As primary health care practitioners, you do not need a referral from a GP to see an Osteopath. However, you will require a referral if you wish to make an appointment that relates to Workers Compensation, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) patients. ​ We also treat TAC patients who have a valid claim number.

You do not need private health insurance to see an Osteopath, however if you are covered by private health insurance with extras cover - you are eligible to claim back a partial rebate through your health insurance provider. Please note, the rebate amount varies between providers and level of cover. At Whole Health Osteopathy, we offer HICAPS on-site meaning you are able to claim on the spot for your treatment through private health and Medicare. Just make sure you bring along your private health insurance membership card and other documents.

Most osteopathic treatment is manual therapy and should not cause undue discomfort. If your injuries do require hands-on treatment of painful and tender areas, our osteopaths aim to make you as comfortable as possible. There are techniques which may cause some short-term discomfort or pain. You may experience mild soreness for a day or two after treatment, like that felt after mild exercise. If this soreness persists or increases significantly, please call our team at Whole Health Osteopathy to discuss your concerns.

If you have not visited Whole Health Osteopathy before, or seen another Osteopath in the past, it's good to familiarise yourself with your upcoming appointment. A new patient appointment takes between 45-60 minutes. During this initial appointment, your osteopath will ask you questions relating to your medical history to assist in discussing treatment options. Under the law, an Osteopath needs to obtain your consent to treat you, so you may be asked to sign an ‘informed consent’ form You can withdraw your consent at any time. We recommend you bring along any X-rays, scans, or relevant test results that you may have. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for your first appointment, as you will need to familiarise yourself with the suite and you may have some consent forms to sign. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing for your appointment.

At Whole Health Osteopathy, our osteopaths start off with a short consultation prior to treatment. In this consultation, we will record your current and past medical history, current areas of concern and symptoms, as well as any medication you are taking and other factors that may not appear to be directly related to your problem. Our osteo’s will then communicate the treatment plan with you, and in some cases, may need to refer you on. ​ We will then conduct an examination and relevant clinical tests. These include diagnostic, orthopaedic, or neurological tests, postural assessments and activities or exercises, which determine how best to manage your condition. The examination may include passive and active movements. The osteopath may lift your arms or legs and you may be asked to bend over or stand in your underwear. Be sure to wear comfortable, flexible, and appropriate underwear. Once your treatment plan has been explained to you, you can chose to move ahead with treatment by providing your osteopath with informed consent. Informed consent can be withdrawn at any point during treatment. All Consent forms will be signed in the treatment room once treatment has been explained. Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach to assessment and treatment. Your osteopath may look at the area that is troubling you as well as other parts of your body. For example, if you have a sore knee, your osteopath may also look at your ankle, pelvis and back. Treatment can involve a variety of techniques – including soft tissue massage, muscle techniques, joint articulation, mobilisation or manipulation, or dry needling. We may also provide education and advice to help you manage your condition between treatments. This may include giving you exercises to do at home or work.

It is important you inform your osteopath if your medical condition changes over time. This includes any new injuries or change of medications.

Depending on the area of your body requiring treatment, your osteopath may ask you to undress to your underwear. We can provide you with a modesty gown, however you will always be comfortably draped with towels. Depending on your comfort level, you can wear shorts and a singlet to allow for maximum hands-on treatment and observation. If you wear a bra, please wear one that we are able to un-do your clasp at the back to access the maximum amount of skin.

Yes, absolutely! The same way in which you would attend a GP with your partner or relative, Whole Health Osteo allow patients to have someone present throughout your consultation and treatment.

This depends on your condition. Generally, you would expect to see some changes in your symptoms after one or two visits. Long term or chronic conditions may require more treatment. Your osteopath will discuss your prognosis and treatment plan with you.