now up to 16 weeks long: The old STRC program offered a maximum of eight weeks. The new Restorative Care Pathway extends this to 16 weeks of intensive allied health and nursing support.
• Funding is separate from your ongoing Support at Home budget: The Restorative Care Pathway provides a dedicated funding unit of around $6,000, separate to any regular Support at Home services you receive.
• You can access it twice, with a gap between episodes: Eligible participants can access up to two non-consecutive episodes, with a minimum of three months between each.
• It focuses on goals and independence: A goal plan is established at the start of the episode, and care is structured around helping you regain or maintain function.
• If you had an active STRC approval in November 2025, it was carried over: Approvals not yet commenced at the transition date remain valid for six months from the original STRC approval date.

 

If you or a loved one has recently experienced a health setback, a hospital stay, a fall, or a sudden change in ability, the thought of managing at home can feel daunting. The good news is that a dedicated short-term pathway exists within the Support at Home program to help older Australians recover function, rebuild confidence, and avoid the need for higher levels of ongoing care.

This pathway is called the Restorative Care Pathway. It replaced the Short-Term Restorative Care programme when the new Aged Care Act commenced on 1 November 2025. If you were receiving STRC support before that date, or had received approval for it, this guide explains what changed and what it means for you.

What Was the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme?

The Short-Term Restorative Care programme was an Australian Government-funded program that provided intensive, short-term support to help older people improve their independence and avoid premature entry into higher levels of care. It was designed for people who had experienced a decline in function due to illness, injury, or hospitalisation and needed targeted, goal-oriented support to recover.

STRC offered up to eight weeks of support per episode, with a focus on allied health therapies and nursing to help participants regain daily abilities. From 1 November 2025, this programme was closed and replaced by the Restorative Care Pathway within the Support at Home framework.

What Is the Restorative Care Pathway?

The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term funding stream within the Support at Home program. It provides intensive allied health and nursing services aimed at helping an older person maintain or regain function following a health event, rather than entering into long-term or higher-level care.

Key features of the pathway include:

• Duration: Up to 16 weeks per episode, double the length of the former STRC programme.
• Funding: Each episode receives a dedicated funding unit of around $6,000. A second unit of $6,000 can be requested through a Support Plan Review if needed, providing up to $12,000 in total for a single episode.
• Number of episodes: Eligible participants can access up to two non-consecutive episodes, with a minimum gap of three months between each.
• Separate from regular Support at Home funding: The Restorative Care Pathway budget is in addition to any ongoing Support at Home services you receive. You can access both at the same time.
• Goal-oriented care: A goal plan is established at the beginning of the episode. Services are structured around helping you reach specific functional goals.

Who Is the Restorative Care Pathway For?

The Restorative Care Pathway is suited to older Australians who have experienced a decline in their ability to perform daily tasks as a result of:

• A recent illness, injury, or fall
• A hospital stay or surgical procedure
• A sudden or significant health change
• An identified risk of further decline without intensive short-term intervention

 

It may also be appropriate for people who are already receiving ongoing Support at Home services and have experienced a setback that temporarily increases their care needs, without necessarily requiring a permanent increase in their Support at Home classification.

People who are currently on the End-of-Life Pathway cannot also access the Restorative Care Pathway at the same time.

What Services Are Included?

Restorative care services are focused on restoring or maintaining function. They typically include:

• Physiotherapy to improve mobility, strength, and balance
• Occupational therapy to help with daily tasks and home safety
• Speech pathology for swallowing, communication, or cognitive support
• Nursing care to manage clinical needs during the recovery period
• Other allied health services appropriate to the participant's goals

What Happened to Existing STRC Approvals?

If you were actively receiving Short-Term Restorative Care when the Support at Home program commenced on 1 November 2025, your provider continued delivering your care. Your provider ensured your services were aligned with the Support at Home service list.

If you had received approval for STRC but had not yet started your episode before 1 November 2025, that approval can be used to access the Restorative Care Pathway. However, it is only valid for six months from the date of the original STRC approval. After that window, a new assessment would be required to access the pathway.

How Do You Access the Restorative Care Pathway?

There are two main ways to access the Restorative Care Pathway:

1. If you are not yet receiving Support at Home, you can register with My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and request an aged care assessment. If your assessor identifies that short-term restorative care is appropriate, they can approve you for the pathway.
2. If you are already receiving ongoing Support at Home services, you may be eligible to access the Restorative Care Pathway at the same time. Speak with your care provider or coordinator about requesting a Support Plan Review to explore this option.

How The District Nurses Can Help

At The District Nurses, we have extensive experience delivering short-term, goal-oriented support to Tasmanians recovering from illness, surgery, and health setbacks. Our Restorative Care Pathway services include nursing and allied health support, all delivered collaboratively to help clients rebuild strength, confidence, and independence at home.

Whether you are accessing the Restorative Care Pathway for the first time or transitioning from the former STRC programme, we can work with you to develop a goal plan and deliver the clinical support you need. Visit our Getting Started page or contact us to find out more.

Contact The District Nurses today to find out if the Restorative Care Pathway is right for you.