If you’re visiting the clinic for the first time, you may have questions about what to expect, what to wear or how to prepare for your appointment.
I’ve put together some helpful information about your consultation, including what to bring and what happens during your visit.
You can find more information on our Your Consultation page.
No, you don’t generally need a referral to see me as a private patient. You can book an appointment directly with the clinic.
If you have a referral or information from your GP or another healthcare professional, please bring it along, as it may be helpful when assessing your concerns and planning your care.
There are some exceptions and additional requirements depending on how your consultation is funded:
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
Eligible DVA patients require a valid referral before commencing DVA-funded osteopathic treatment. Your GP can provide this referral, and other authorised medical professionals may also provide an initial referral in certain circumstances. Please contact the clinic before your appointment if you’re unsure about your referral or eligibility.
Medicare – GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (previously CDM)
A GP referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate for osteopathic consultations under this arrangement. Your GP will determine whether you’re eligible.
WorkCover (WorkSafe Victoria)
A GP referral is not generally required for osteopathic treatment under an accepted WorkCover claim.
If your consultation relates to a workplace injury, please contact the clinic before booking so we can discuss your claim details and payment arrangements.
Our clinic does not bill WorkSafe directly. Full payment is required at the time of consultation, and you will be provided with a receipt to seek reimbursement where eligible.
Transport Accident Commission (TAC)
If your consultation relates to a transport accident, please contact the clinic before booking to discuss your circumstances and any referral or claim requirements.
Our clinic does not bill TAC directly. Full payment is required at the time of consultation, and you will be provided with a receipt to seek reimbursement where eligible.
Medicare does not generally provide rebates for osteopathic consultations. However, eligible patients may be able to claim a rebate through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP), previously known as a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan.
Your GP will assess whether you meet the eligibility requirements and, if appropriate, provide a referral for osteopathic treatment.
Under this arrangement, eligible patients can access Medicare rebates for up to five allied health consultations per calendar year. These may be shared between different allied health providers, depending on your care needs and GP referrals.
Our osteopathic consultations are not bulk billed. Full payment is required on the day of your appointment, and a Medicare rebate can then be claimed, leaving an out-of-pocket gap fee.
If you have any questions about your referral, eligibility or current consultation fees, please contact the clinic. We’re happy to help.
Many private health insurance policies provide rebates for osteopathic consultations under their extras cover.
The amount you can claim depends on your individual policy, level of cover and any applicable limits. I recommend checking with your health fund before your appointment if you’re unsure whether osteopathy is included.
We have HICAPS available at the clinic, allowing you to claim your private health insurance rebate on the spot. If your claim is approved, you’ll only need to pay the remaining gap.
If you’re unable to claim through HICAPS, full payment is required on the day, and we’ll provide a receipt so you can submit your claim directly to your health fund.
Yes. I see school-aged children and teenagers for a range of musculoskeletal concerns, including muscle or joint pain, sports-related injuries and postural discomfort.
During the consultation, I will consider your child’s symptoms, medical history, stage of development and individual needs to determine whether osteopathic assessment and treatment may be appropriate.
Not every concern requires treatment, and where necessary, I may recommend further assessment or referral to another healthcare professional.
For patients under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian is required to attend the initial osteopathic consultation and remain present throughout the appointment.
For children under 16 years of age, a parent or legal guardian is required at all consultations.
For patients aged 16 or 17, a parent or legal guardian may choose not to attend subsequent appointments, provided this is appropriate for the individual patient and their circumstances.
If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact the clinic before your appointment.
Not everyone requires X-rays or other imaging before seeing an osteopath. In many cases, a thorough discussion of your symptoms and a clinical examination can provide the information needed to guide your care.
If I feel that X-rays or other investigations may be appropriate, I’ll discuss this with you and explain why they may be helpful.
If you’ve already had X-rays, scans or other investigations relating to your concerns, please bring along any reports or results you have available. These can provide useful information when assessing your condition and planning your care.
Osteopathy, physiotherapy and chiropractic are all registered healthcare professions that assess and manage musculoskeletal concerns, including muscle and joint pain, injuries and movement difficulties. There is considerable overlap between these professions, although individual practitioners may differ in their approach to assessment and treatment.
Osteopathy considers how different areas of the body work together and how movement, posture, daily activities and lifestyle factors may contribute to your symptoms.
In my consultations, I take the time to understand your concerns, medical history and how your symptoms are affecting you. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may include hands-on techniques, movement and exercise advice, and strategies to help you manage your condition.
My aim is to work with you to develop an approach that is appropriate for your circumstances and goals.
In Australia, osteopaths complete university-level qualifications, generally involving four to five years of study. Their education includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, clinical assessment and osteopathic treatment, along with supervised clinical training.
Osteopaths must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), under the Osteopathy Board of Australia, to practise in Australia.
Registration also requires osteopaths to undertake ongoing continuing professional development (CPD). This helps practitioners maintain and develop their clinical knowledge and skills, and stay informed about current research, professional standards and patient care.
You can check an osteopath’s registration through the AHPRA public register.
Osteopathy has a history dating back more than 150 years. It was founded in the United States in 1874 by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, who established the first school of osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1892.
Osteopathy was originally developed around the relationship between the body’s structure and function, and the importance of considering the body as a whole.
Since then, osteopathy has continued to evolve alongside developments in medical knowledge, clinical research and our understanding of the musculoskeletal system.
Today, osteopaths in Australia are university-qualified, registered healthcare practitioners who assess and manage a range of musculoskeletal concerns using approaches informed by contemporary clinical knowledge and individual patient needs.