Physiotherapy

Referrals

You do not require a referral to attend our practice unless you are claiming medicare or DVA rebates (see information in fees section regarding medicare rebates).

Appointment Duration 

A one hour appointment is required for an initial appointment and subsequent treatments will be half an hour.

Appointment Bookings

You can contact us via phone or email to book an appointment or book online via our website.

What To Wear To Your Appointment

Loose, comfortable clothing that allows access to the body area requiring treatment is most suitable.

Initial Appointment

Your Physiotherapist will take a full history and examine the area of concern in order to develop a treatment plan. 

Useful Things To Bring 

Please bring any referrals or relevant x-rays or scan results for the treatment areas.

 B. Physiotherapy (Hons) 

Katie is a Physiotherapist who has experience working with adults, children and teenagers, treating a wide range of issues including  chronic pain, neurological conditions, upper and lower limb disabilities, arthritis, functional mobility issues, joint hypermobility, gross motor delays and balance and coordination issues.  

Katie has experience working in a range of different settings including aged care facilities where she assisted patients with falls prevention, pain management, rehabilitation programs, mobility prescription as well as facilitating staff manual handling training. Katie also has experience working in private practice and in the community treating patients with complex mental and physical disabilities.

Katie has a special interest in studying and treating connective tissue disorders, in particular Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (HEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD). 

Katie also has a keen interest in pain science and delivering evidence-based treatment to help her patients achieve the best possible outcomes for  understanding and recovering from chronic pain.

Katie is a fully qualified member of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). Katie has a passion for assisting her patients to achieve their goals through the use of active treatment methods with the aim of empowering patients to  achieve their full potential. At New Ability Health you will be provided with a better understanding of the cause of your issue and given the tools that you need to move well and enjoy life.

In terms of sporting activities Katie is a very passionate (very amateur!) snow skier who also enjoys kickboxing for fun and fitness.

These are some of the conditions that we treat. If your condition is not listed please contact us and we can discuss whether we are able to help you.

• Chronic Pain 
• Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (HEDS)
• Falls prevention
• Post-surgery rehabiliation
• Decreased mobility 
• Shoulder pain
• Neck and back pain
• Knee pain
• Balance and coordination issues
• General deconditioning and reduced exercise tolerance

Fees

Initial Consultation: $95.00 - 1 hour duration.

Follow-up appointments: $80 - 1/2 hour duration.

For your convenience we can accept cash, credit card or debit card payments.

Medicare Rebates 

If you have a chronic medical condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or longer (Eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions or stroke) you may be entitled to receive a medicare rebate for a maximum of five Physiotherapy sessions per calendar year under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan.

If you have a GP referral and a team care arrangement you will be entitled to a medicare rebate ($52.95) which covers a portion of the appointment fee, although you will still be required to pay a ‘gap’ fee. Your rebate can be deposited directly back into your bank account immediately following payment of your appointment fee.

Please contact your GP to discuss eligibility and to arrange a CDM plan.

Private Health Insurance 

Our staff are registered with most major health funds. Many private health funds offer rebates for physiotherapy services. Please check with your private health insurance provider to see if you are eligible to claim for physiotherapy services.

Our Cancellation Policy 

We require 24 hours notice if you are unable to attend your appointment. We will send reminders by text and telephone call to assist you to remember your appointment. If you fail to attend a scheduled appointment or if you give less than 24 hours notice that you are unable to attend your appointment – you will be charged $50 cancellation fee to cover our operating costs and loss of revenue due to the session being vacant. This cancellation fee applies to all clients. 

If you wish to re-book following a missed appointment (not attended or cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice) we will require the cancellation fee to be paid prior to the appointment being re-booked. 

We also offer a mobile Physiotherapy service in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area.

At New Ability Health, we understand that it is difficult for some patients to attend an appointment in the clinic and sometimes it is more appropriate to provide Physiotherapy assessments and treatments in the comfort of a patient's own home or residential aged care facility.

Contact us to discuss whether this service will be appropriate for you or to find out whether we are able to service your specific area.