Recovering from an illness, injury, or hospital stay doesn’t mean giving up your independence. The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term, government-funded program designed to help you regain your strength, mobility, and confidence so you can get back to doing the things you love.
Through this program, our compassionate team of support workers, physiotherapists, and dietitians works with you for up to 16 weeks to improve your physical condition and mental wellbeing. We ensure you prevent decline and stay active, even if you are already accessing other home care services.


Access a team of health professionals dedicated to your recovery. From physiotherapists and occupational therapists to dietitians, we coordinate the precise clinical expertise required to restore your function and build your mobility with confidence.

While you focus on getting better, we assist with the rest. Access funding for essential support like personal care, meal preparation and domestic assistance to keep your home running smoothly and comfortably during your specific recovery journey.

Navigating recovery can be overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. Your dedicated Care Designer, who is a Registered Nurse, manages your budget, coordinates your therapy team and adjusts your plan as you improve every step of the way.
If you are seeking government assistance for the Restorative Care Pathway, you will need to apply for an in-person assessment through My Aged Care. Here is the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Check your eligibility
To see if you qualify for an aged care assessment, visit the My Aged Care website.
Step 2: Apply for an assessment
If you are eligible, you can complete the My Aged Care online application (allow 15 to 20 minutes) or call 1800 200 422.
Step 3: Prepare for your assessment
Visit the My Aged Care website for a checklist of what to prepare. We recommend gathering your Medicare card, medical history, and details of your GP.
Step 4: Have your assessment
Your assessment will take place at your home or in the hospital. We strongly encourage you to have a family member, friend, or your Nurse Next Door Care Designer there to support you.
Step 5: Receive your outcome
You will receive a letter outlining your approved services and individual support plan. Once you have this, you are ready to choose a provider.
Step 6: Contact Nurse Next Door
Call us on 1300 600 247 (or complete our "ask for care"). We will pair you with a dedicated Care Designer to build a Restorative Care plan tailored to your recovery goals.
Following an illness, fall or hospitalisation, our our goal is to get you moving again. We collaborate with qualified physiotherapists and allied health professionals to enhance your strength, balance and stability to ensure you feel secure and confident in your daily movements.
Our approach empowers you to regain the necessary skills and confidence you need to continue living independently. By focusing on rehabilitation now, we help you maintain your autonomy and delay the need for long term care so you can remain safe and comfortable in your own home.
We recognise that every recovery journey is unique. Your dedicated Care Designer, who is a Registered Nurse, partners with you to identify your specific goals, from resuming social engagements to managing household tasks, and curates a tailored clinical plan to help you achieve them.
The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term program (up to 12-16 weeks) under the government’s Support at Home system. Unlike standard home care which supports you ongoing, this pathway provides intensive, goal-oriented funding to help you recover from a setback, like an illness or fall, so you can regain your independence.
Eligibility is determined by an assessment through My Aged Care. You may be eligible if you are over 65 (or 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), have experienced a decline in your ability to manage daily tasks, and are motivated to work with a team to improve your independence. It is not for people currently receiving end-of-life care.
Eligible participants typically receive a budget of approximately $6,000 for a 12-16 week episode of care. If you have higher needs, your assessor may approve a second consecutive episode (funding up to $12,000 total). This funding is separate from your ongoing Support at Home quarterly budget.
Yes. You can access the Restorative Care Pathway even if you are already receiving ongoing services. If you experience a temporary setback, such as a fall or surgery, this specific funding runs alongside your regular Support at Home budget to cover the additional therapy you need.
The funding is flexible but must be linked to your recovery goals. Common services include:
The program is designed to be short-term and intensive, typically lasting for 12 weeks, but it can be extended to 16 weeks if needed. You can access up to two episodes of care in a 12-month period if assessed as necessary.
We engaged Nurse Next Door to check on our 90 year old Dad on a weekly basis after health complications and surgery. They have been exceptional. The care has been fantastic and their communication to us kids on how our father is has been priceless as we live over an hour away from his retirement village. I highly recommend their services.
