Frequently asked questions

Look for a physiotherapist who is registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), has genuine clinical experience with your specific condition, explains their treatment approach clearly, and has a track record you can verify through Google reviews. Andrew Macdonald is an AHPRA-registered physiotherapist and Australian Physiotherapy Association member with clinical experience across Australia and the UK, and Physio Melbourne holds a 5.0-star Google rating. We also offer HICAPS on-the-spot claiming, so cost and paperwork aren't a barrier to getting started.

Both are AHPRA-registered, first-contact practitioners you can see without a referral, but their focus differs. Physiotherapists take a broad approach to movement and rehabilitation — using manual therapy, exercise prescription and education to treat injuries, post-surgical recovery, and chronic pain across the whole body. Chiropractors focus more specifically on the spine and nervous system, primarily using spinal manipulation and adjustment techniques.

Physiotherapists are AHPRA-registered and trained to diagnose and treat injuries from day one, using hands-on techniques alongside exercise and education — they're the right first call when a problem is new, painful, or undiagnosed. Exercise physiologists are not AHPRA-registered (they're regulated by Exercise & Sport Science Australia) and don't diagnose conditions or use hands-on treatment; instead they design structured, longer-term exercise programs for people who already have a diagnosis or an ongoing chronic condition. Many patients see a physiotherapist first to get diagnosed and treated, then transition to an exercise physiologist for long-term management.

No — physiotherapy is a direct-access service, so you can book an appointment with Andrew Macdonald online or by phone without a referral. A GP referral (via a Medicare GP Chronic Condition Management Plan) is only required if you want to claim a Medicare rebate on your sessions.

The standard Initial Consultation & Examination runs for 30 minutes. If your condition is more complex, an Extended Initial Consultation (60 minutes) is also available so Andrew has more time to assess you properly.

Your first visit starts with a comprehensive assessment of your medical history, lifestyle, and the reason for your visit, followed by a physical examination of your range of motion, strength, joint mobility and posture. From there, Andrew sets treatment goals with you and builds a customised treatment plan, which may include hands-on techniques (deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping) and electrotherapy (shockwave, TENS, ultrasound) depending on your condition.

Some techniques can cause mild, temporary discomfort — particularly with tight or sensitised tissue — but treatment is monitored throughout and shouldn't be unbearable. It's normal to feel a bit sore for 24-48 hours after a session, especially after your first visit or after new exercises are introduced, but physiotherapy doesn't need to be painful to be effective.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy movement and gives Andrew clear access to assess the area you're being treated for — for example, shorts for a knee or hip issue, or a singlet/loose top for a shoulder or neck issue.

It depends on the severity of your condition and how you respond to treatment. Most patients start with more frequent visits and gradually reduce frequency as they improve — Andrew will discuss expected duration and frequency with you at your first appointment.

Bring any relevant scans, imaging or specialist reports you have, a list of current medications, and wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being assessed.

An Initial Consultation & Examination (30 minutes) is $125.00, a Standard Consultation (30 minutes) is $115.00, and an Extended Initial Consultation (60 minutes) is $215.00.

Fees are due and payable on the day of service. This keeps our billing simple and lets us pass the savings on bookkeeping costs on to our patients.

We waive all fees for cancelled or changed appointments if you give us at least 24 hours' notice. We also send SMS appointment reminders the day before as a courtesy.

Yes. We offer HICAPS on-the-spot claiming, so if you have private health cover with an eligible extras policy, your claim is processed electronically at the time of your appointment — you only pay the gap, with no need to wait for reimbursement. Funds we regularly process claims for include Medibank, Bupa, HCF, HIF and nib, among others.

It depends entirely on your fund and policy — some pay a fixed dollar amount per session (for example, $45), others a percentage (for example, 70%), often up to an annual limit such as $600. There's usually also a waiting period of around two months for extras cover on a new policy. Check with your specific fund for your exact rebate, but our HICAPS terminal will apply whatever you're eligible for automatically at checkout.

Yes — up to 5 allied health visits a year under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) if you have a chronic condition lasting 6 months or more. Your GP prepares the plan and referral; you pay the full fee on the day and we submit your claim to Medicare online at the same time, with your rebate paid directly to your bank account. See our full guide to Medicare rebates for physiotherapy for the details.

Yes. DVA Gold cardholders are covered for any condition, while White cardholders are covered for their specified conditions. You'll need a referral from your GP, medical specialist, or treating hospital doctor lodged before we can bulk bill your DVA consultations.

Yes, once your WorkCover claim has been accepted. You pay the full consultation fee on the day and we submit your claim to your WorkSafe insurer at the same time, with your rebate paid to your bank account. You'll need to have notified your employer of the injury (within 30 days), obtained a Certificate of Capacity from your GP, and lodged a claim with your employer's WorkSafe insurer. Call us to discuss your claim details before your first visit.

Yes, once your claim is accepted. If you've been injured in a Victorian transport accident — as a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian — the TAC can cover your physiotherapy regardless of fault. You pay the full consultation fee on the day and we submit your claim to the TAC at the same time, with your rebate paid to your bank account. Treatment in the first 90 days after your accident is generally covered without needing separate approval; after that, an Allied Health Treatment and Recovery Plan is required. Get in touch and we can talk through where you're up to with your claim.

Andrew treats a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain, sciatica, headaches and migraines, dizziness, sports injuries, respiratory issues, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and TMJ (jaw) dysfunction — along with common issues like tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries, ligament and meniscal injuries, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, and post-operative recovery. See the full list of conditions we treat for more.

Andrew combines hands-on manual therapy — deep soft tissue work, trigger point therapy, fascia distortion release techniques — cupping and dry needling, with modern electrotherapy including shockwave therapy and TENS and ultrasound, along with prescribed exercise rehabilitation programs. See our full list of services for details on each.

We're at 3/66 Melville Road, Brunswick West VIC 3055 — about 7km from the Melbourne CBD, between Victoria and Hope Streets.

Yes, parking is usually easy right in front of the clinic. Restrictions only apply between 7:00am and 9:00am on weekday mornings — we open at 8:45am, so this generally isn't an issue.

We're open Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 7:00pm, and Saturday, 8:45am to 4:00pm.

Yes — many of our patients travel from nearby Brunswick, Coburg, Moonee Ponds and Pascoe Vale, as we're only a short drive or tram ride from those suburbs.