Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the frequently asked questions section of our website. We have endeavored to provide information for any questions you may have.
Remember, feel free to contact us with any of your questions.
General/Fee Questions
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What Parking do you have?
At Beachbox Seaford, not only do we have a major car park off Chapman Street, we also have a dedicated car park off Chapman Street.
Do you have HICAPS facilities?
Yes, you are able to claim a rebate from your health fund via the HICAPS system if you bring your current health fund card and have extras cover that includes the service you used. Please note that a ‘gap’ fee may be payable depending on your level of cover.
Am I covered by Medicare?
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Dietitian services are available for all patients referred under the Medicare Care plan program. These services are eligible to be bulk billed if your medicare care plan is current. If you are at all unsure if your care plan is current, please call Medicare to confirm prior to your appointment.
Am I covered by the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)?
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Dietitian services are available for all Department of Veterans Affairs patients who hold a Gold Card. A referral is required from your General Practitioner.
Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Dietitian services are available for all Department of Veterans Affairs patients who hold a White Card, as long as the appointment relates to the injury covered under the white card. A referral is required from your General Practitioner.
Am I covered by Workcover?
Physiotherapy and Podiatry are primary care providers. This means that a referral to physiotherapy or podiatry is not required as long as the Workcover claim is current/open and accepted.* However, a referral is encouraged as it allows better communication between practitioners and to better provide the necessary details of the injury.
Acupuncture, Remedial Massage and Dietitian services are available under Workcover, however, a referral and prior approval of appointments is required before attending your initial appointment.
*Please discuss your claim details with your employer or insurer and bring all necessary paperwork (claim number, Employer, Insurer, date of injury) to your initial appointment.
Am I covered by the Transport Accident Commission?
Physiotherapy and Podiatry are primary care providers. This means that a referral to physiotherapy or podiatry is not required as long as the TAC claim is current/open and accepted.* However, a referral is encouraged as it allows better communication between practitioners and to better provide the necessary details of the injury.
Acupuncture, Remedial Massage and Dietitian services are available under TAC, however, a referral and prior approval of appointments is required before attending your initial appointment.
*Please discuss your claim details with your employer or insurer and bring all necessary paperwork (claim number, insurer, date of injury) to your initial appointment.
Is Podiatry covered by Private Health Insurance?
Yes. Private health funds in Australia cover podiatry, however it depends on your level of cover. You will need to contact your health fund to see what benefits and level of cover you are entitled to. Our HICAPS facility allows you to claim directly from your private health fund at the time of your visit.
Do I need a GP referral to see the podiatrist?
If you are a private patient you do not need a referral. However, you will require a referral from a qualifying health professional in the following circumstances:
- If you wish to claim the treatment through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- If you wish to claim the treatment through workcover.
- If you are a patient on a Medicare Enhanced Primary Care plan
Do you have online booking?
Yes. We offer online bookings. Please click here to access our online booking page.
Do you have an app?
Yes. We are happy to offer apps for Android and Apple iOS. Please click on links below to download.
Our Services
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What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and works to prevent disease and disability through physical means. Physiotherapists are experts in movement, function and work in partnership with their patients, assisting them to overcome movement disorders. These disorders may have been present from birth, acquired through accident or injury, are the result of ageing, or from life-changing events.
What should you expect from your Physiotherapist?
At your first consultation, the physiotherapist takes a detailed medical history, including information about your lifestyle, such as your level of physical activity, your work environment and your diet, as well as any relevant past medical history. The physiotherapist is just as interested in what is causing your problem, as much as the effect the problem is having on your health. For example, is your shoulder condition caused by a rotator cuff lesion be due to hours spent each day at a desk in front of your computer? but there may be another cause, such as referred pain from a tight muscle in the neck? By understanding the cause of your problem, the physiotherapist will decide on a physiotherapy program which addresses it.
After your history has been taken the physiotherapist examines how you move. You may be asked to remove some of your clothing (it is helpful if you are able to attend the visit in gym clothes) and perform a series of simple movements. The physiotherapist will assess your mobility by observing your range of movement and by gently feeling your spine, shoulders and muscles as you perform the movements.
