Home Care Packages and Occupational Therapy
A Home Care Package (HCP) is a coordinated package of care services funded by the Australian Government to help older Australians live independently at home. Occupational therapy is one of the most common allied health services included in HCPs because it directly supports two of the key goals of the program: safety at home and independence in daily activities.
Understanding how OT fits into your package, what your level covers, and how to actually arrange services can be confusing. This guide breaks it down.
What an Occupational Therapist Does for HCP Recipients
For older adults, occupational therapy often focuses on:
- Home safety assessments - identifying falls risks, recommending grab rails, ramp access, lighting upgrades, and other modifications
- Equipment prescription - shower chairs, over-toilet frames, walking aids, kitchen aids, dressing aids
- Activities of daily living support - strategies for showering, dressing, cooking, and getting in and out of bed
- Cognitive and dementia support - environmental adaptations, routines, and strategies that support memory and orientation
- Post-hospital rehabilitation - regaining independence after surgery, illness, or a hospital admission
- Energy conservation - pacing strategies for chronic conditions like heart failure, COPD, or arthritis
- Carer support - advice for family members on safe transfers, equipment use, and managing daily routines
Most assessments happen in the participant's home because that is where the issues exist and where the solutions need to work.
What Each HCP Level Funds
The four Home Care Package levels reflect different levels of need. The package amount funds all your services combined - personal care, domestic assistance, allied health, transport, equipment - so OT is one part of a broader budget you allocate.
- Level 1: Basic care needs - approximately $10,000 per year. Suitable for people who need minimal support, typically a few hours of help per week. OT might be used for an annual home safety review and minor equipment prescription.
- Level 2: Low care needs - approximately $17,500 per year. More flexibility for regular OT sessions to address specific goals like falls prevention, post-discharge support, or equipment trials.
- Level 3: Intermediate care needs - approximately $38,000 per year. Allows for ongoing OT alongside personal care, transport, and other supports. Common for participants needing home modifications or post-stroke rehabilitation.
- Level 4: High care needs - approximately $58,000 per year. Funds intensive ongoing support including OT for complex needs - significant home modifications, complex equipment prescription, and frequent reassessment as needs change.
The specific dollar amounts adjust each year. The level is determined by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment, which is the gateway into HCP funding.
How to Use Your Package for Occupational Therapy
The first step is understanding your package and your provider's billing structure. Every HCP recipient has an approved provider who manages the package on their behalf, takes a fee for case management, and pays invoices from your remaining funds.
The practical process for accessing OT through your HCP:
- Talk to your HCP provider or case manager about wanting to access occupational therapy. They can recommend providers they work with regularly, or you can choose your own.
- Request a service agreement between your HCP provider and the OT provider. This sets out hourly rates and how invoices will be handled.
- The OT conducts an initial home assessment - usually 60 to 90 minutes, billed as one or two units depending on travel time and report writing.
- Receive an OT report and recommendations, which often informs ongoing support, equipment requests, or home modification applications.
- Schedule follow-up sessions if ongoing therapy is part of the plan - your HCP provider pays the OT directly from your package funds.
What an OT Visit Costs From Your Package
OT visits under HCP are typically charged at an hourly rate that includes the home visit, travel time, and report writing. Rates vary between providers and may include a separate report-writing fee for complex assessments.
Equipment recommended by the OT (grab rails, shower chairs, walking aids) is usually purchased through your HCP funds as well, often using preferred suppliers your HCP provider works with.
For modifications that are larger than the day-to-day budget can absorb, you can also access HCP funding for one-off allocations - your provider can advise on what is possible.
Combining Home Care Packages With Other Funding
If you are an NDIS participant who has aged into a HCP, you may have both. Generally OT services that relate to your disability stay under NDIS, while age-related needs come under HCP. A coordinator or your OT can help draw the line.
If you have private health insurance with extras cover, OT may be partly reimbursed - though the rules differ by insurer and policy.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) also has its own pathways for OT for eligible veterans, but we don't currently service DVA referrals.
When to Schedule a Home Care Package OT Visit
Common triggers for arranging an OT visit through your package:
- After a fall - to identify the cause and prevent recurrence
- Returning home from hospital - to assess equipment and modification needs before discharge
- Considering home modifications - bathroom changes, ramped entries, lift installation
- Difficulty with daily activities - showering, cooking, getting out of bed, walking around the home
- Carer fatigue - identifying equipment or routines that reduce strain on family carers
- Annual reviews - many participants benefit from a yearly OT review to update equipment and plans
You don't need a referral from your GP to access OT through your HCP - your provider or case manager can arrange it directly.
Getting Started With Ergo Therapy Group
Our occupational therapists work with HCP recipients across Melbourne and Western Sydney. We provide in-home assessments, ongoing therapy, and home modification reports, and we have current capacity for new referrals. We work with most major HCP providers and can provide service agreements directly.
To discuss a referral, call 0450 874 303 or email admin@ergotherapygroup.com.au. You can also submit a referral online.