NDIS vs Aged Care: What’s the Difference for Community Allied Health Providers?
Aged care is not just another funding stream. The differences in funding, compliance, pricing, referrals and clinical governance, and whether it suits you.
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With the launch of the Support at Home program on 1 July 2025, more Allied Health providers are exploring Aged Care as a new opportunity for growth. But while Aged Care and the NDIS might seem similar (both government-funded and community-focused) they operate under very different clinical, business, and compliance frameworks.
This blog breaks down the key differences between NDIS and aged care, specifically through the lens of Support at Home, to help Allied Health providers understand what’s changing and whether Aged Care is right for their service model.
1. Funding & Eligibility: Who You’re Supporting and How
At a high level, the NDIS supports people with a permanent disability, while aged care supports older Australians with frailty or functional decline.
| Feature | NDIS | Aged Care (Support at Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Age Eligibility | Under 65 | Over 65 |
| Access Pathway | NDIS Access Request through NDIA | My Aged Care → ACAT or RAS Assessment |
| Funding Control | Participant-directed (self/plan/NDIA) | Managed by the registered provider (single provider model) |
| Registration | Required to bill NDIS | Not required (see Section 8) |
Insight: In NDIS, you can market direct to participants. In Aged Care, you build relationships with providers, because they control access to the client and the budget.
2. Service Delivery Models: Wellness, Reablement & Function
The Support at Home model introduces a stronger emphasis on both wellness (ongoing support to maintain function) and reablement (short-term intervention to restore function after decline).
Unlike the NDIS, where therapy is typically capacity-building and open-ended, Aged Care services are usually time-limited or integrated into structured care plans.
| Element | NDIS | Aged Care (Support at Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Capacity building, functional gain | Wellness, reablement, independence |
| Therapy Model | Ongoing, variable | Both short-term reablement and ongoing wellness |
| Service Flexibility | High (participant-led) | Moderate (plan-led, some flexibility) |
| Documentation | Optional/discretionary (depending on registration) | Structured documentation for audits and compliance |
Important: You can deliver ongoing physiotherapy or OT sessions under Support at Home, provided they are framed as wellness supports and linked to the client’s care plan. You can also deliver structured reablement programs (e.g. 6-week mobility rehab), and it’s common for both to coexist.
A client may have:
- 1 x 6-week reablement block (post-fall)
- Followed by 1x/week ongoing “wellness” sessions to maintain gains
3. Clinical Framing & Compliance
NDIS services are assessed under the NDIS Practice Standards, while Support at Home services fall under the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, with Standard 5 – Clinical Care being particularly relevant to Allied Health.
| Aspect | NDIS | Aged Care (Support at Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Framework | NDIS Practice Standards | Aged Care Quality Standards |
| Audit Approach | Scheduled, chosen auditor | Unannounced audits by ACQSC |
| Compliance Risk | Moderate | High (due to governance requirements) |
| Clinical Governance Required | Depends on scope | Yes, under Standard 5 |
Key Shift: Under Support at Home, your therapy must support:
- Measurable goals
- Safety and independence
- Documented outcomes
- Provider compliance
Even if you are subcontracted, the provider is held accountable for your service under their clinical governance obligations. That’s why all Allied Health services must be audit-ready.
Want to deep dive into what clinical governance looks like in practice?
Read: Clinical Governance Under Support at Home: What Allied Health Providers Need to Know
4. Pricing, Packages & Brokerage Margins
Support at Home introduces strict pricing rules:
- No separate charges for travel, admin or documentation
- Hourly rates must be all-inclusive
- Providers must publish pricing
| Element | NDIS | Aged Care (Support at Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $193.99/hr (e.g. OT, EP, SP) | $160–$185/hr (all-inclusive) |
| Add-ons (e.g. travel, reports) | Charged separately | Must be bundled into hourly rate |
| Packaging | Per-hour billing or flexible service agreements | Pre-scoped reablement or AT packages |
Example: If a provider lists $200/hr → you may be paid $160–$180/hr.
- Providers need to make a margin on your service
You can also offer structured packages, e.g.:
- $780 for 4-session reablement program
- $1,200 for equipment trial + home mod scope
Support at Home allows flexible delivery, so you can offer boh flat hourly rates or packaged reablement programs.
5. Referrals & Business Development
In NDIS, referrals come from:
- Participants
- Support Coordinators
- Families or plan nominees
In Aged Care (Support at Home), referrals come from:
- Case Managers
- Care Coordinators
- Clinical staff within the provider
Your role shifts from B2C to B2B.
| Aspect | NDIS | Aged Care (Support at Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Referrers | Participants, support coordinators, families | Support at Home providers (care managers) |
| Marketing Approach | Direct-to-consumer, relationship-based | B2B-style, trust and compliance focused |
| Referral Process | Clinician or admin contacts participant directly | Client referred by provider based on care plan goals |
| Success Drivers | Flexibility, client satisfaction | Clear outcomes, documentation, audit readiness |
To grow in aged care, invest in:
- Provider BD packs
- Package pricing sheets
- Structured documentation
- Governance-aligned messaging
6. Should You Register with My Aged Care?
No. Most Allied Health providers should not register.
Under Support at Home’s single provider model, the registered provider must deliver (or broker) the full range of supports, including:
- Domestic support
- Personal care
- Social support
- Transport
- Nursing
- Allied Health
If you register, you’ll be responsible for all of the above, including:
- Compliance
- Care management
- Package budgets
- Risk reporting
That’s a massive overhead.
Instead: Work as a subcontractor under a registered provider.
This may change in 2027, when the government intends to allow registration by service type (e.g. only register to deliver Allied Health), but for now it’s not viable.
7. Clinical Governance: Standard 5 Applies to You
Even if you are subcontracted, you’re still expected to align with: Standard 5 – Clinical Care
This includes:
- Documenting clinical risk
- Escalating deterioration
- Participating in care planning
- Reporting outcomes back to the provider
Download the Standard 5 Compliance Checklist to self-audit your Allied Health services and reduce risk.
8. Myth-Busting: What Aged Care Is Not
There are many myths about entering aged care. Let’s set the record straight:
| Common Assumption | Reality |
|---|---|
| “We can just use our NDIS hourly rate.” | Aged care expects a lower, all-inclusive price to account for provider margins. |
| “We bill travel and report writing separately.” | All time must be bundled into your hourly rate under Support at Home. |
| “Referrals will come directly from clients.” | Referrals come from Support at Home providers, not from individuals. |
| “We can apply the same model we use in NDIS.” | Clinical delivery, documentation and risk escalation expectations are different. |
| “We should register to deliver aged care services.” | Not recommended. The Support at Home model requires providers to deliver all services (nursing, domestic assistance, personal care, etc.). Stick to brokerage unless this changes in 2027. |
Curious whether Support at Home is right for your business?
Check out: Support at Home: A New Opportunity for Allied Health Providers
9. Final Thoughts
Support at Home is opening up a major opportunity for Allied Health providers, but it’s not the NDIS 2.0. The systems, relationships, pricing, and compliance expectations are completely different.
To succeed, you’ll need to:
- Develop reablement and wellness packages
- Align with Standard 5 – Clinical Care
- Create audit-ready documentation
- Focus your BD efforts on providers, not participants
Start small. Offer reablement services under a trusted provider. Build strong referral relationships. And prepare your team for the shift in mindset, documentation, and accountability.
Want help preparing for Support at Home?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call
or download the Support at Home Cheatsheet for a full breakdown.