Allied health professionals play a vital role in helping you stay mobile, independent and healthy at home. The good news is these services are fully funded by the government.

 

What are allied health services? 

Allied health professionals are university-qualified health practitioners who work alongside doctors and nurses to support your health and wellbeing. Under Support at Home, allied health services are classified as clinical supports, which means the government pays 100% of the cost.

  

Which allied health services are available?  

  • Physiotherapy helps you with movement, mobility and physical function.   

Physiotherapy is particularly helpful if you’ve had a fall or are worried about falling, are recovering from a stroke or fracture, have arthritis or joint problems, experience difficulty walking or moving around, or have chronic pain that affects your movement.  

  • Occupational therapy helps you do the daily activities that matter to you.

Occupational therapists offer home safety assessments and tailored recommendations. They advise on assistive equipment and its safe use, assess eligibility for the AT-HM scheme (home modifications funding), and provide strategies to simplify and secure daily tasks. They also conduct cognitive assessments, offer support, guide fatigue management and activity pacing, and train you and your family in safe techniques.

  • Podiatry provides specialised foot care to keep you mobile and pain-free.   

Podiatrists can provide treatment for corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails, assessment and care for diabetic feet, management of foot pain and problems, advice on appropriate footwear, treatment for fungal infections, wound care for foot ulcers, and assessment of circulation and sensation in your feet.   

  • Dietitian services help you maintain good nutrition and manage health conditions through diet.   

Dietitians offer nutritional assessments and personalised meal planning. They provide dietary guidance for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease, and assist with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). They also address unintentional weight changes, advise on food textures and modifications, educate on nutrition for chronic conditions, and create meal plans aligned with your cultural preferences.

  • Speech therapy supports communication and safe swallowing.   

Speech therapists can provide assessment and treatment for swallowing difficulties, strategies to improve communication after stroke, help with voice problems, cognitive communication strategies, recommendations for food and fluid textures, exercises to strengthen swallowing muscles, and advice on positioning during meals for safer swallowing.   

  • Psychology and social work services support your mental and emotional wellbeing.  

These services are helpful if you’re feeling depressed, anxious, or hopeless, grieving the loss of a partner or friend, struggling to adjust to changes in your health, experiencing stress from caring for a partner, feeling isolated or lonely or having difficulty coping with your situation.  

 

How do allied health services work together?  

Often, several allied health professionals work together to support your goals. For example, after a fall, you might see a physiotherapist for strength and balance, an occupational therapist for home safety and equipment, and a podiatrist for appropriate footwear. Your care partner coordinates these services to ensure everyone is working toward your goals. 

 

How often will you see allied health professionals?  

The frequency depends on your needs and goals. Some people need intensive services initially (like twice a week physiotherapy after surgery), then reduce to monthly or as-needed visits. Others need regular ongoing visits (like monthly podiatry for diabetic foot care). Your allied health professional will discuss the right frequency with you, and this can be adjusted as your needs change. 

 

Need more information?  

We offer a free aged care consultation and information sessions on the first Tuesday of every month from 2:30pm to 3:30pm at Holdsworth.