Support at Home: A New Opportunity for Allied Health Providers

The Aged Care Shift That Providers Can’t Ignore

With Home Care Packages (HCP) transitioning to the new Support at Home program on July 1, 2025, major changes are coming to how aged care services are delivered in Australia. This shift presents a significant opportunity for Allied Health providers, particularly those already delivering mobile or community-based services through the NDIS, to diversify their revenue streams and expand their service offerings.

One of the most important changes under Support at Home is the introduction of the single provider model. Under this model, aged care recipients will have one primary provider responsible for delivering or coordinating all required services. This means aged care providers will either need to directly employ Allied Health professionals or outsource these services through brokerage agreements.

For Allied Health businesses, this represents a strategic opportunity to establish themselves as essential partners in the aged care sector. Many aged care providers do not have in-house therapy teams, and the shift to a single provider model means they will need trusted providers to broker these services efficiently.

What Is the Single Provider Model?

Currently, under Home Care Packages, clients often receive services from multiple providers. This can lead to fragmentation, inefficiencies, and inconsistent service delivery. The new single provider model under Support at Home aims to streamline care by ensuring that each participant has one primary provider responsible for the coordination and delivery of services.

The key implications of the single provider model for Allied Health providers include:

• Aged care providers will need to either deliver all required services in-house or broker them from external providers

• Allied Health businesses that establish brokerage partnerships can provide services without needing full My Aged Care registration

• The demand for Allied Health services is expected to increase significantly, particularly in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation-focused disciplines

• Aged care providers will be looking for reliable, high-quality Allied Health partners to meet their service obligations

This shift opens the door for Allied Health businesses to position themselves as preferred brokerage providers, delivering essential therapy services without the compliance and administrative burdens that come with being a fully registered aged care provider.

How Brokerage Works Under Support at Home

For Allied Health providers unfamiliar with brokerage arrangements, the concept is simple. Aged care providers contract external businesses to deliver specific services they do not provide in-house. The primary provider maintains responsibility for the care plan, funding allocation, and compliance, while the brokerage partner delivers the agreed-upon services.

Here’s how a typical brokerage model under Support at Home might work:

1. An aged care provider assesses a client’s needs and determines that Allied Health services are required

2. The provider contracts an external Allied Health business to deliver therapy services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or podiatry

3. A formal brokerage agreement outlines the pricing, scope of services, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations

4. The Allied Health provider delivers services while the primary provider manages the overall client relationship and funding

This model benefits both parties—the aged care provider ensures all client needs are met while the Allied Health business gains a steady stream of referrals without the complexities of full aged care registration.

Finding Aged Care Providers That Need Allied Health Services

Not all aged care providers will have the resources to employ full-time Allied Health professionals. This creates opportunities for brokerage partnerships, particularly with:

• Smaller aged care providers that lack the scale to employ full therapy teams

• Providers focusing on personal care and domestic assistance who need an Allied Health partner

• Regional providers struggling to source Allied Health professionals

• Larger aged care providers that prefer to outsource specific services rather than maintain internal therapy teams

Identifying and establishing relationships with these providers will be essential for Allied Health businesses looking to expand into aged care brokerage under Support at Home.

Why Brokerage Might Be More Profitable Than Direct Service Delivery

For many Allied Health businesses, brokerage under Support at Home may prove to be a more scalable and profitable approach than direct service delivery. Here’s why:

• No need for full My Aged Care registration, reducing compliance costs and administrative overhead

• Consistent referrals from aged care providers create predictable revenue streams

• Less reliance on direct marketing, as clients are sourced through established aged care businesses

• Potential for bulk service agreements, providing more financial stability than the individual client funding model seen in NDIS

Many NDIS-focused providers operate on a per-client basis, which can be inconsistent and require significant marketing effort. By contrast, brokerage arrangements under Support at Home allow for long-term contracted service agreements, reducing the unpredictability of revenue.

Challenges and Risks of Brokerage Under Support at Home

While the opportunity is clear, Allied Health businesses should also be aware of key challenges:

• Pricing and contract structures may differ significantly from NDIS funding models

• Compliance expectations, including quality assurance and reporting, will still apply even in a brokerage model

• Dependence on aged care providers for referrals means businesses need to diversify partnerships to mitigate risk

Understanding these risks and structuring brokerage agreements effectively will be crucial for long-term success in the Support at Home market.

Is Support at Home the Right Move for Your Business?

Support at Home represents a significant opportunity for Allied Health businesses to expand into aged care without the need for full provider registration. The single provider model means aged care businesses will increasingly look for trusted Allied Health brokers to fill service gaps and meet client needs.

However, navigating this shift requires a clear strategy, the right partnerships, and a solid understanding of brokerage agreements.

If you’re interested in exploring how Support at Home could work for your business, let’s chat.

Book a free strategy call with me to discuss how you can position yourself for this opportunity.