After a hospital stay or a health setback, the path back to independent living is rarely straightforward — especially when you are managing at home with a partner or on your own. Short-Term Restorative Care, Transition Care, and respite are three distinct government-supported programs that can bridge that gap, each with its own eligibility, referral process, and duration. This guide explains how each one works, how they connect to My Aged Care, and where to start if you or someone you care for needs support in Victoria.
Why these three programs exist — and why the difference matters
When an older person leaves hospital or goes through a significant health event — a fall, surgery, a stroke, or simply a period of illness that has knocked their confidence — the return to everyday life can feel uncertain. The Australian Government funds three distinct short-term programs to help: Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC), Transition Care, and respite care. They are not interchangeable. Each targets a different situation, a different level of need, and a different point in the recovery journey.
Understanding which program fits your situation — or that of your partner — means you can ask the right questions from the start rather than accepting whatever is offered first. For a 73-year-old man who has always managed things himself and is not used to asking for help, knowing the system well enough to navigate it with confidence makes a real difference. These programs are entitlements, not charity, and the people who use them most effectively are the ones who understand what they are entitled to.
All three programs connect to My Aged Care, the central gateway for government-funded aged care in Australia. The pathway into each program differs slightly, but My Aged Care is almost always the starting point or the coordinating body, so registering there early — even before a crisis — is sensible for anyone over 65, or over 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Short-term restorative care and transition care after hospital — what is the difference?
Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) is designed for older people who are at risk of losing their independence due to a recent decline in physical, cognitive, or social functioning — but who are not necessarily coming straight out of hospital. The goal is to restore capacity: to help someone regain strength, confidence, and daily skills so they can manage at home for longer. STRC is delivered over a time-limited period, typically up to eight weeks, and can be provided at home, in a residential setting, or a combination of both. It might include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social support, nursing, and help with daily tasks — all coordinated as a package.
Transition Care, by contrast, is specifically for people who have been in hospital and are not yet ready to return home or to a residential aged care facility. It is designed to fill the gap between the acute hospital environment and wherever you are going next. Transition Care provides low-intensity therapy, support with daily activities, and social work assistance while you recover. It can be delivered in a residential setting or at home, and it runs for up to 12 weeks — with the possibility of a further 12-week extension in some circumstances. Referral into Transition Care happens through the hospital's discharge planning team, typically with the involvement of a social worker or care coordinator. You do not need to contact My Aged Care directly to start this process; the hospital team initiates the referral.
Both programs require an assessment. For STRC, you will need a referral through My Aged Care and an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or, depending on the situation, a Regional Assessment Service (RAS). For Transition Care, the ACAT assessment usually happens while you are still in hospital. If you are supporting a partner through a hospital stay, it is worth asking the ward team early — ideally before discharge is being discussed — whether Transition Care is appropriate and whether an ACAT assessment has been arranged.
What is respite care and how do you arrange short stays?
Respite care gives carers a break — a genuine, planned rest — while ensuring the person they care for continues to receive support. It also provides the older person themselves with a change of environment, social contact, and continued care. Respite comes in two main forms: in-home respite, where a support worker comes to the home so the carer can go out, rest, or attend to their own health; and residential respite, where the older person stays temporarily in an aged care facility, usually for up to 63 days per financial year, though this can sometimes be extended.
Arranging respite care starts with My Aged Care. If the person needing care does not yet have an ACAT assessment, that assessment will determine what level of support is appropriate. For in-home respite, it may be arranged through a Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) provider or a Home Care Package, depending on what the person already has in place. For residential respite, the process involves finding a residential aged care facility with available respite beds — which can take planning, particularly in busy periods — and completing the necessary paperwork through My Aged Care. The facility will also need to see the ACAT approval.
Carers who need emergency or unplanned respite — for example, if a carer is suddenly hospitalised themselves — can contact the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. The Carer Gateway can arrange emergency respite support quickly and will help connect you with longer-term planning services. For couples where one partner is the primary carer, having a respite plan in place before it is urgently needed is one of the most practical things you can do. Costs for respite care are means-tested; the government sets a basic daily fee and a means-tested care fee. Visit myagedcare.gov.au to check the current fee structure, as these figures are updated regularly.
