What is a Home Care Package?
A Home Care Package (HCP) is Australian Government funding that helps older people stay living independently at home. Packages are provided at four levels (Level 1–4) with increasing funding amounts, and are managed by an approved home care provider that you choose.
The funding is flexible — within government guidelines, you can direct your package toward the services that matter most to you. Allied health services including exercise physiology are explicitly listed as approved services under the HCP program.
Support at Home (from July 2025): The Support at Home program began transitioning from the existing HCP structure in 2025. If you are on an existing HCP, you'll be transitioning to Support at Home over time. Allied health services remain approved under both programs. Contact your home care provider to confirm your current status.
Can a Home Care Package pay for exercise physiology?
Yes. Exercise physiology is an approved service under Home Care Packages. Specifically, your HCP can fund:
- Exercise physiology sessions — one-on-one supervised exercise sessions with an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) at your home, gym, outdoor space or hydrotherapy pool
- Falls prevention programs — structured balance and strength programs to reduce falls risk, a leading cause of hospitalisation in older Australians
- Hydrotherapy — aquatic exercise supervised by an AEP, particularly beneficial for arthritis, chronic pain, and limited mobility
- Exercise equipment — in some cases, small equipment (resistance bands, balance boards) can be funded as part of your EP program
- Functional assessments — assessments of your physical capacity that inform your care plan
How to access exercise physiology through your Home Care Package
- Speak with your home care provider — contact your case manager and tell them you'd like to add exercise physiology to your care plan. They will confirm whether your current package level has sufficient budget.
- Your provider approves the service — most providers will approve allied health services readily, particularly falls prevention and exercise programs, as these align with keeping clients safely at home.
- Contact Exercare — call us on 0413 827 232 or complete our aged care intake form. We'll liaise with your provider directly to arrange billing and scheduling.
- Sessions begin — your exercise physiologist visits you at home or your preferred location at a time that suits you.
Exercare works directly with home care providers. We handle all the paperwork and invoicing — you don't need to manage this yourself. Just let your case manager know you'd like to see an exercise physiologist through Exercare, and we'll take it from there.
HCP exercise physiology across south-east Melbourne
Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology for Home Care Package clients across south-east Melbourne. We come to you — at home, gym or hydrotherapy pool. Complete our aged care intake form to get started.
What package level do I need for exercise physiology?
Exercise physiology sessions can be accessed from Level 2 packages upward, depending on how your budget is already allocated. Level 1 packages have limited funding and may not have sufficient budget after essential services are covered. Level 2, 3 and 4 packages typically have enough flexibility to include regular exercise physiology.
Your case manager can tell you exactly how much of your current package budget is unallocated and available for additional services like exercise physiology.
What about the package management fee?
Home care providers charge a package management fee (typically 15–35% of the package value) for administering your funds. This fee is deducted before the remaining budget is available for services. When budgeting for exercise physiology sessions, account for this management fee in calculating how many sessions your package can cover.
If you're finding the management fee leaves insufficient budget for the services you need, it's worth comparing providers — fees vary significantly, and switching providers is straightforward under the current system.
What conditions benefit most from HCP exercise physiology?
- Falls risk and balance impairment
- Osteoarthritis of the hips, knees or spine
- Osteoporosis and fracture prevention
- Parkinson's disease
- Post-stroke rehabilitation and maintenance
- Heart failure and cardiovascular conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Type 2 diabetes management
- General deconditioning and reduced mobility from ageing
Frequently asked questions
Does my home care provider have to use Exercare specifically?
No — you can choose your preferred exercise physiology provider. You have the right to direct your package to the providers you choose. If your current provider suggests using their in-house or contracted EP, you can decline and choose Exercare instead.
Can I use my HCP for both exercise physiology and OT?
Yes — both are approved allied health services under the HCP program. Exercare provides exercise physiology now and is launching occupational therapy in 2026. You'll be able to access both through a single provider when OT launches.
What if I'm on the waiting list for a higher package level?
You can start exercise physiology on your current package now and continue when your package level increases. Exercare can provide a report to your case manager supporting the case for allied health services in your care plan at any package level.
This article was written by the Exercare team. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology for Home Care Package clients across south-east Melbourne. Complete our aged care intake form to get started →