It should be noted that our physiotherapists are trained to recognise when physiotherapy won’t help you and when to refer you to a doctor. Our physiotherapists will not begin your treatment until they believe they fully understand your condition and what can be done to help.
Our physiotherapists are also able to arrange X-rays or MRI scans if they are required. If you have pre-existing scans or x-rays then please bring them to your consultation.
Your treatment will generally consist of one or several of the following:
- mobilisation
- manipulation
- functional and rehabilitative exercises/Pilates based exercise
- postural assessment, correction and advice
- laser, ultrasound, electro-therapy and heat treatment; and
- massage
How many times should I see the Physiotherapist?
The frequency and duration of treatment is entirely dependent on the type and severity of the injury. Some clients only need to see a physiotherapist once and others will require long term rehabilitation.
Do Physiotherapists ‘crack’ your neck or back?
Physiotherapists are qualified and experienced in neck or back manipulation, however at Beachbox Physiotherapy we use them sparingly. We prefer a program of mobilisations (deep massage) and exercises to achieve the same effect.
If a manipulation is required, then this will be fully explained prior to conducting the treatment.
What apparatus does the Group Physio use?
The Group Physio method seeks to develop controlled movement from a strong core and it does this by using a range of apparatus to guide and train the body.
Each piece of apparatus has its own repertoire of exercises and most of the exercises done on the various pieces of Group Physio apparatus are resistance training since they make use of springs to provide additional resistance. Using springs results in “progressive resistance”, meaning the resistance increases as the spring is stretched. The most widely used piece of apparatus, and probably the most important, is the Reformer, but other apparatus used in a Group Physio studio include the Cadillac (also called the Trapeze Table), the high (or electric) chair, the Wunda Chair, the baby Chair, and the Ladder Barrel, the Spine Corrector (Step Barrel) and small barrel.
What should I bring to my Podiatry Appointment?
If you have been referred to the podiatrist, please bring your referral letter.
In addition, any medical records and relevant scans such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI’s etc should also be shown to the podiatrist. It can also be helpful to bring in shoes that you commonly wear, so they can be examined for wear and suitability. Also, any existing inner soles or orthotics should be brought in.
Shorts are also preferred as they allow the Podiatrist to check the foot, ankle, knee and leg when completing the examination.
What should I expect from a sports injury consultation?
You should expect the following:
- Discussion of your injury / sporting history
- Physical Examination of the injured area including range of movement and strength.
- Expert hands on treatment.
- Exercise prescription of remedial exercises.
What do dietitians do?
Dietitians work across many different fields, including:
- Patient care in hospitals and nursing homes
- Community nutrition and public health
- Consultancy and private practice
- Food service management
- Food and medical nutrition industries
- Public relations
- Marketing and communications
- Government
- Research and teaching.
What should I expect from a session with a dietitian?
The initial consultation may run for around 30 minutes. The dietitian will ask detailed questions about your current diet, exercise habits, general health and lifestyle. These questions allow the dietitian to tailor an individual eating plan for you.
If you have a specific medical problem and have been referred to a dietitian by your doctor, the dietitian will work in close consultation with your doctor and may review blood and other test results to devise a suitable diet. You may be given written materials to take home and read.
Follow-up appointments allow the dietitian to keep track of your progress and fine-tune your eating plan. The dietitian’s ultimate aim is to educate you on how to eat in a way that will keep you healthy, so that you can choose the best food on your own.
What are Accredited Practicing Dietitians and Accredited Nutritionists?
Accredited Practising Dietitians (APD) have university qualifications gained from courses accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). They undertake ongoing training and education, and meet the Association’s guidelines for evidence-based practice.
Accredited nutritionists (AN) are tertiary-qualified nutrition professionals who have expertise in a range of nutrition services. These may include areas such as community and public health nutrition, nutrition research and education related to nutrition, but they have no qualifications in individual dietary counselling, group dietary therapy or medical nutrition therapy. Depending on their area of work, some dietitians call themselves nutritionists. All accredited practicing dietitians (APDs) are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are APDs.