How do these programs fit around My Aged Care?
My Aged Care is the central entry point for all three programs, though the route in differs. For Short-Term Restorative Care, you contact My Aged Care directly — by phone on 1800 200 422 or online — and they will arrange an appropriate assessment. For Transition Care, the hospital team usually initiates contact with My Aged Care on your behalf, though you or your family can also follow up independently if the process seems to have stalled. For respite care, the pathway depends on whether you already have services in place: if you have a Home Care Package, your package provider can arrange in-home respite; if not, you go through My Aged Care to access CHSP respite or residential respite.
It is worth registering with My Aged Care and having an assessment on file even before a crisis occurs. An ACAT assessment, once completed, remains on your record and can make it faster to access services when they are needed urgently. For a man in his early 70s who is still managing well, this might feel premature — but it is simply practical preparation, the same way you would have insurance before you need it.
From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program replaces the previous Home Care Packages Program and CHSP for new entrants, with some changes to how short-term restorative supports are funded and structured. The transition arrangements affect what program you are assessed under and how services are delivered. Check myagedcare.gov.au or speak directly with a My Aged Care representative to understand how the current arrangements apply to your specific situation, as the details continue to be refined.
What does a typical assessment involve, and who conducts it?
An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment is a face-to-face conversation — usually at home or in hospital — with a trained assessor, who may be a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, or another health professional. The assessor will ask about your health, your daily living situation, what you can manage on your own, and what kind of support would be most useful. It is not a test and there is no pass or fail. The purpose is to understand your needs so the right programs and services can be recommended.
You can have a family member, partner, or support person present during the assessment — and for someone who is not entirely comfortable with formal bureaucratic processes, or whose English is not their first language, having a trusted person alongside can make the conversation more straightforward. If you need an interpreter, you can request one through My Aged Care when booking the assessment. The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is available on 131 450 for help in languages other than English.
After the assessment, you will receive a written letter explaining what you have been approved for. Keep this document — it is your formal approval and you will need to refer to it when contacting providers. If the outcome does not seem to reflect your situation accurately, you have the right to request a review. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) at opan.org.au can provide free, independent support if you feel the assessment outcome was not right or if you need help navigating a dispute.
Practical considerations for couples and family carers
When one partner in a couple has a health setback, the other often becomes a de facto carer without any formal recognition or support. This is common and manageable in the short term, but it carries real risk — carers who do not take breaks are more likely to experience their own health decline, which can then create a second crisis on top of the first. Using respite care is not a sign of giving up or not coping; it is using an entitlement that exists precisely for this situation.
For couples where one partner is managing the household and the other is recovering, Short-Term Restorative Care in particular can be valuable because it focuses on rebuilding the recovering person's capacity to do things for themselves — reducing the long-term load on the carer. An occupational therapist through an STRC program might assess the home for safety, recommend aids and equipment, and work with the person to regain confidence in daily tasks. This kind of targeted, time-limited intervention often has a lasting effect that general home help alone does not provide.
Adult children and other family members who are involved in supporting an older parent or relative should know that they can contact My Aged Care on behalf of the person, with that person's consent. If the older person is in hospital and decisions need to be made quickly, family members can speak with the hospital social worker directly. It is also worth knowing that residential respite does not commit anyone to permanent residential care — it is a short-term arrangement, and the person returns home afterwards.
Where to get further help and advice in Victoria
For general information about all aged care programs, myagedcare.gov.au is the authoritative source and is kept current as policy changes. The My Aged Care phone line — 1800 200 422 — is open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings, and staff can answer questions in plain language. If you find the system confusing or feel you are not getting clear answers, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) provides free, independent advocacy across Victoria. They can attend assessments with you, help you understand your rights, and support you if you want to appeal a decision.
