Podiatry through your Home Care Package
If you have a Home Care Package or are moving across to Support at Home, podiatry is one of the services it is meant to pay for. Most people are not told that.
What it costs you
Podiatry is a clinical support. Under Support at Home the government funds clinical supports in full, so there is no contribution from you for the visit itself.
| Service | Fee | Your budget pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| First home visit | Invoiced to your provider | In full | $0 |
| Follow-up home visit | Invoiced to your provider | In full | $0 |
| Travel inside the standard visiting area | Included | Included | $0 |
The fee is payable either way
Every rebate on this page depends on your eligibility being valid and current on the day of the visit. In most cases we bill the full fee and you are responsible for claiming back whatever rebate you are entitled to.
If the plan has lapsed, the referral has run out, the annual limit is used up, the funding is not approved or the card is not current, there is no rebate and the full fee is payable on the day. We will tell you what we can see, but we cannot confirm your entitlement — only your fund, your plan manager, your provider or Medicare can do that. Check before you book if you are not sure.
- Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Podiatry sits in the clinical supports category.
- The government funds clinical supports in full. Participant contributions apply to independence and everyday living services, not to allied health or nursing.
- The visit is drawn from your quarterly Support at Home budget, so it is not unlimited. A visit every six to eight weeks is a small part of most budgets.
- If you self-manage, you can book us directly and put the invoice through your provider. If your provider manages your package, give them our details and they will arrange it.
- Custom orthotics and nail surgery are quoted separately and may need your provider's approval first.
Figures from Department of Health — Support at Home participant contributions and My Aged Care — Support at Home costs and contributions. Checked 21 August 2026. Government fees change — if you find a figure here that is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
How it works
Tell your case manager you would like podiatry at home and give them our details. They approve it against your package, we visit, and the invoice goes to the provider rather than to you. In most cases there is nothing to pay on the day.
If you self-manage your package
Self-managed package holders can book us directly and claim the invoice back through their provider. It is usually faster, and often cheaper per visit, because there is no coordination fee on top.
Support at Home
Support at Home replaced the old Home Care Package arrangements from 1 November 2025. Allied health, including podiatry, is still funded. If you are mid-transition and unsure what you can use, ring and we will tell you what we know — and tell you plainly when it is a question for your provider rather than for us.
Common questions
- Will it use up much of my package?
- A visit every six to eight weeks is a small part of most packages, and it is one of the few services that directly reduces falls risk.
- Can I use my package if I am not in Tweed Heads?
- Funding is not tied to a suburb, but our travel is. See the areas we visit and ring if you are close to the edge of them.
- Do I pay a contribution towards podiatry?
- No. Podiatry is a clinical support under Support at Home, and the government funds clinical supports in full. Contributions apply to independence and everyday living services — cleaning, gardening, personal care — not to allied health.
- Is your fee the same as the private price list?
- No. Your provider is invoiced under Support at Home, not you, and the rate is agreed with them. It comes out of your quarterly budget rather than your pocket.