Nurse Next Door (in particular Ronnie and Heather) have become an integral part of my uncle's care whilst he is living at home. As a family, it has brought us great comfort knowing we can rely on the team at NND to be there for him whenever he needs. We cannot speak highly enough of you all - thank you for all you do..
We have been using Nurse Next Door for 2 years now and i don't know what we would do without them, the nurses are amazing and always go above and beyond to make sure my husband has the best treatments possible for his condition and a big shout out to Nicole for always being so supportive of us and always being so helpful.
Nurse Next Door provided exceptional care for my mother. The staff/carers & nurses are client focused & consistent which suited my mum and I. Nothing was a bother, they were flexible & adaptable when needed & always available when on call. They were respectful, kind, caring & very supportive to the family unit. Thank you for your dedication in providing support that was tailored to the needs of mum.
Nurse Next Door have been a great support and the staff enable me to live comfortably in my own home they are a great team and company. They go over and above to assist me in my daily living
I'd highly recommend Nurse Next Door: -The management are professional, pick good staff and friendly. -Their Support Workers: - are matched well with me, my interests and spiritual beliefs. - are always punctual (if there's a delay in traffic or prior client, I receive a phone call by administration staff to advise). - well dressed (in bright pink uniform tops). - Office Management and owners willingly come and do shifts if someone calls in sick. - Any new support workers are always accompanied by management at first visit, not just arrive and not introduced to them. - Support Workers have ideas that I may not have thought of, about where to get something, or go for a drive somewhere discussed with me to assure I'm happy with suggestion. - I feel safe in all Nurse Next Door cars (which includes that their cars are maintained, clean and never have to stop for petrol. - I’ve never got lost getting to an appointment with their Support Workers (they have google maps on mobile phone or their modern car has the capacity to locate destination. - I look forward to working with Nurse Next Door, not only over the festive season as I don't have family or a holiday to go to but for the years to come.
I cannot speak highly enough of the staff from Nurse Next Door . In dealing with my elderly Mum I have found the nurses to be professional and compassionate . Everything was explained clearly and all of my questions were answered . I have no problem in recommending Nurse Next Door .
After experiencing quite a few months of illness and incapacity, I reluctantly agreed to accept help. It was reassuring and extremely helpful to utilise Nurse Next Door's wonderful services. Much care was taken to match me with appropriate Caregivers who were great to have around and well skilled. I'm now on the road to more recovery but feel more confident about my situation now that I know I will have their support when the need arises. Thank you Keir and team xxx
★★★★★ Exceptional Care and Support - Nurse Next Door provided outstanding care for my client during her recovery, and I couldn't be more grateful for their professionalism and compassion. From the start, Jessica and her team were attentive, kind, and incredibly supportive. They went above and beyond to ensure the client's needs were met, and their approach made a difficult time so much easier to manage. Their team’s communication was excellent—they kept us informed every step of the way and made sure we felt confident and reassured throughout the process. My client was treated with such dignity and kindness, and it’s clear that this team truly cares about their clients. We’re so grateful for everything they did and will absolutely turn to Nurse Next Door again if we ever need nursing services in the future. I Highly recommend their services to anyone looking for professional and compassionate care!
The Caring Journal is your go-to destination for stories, insights, and resources that celebrate the art and heart of caregiving.
Every Care Plan is thoughtfully crafted, and every Caregiver is meticulously chosen to meet your needs.
We hand-pick the right person from our trusted team of Caregivers based on your needs, preferences and personality.
Our activity monitoring system closely monitors every visit to ensure Caregivers arrive on time and schedules run smoothly.
Our Caregivers and Nurses are licensed, insured and highly qualified, with a minimum of two years’ experience.
We want you to see a familiar face every visit. Your perfect match Caregiver will learn your routines and favorite foods.
Speak with a real person in 30 seconds or less every time you call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our services range from elder care to daily living support for people of all ages. Quality care, regardless of age.