Historically, allied health has been underutilised or offered at a financial loss. But that’s changing.
As Australia’s aged care sector gears up for the transformative Support at Home reforms set to launch on 1 July 2025, allied health, re-ablement, and restorative care have shifted from optional to essential.
According to leading wellness and ageing advocate Dr Tim Henwood, now is the time for providers to pivot.
“Providers not already pivoting or at least thinking about pivoting towards allied health and therapy stand the chance of being left behind,” he says.
Dr Tim Henwood (AgeFIT Solutions)
Dr Henwood, principal consultant at AgeFIT Solutions and a member of the Positive Ageing Summit (PAS2025) organising committee, will join a panel of experts in Adelaide this May to unpack what these changes mean and how to respond strategically.
Allied Health in the Spotlight
The new ‘Support at Home’ program manual, released in March, outlines how reablement and wellness will sit at the heart of aged care delivery. Section 5.3 of the manual mandates providers work with clients to restore or enhance function, increase independence, and promote active engagement in life.
The government’s stance is clear: allied health and therapy must move from the periphery to the core of aged care.
Dr Henwood says the change isn’t just ideological, it’s practical.
“We’re facing a growing number of older Australians with complex health needs, and fewer hospital and residential beds to support them. Without a change in approach, we’re staring down the barrel of a crisis.”
His solution? More access to targeted interventions like exercise, occupational therapy, and restorative programs, all of which are now fully funded under Support at Home, with no out-of-pocket cost to the client.
Providers Must Act Now
“There are several sustainable operating models already out there. The future is bright for providers who embrace this shift early, especially as consumers increasingly realise that better outcomes come from active participation in their own health,” says Dr Henwood.
And with quality indicators evolving and new reporting streams being introduced for allied health, the shift is also regulatory.
Discover the ‘How’ at PAS2025
That’s why the upcoming Positive Ageing Summit is a must-attend for aged care leaders, providers, and clinicians. Held 28–29 May in Adelaide, the two-day event will feature:
Keynotes from the Department of Health and Aged Care, including insight into how reforms will roll out and be monitored.
Panels with sector leaders like Dr Henwood discussing reablement, sustainable business models, and best-practice frameworks.
Live Q&A opportunities to engage directly with the department and expert operators already delivering health-modifying allied health programs.
A Department spokesperson confirmed:
“All consumers will be offered these services equally under the Clinical Category, with no financial barriers. However, providers must now step up and make allied health a strategic priority, not an afterthought.”
Don’t Miss Out
This is more than a policy update, it’s a pivotal moment to futureproof your service model and provide transformative care.
“It’s about more than helping a client stand up from a chair,” says Dr Henwood. “It’s about increasing mobility, managing chronic disease, and even reducing agitation in clients with dementia. These are health-changing interventions.”
Taneesa Williamson 