The Victorian Department of Health at health.vic.gov.au also provides state-specific information about how aged care programs operate in Victoria, including links to local providers. For carers specifically, the Carer Gateway at carergateway.gov.au offers practical support, counselling, and respite planning assistance — all free of charge.
None of the information in this guide constitutes financial, legal, or medical advice. Costs, eligibility thresholds, and program structures change, sometimes annually. Before making any decisions about care arrangements, confirm the current details with My Aged Care and, where decisions involve significant financial or legal implications — such as means-testing assessments or decisions about entering residential care — seek advice from a qualified professional such as an aged care financial adviser or solicitor.
Key takeaways
- Transition Care is for people leaving hospital who are not yet ready to return home; referral starts with the hospital discharge team, not My Aged Care directly.
- Short-Term Restorative Care focuses on rebuilding independence after a health decline and can be delivered at home, in a residential setting, or both, typically over up to eight weeks.
- Respite care — in-home or residential — is an entitlement for carers and the people they support, not a last resort; residential respite does not lead automatically to permanent placement.
- An ACAT assessment is the gateway to most government-funded aged care programs; having one on file before a crisis makes accessing urgent services faster.
- From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program changes how some short-term supports are funded — check myagedcare.gov.au for the current arrangements before applying.
- If an assessment outcome does not feel right, you can request a review; the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) provides free, independent support through that process.
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Frequently asked questions
Short-term restorative care and transition care after hospital.
Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) and Transition Care are both time-limited, government-funded programs but they serve different purposes. Transition Care is specifically for people who have just been in hospital and are not yet well enough to return home; it runs for up to 12 weeks and referral is initiated by the hospital team. Short-Term Restorative Care is for people who have experienced a decline in their ability to manage at home — not necessarily after a hospital stay — and focuses on rebuilding independence through therapy and support over up to eight weeks. Both require an ACAT assessment, though for Transition Care this usually happens while you are still in hospital. Both connect to the My Aged Care system. To find out which applies to your situation, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au.
What is respite care and how do I arrange short stays?
Respite care is government-supported short-term care that gives carers a planned break while ensuring the person they care for continues to receive support. It comes in two main forms: in-home respite, where a support worker comes to the home, and residential respite, where the older person stays temporarily in an aged care facility — usually for up to 63 days per financial year. To arrange respite care, start by contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or at myagedcare.gov.au; an ACAT assessment will determine what you are eligible for. If you already have a Home Care Package, your package provider can arrange in-home respite directly. For emergency or unplanned respite, contact the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. Costs are means-tested; check the current fee structure at myagedcare.gov.au as figures are updated regularly.
Do I need a referral from a GP to access these programs?
You do not need a GP referral to contact My Aged Care or to request an assessment. You can call My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422 or register online at myagedcare.gov.au. A GP referral can be helpful context for the assessor, and your GP may be able to support your application, but it is not a formal requirement to start the process. For Transition Care specifically, the referral is made by the hospital team rather than a GP.
What happens if I disagree with my ACAT assessment outcome?
If you believe your assessment outcome does not accurately reflect your needs, you have the right to request a review. You can do this by contacting My Aged Care and asking for a reassessment. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) at opan.org.au provides free, independent advocacy and can support you through a review or appeal — including attending assessment appointments with you. OPAN operates across Victoria and can be reached through their national line.
How does the new Support at Home program affect these services from July 2025?
From 1 July 2025, the Support at Home program replaces the Home Care Packages Program and Commonwealth Home Support Programme for new entrants, with changes to how some short-term and restorative supports are structured and funded. Transition Care arrangements are also being updated as part of the broader reform. The details continue to be refined; the most current and accurate information is available at myagedcare.gov.au or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. If you are currently receiving services, ask your provider how the transition affects your specific arrangements.
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- My Aged Care — Australian Government
- Transition Care Programme — Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- Short-Term Restorative Care Programme — Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- Respite Care — My Aged Care
- Carer Gateway — Australian Government
- Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
- Victorian Department of Health — Aged Care
- Support at Home Program — Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
