Physiotherapy FAQs

Here are the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers you may have before attending physiotherapy at Hurstville Physio Plus for the first time. If you have any more questions please call us at 02 9579 5662.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can make a booking without a doctor’s referral. However, if you are claiming entitlements for Workers Compensation, Third Party, Medicare, Department of Veteran Affairs then you will need a referral from your GP or specialist. Please notify us when booking your appointment if you will be claiming through one of the above.

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday 6.30am to 7pm
Friday 9am to 5.30pm
Saturday 8am to 1pm

Waiting time for a physiotherapy appointment

We will always offer you the next available appointment, which is likely to be on the same day.

Length of appointments

Your initial consultation will be about 45 minutes and each consultation thereafter will be 30 minutes.

Payment options

We accept cash, EFTPOS, VISA and MasterCard. Payment is expected at the time of consultation.

Health fund claims

HICAPS facility is available to claim private health insurance rebate at each visit. We will swipe your card using the HICAPS system and you just need to pay the gap payment.

All health funds are different so we suggest that you call your fund to check that your policy covers physiotherapy. The amount paid is different for each fund so you may like to check this too or we can ask for a quote for how much your fund will pay for each treatment.

Medicare claims

Physiotherapy is claimable through Medicare as part of the Chronic Disease Managament Program. If you are suffering from a chronic condition or have complex care needs you may be eligible for up to 5 treatments. You will need to see your doctor to get a referral.
There is a maximum of 5 sessions available across all Allied Health Services in 12 months eg. if you have had one podiatry treatment then you will only be able to claim 4 physiotherapy treatments. We will process your rebate claim directly with Medicare for you.

Workcover claims

In order for us to treat you, you must have filed a Workcover claim. Bring your insurance details, Workcover claim number and medical certificate from your doctor to your first visit.

Third party (CTP) claims

In order for us to treat you, you must have filed a Third Party claim. Bring your insurance details, Third Party claim number and any other relevant documentation to your first visit.

Cancelling an appointment

We require 24 hours’ notice to cancel an appointment or a cancellation fee may be charged.
Our physiotherapists set aside individualised time for your appointment, which can be difficult to fill if you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice.

Your first appointment

We ask that you arrive five minutes prior to your appointment to fill out some paperwork. If you have had any tests, eg. X-ray, CT scan, MRI, please bring them along with any relevant reports.

Your treating therapist will complete a thorough assessment of your injury and provide you with a preliminary diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. This may include some hands-on treatment, advice and exercises for you to continue at home. Your therapist will also agree a management plan with you, including proposed treatment, length of recovery and number of sessions.

Your ongoing appointments

After your therapist assesses you they will recommend a treatment frequency that will best assist a full recovery of your injury. This is individual and will depend on your specific injury and goals of treatment.

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a clinical health science provided by a qualified physiotherapist who has studied at university for at least 4 years. Physiotherapy aims to accurately diagnose, rehabilitate and improve movement disorders by using current evidence-based methods such as manual therapy, exercise, electrotherapy, motivation, and education.

Physiotherapy is beneficial for:

• Treatment of acute pain
• Treatment of chronic pain
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Work-related injuries
• Sports injuries
• Motor vehicle accident injuries

What is exercise physiology?

Exercise physiology is the study of physical activity specialising in fitness and rehabilitation.

An exercise physiologist is a 4 year university qualified allied health professionals who specialises in providing safe effective exercise programs, advice on lifestyle modifications for people with chronic medical conditions and clients wanting to achieve health, fitness, rehabilitation or sporting goals.

Exercise interventions can vary from gym programs to core stability programs, hydrotherapy programs to home exercise programs, to improve posture or movement efficiency, achieve fat loss goals, improve strength, flexibility and general conditioning.

People with any of the following:

• diabetes
• depression
• heart disease
• arthritis
• obesity or overweight
• high blood pressure
• recovering from a stroke
• Weekend sportsman to elite athlete athletes wanting to reach their fitness strength or weight loss goals