We understand you may have questions before your first appointment. Below you’ll find answers to the questions we’re asked most often.
No. You do not need a referral if you are attending as a private patient.
A valid referral is required if your treatment is being funded through Medicare, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), WorkCover, compulsory third-party insurance or another third-party organisation.
Yes. Far North Physiotherapy bulk bills eligible patients who have a valid referral from their GP under a:
Bulk billed appointments are available with participating physiotherapists. Please let our reception team know about your referral when booking so we can schedule the correct appointment type.
Medicare limits the number of eligible allied health services available each calendar year. These services may be shared between physiotherapy and other allied health providers. Patients are responsible for keeping track of the number of Medicare-funded services they have used.
Yes. We welcome eligible Department of Veterans’ Affairs patients with a valid DVA referral.
Eligible DVA physiotherapy consultations are billed directly to DVA, with no out-of-pocket consultation cost to the patient. Please bring your current DVA Veteran Card and referral to your first appointment.
DVA treatment cycles generally cover up to 12 sessions or 12 months, whichever comes first. A new referral will be required if further treatment is recommended.
Yes. If your policy includes physiotherapy cover, we can process your claim on the spot through HICAPS. You’ll only need to pay any remaining gap.
Rebates vary between health funds and levels of cover. We recommend contacting your health fund directly if you’d like to confirm your rebate before attending.
Yes. We treat patients with workplace injuries and injuries covered through relevant insurance schemes.
Please bring your claim number, Work Capacity Certificate and any written approval you have received. If your claim has not been accepted or the insurer declines payment, you may be responsible for the cost of your appointments and any supplied products.
Yes. We work with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. Far North Physiotherapy is not a registered NDIS provider, so we are unable to see participants whose funding is NDIA-managed.
Please contact our reception team before booking so we can discuss your needs and any required service agreement or funding information.
Yes. Far North Physiotherapy can provide physiotherapy through the Support at Home program, formerly known as the Home Care Packages Program, when treatment is included in your care plan and approved by your registered aged care provider.
Although Far North Physiotherapy is not a registered aged care provider, we may provide treatment as an associated provider under an arrangement with your aged care provider.
Before booking, please speak with your care partner or aged care provider to confirm that physiotherapy is included in your care plan and funding has been approved. Your provider may need to set up a service agreement with our clinic before treatment begins. Our reception team can help with the required paperwork and invoicing arrangements.
Please note that the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is currently separate from Support at Home, and Far North Physiotherapy is not able to provide CHSP-funded services at this time.
Our physiotherapists assess and treat a wide range of conditions, including:
If you’re unsure whether physiotherapy is right for your condition, please contact our reception team.
Your physiotherapist will start by discussing your symptoms, medical history, activities and treatment goals. They will then do a thorough physical assessment to help identify the factors contributing to your condition.
Your physiotherapist will explain their findings and work with you to develop an individual treatment and rehabilitation plan. Treatment may begin during your first appointment where appropriate.
Please bring anything relevant to your condition, including:
You don’t need to arrange imaging before attending unless it has been recommended by your doctor or specialist.
Wear comfortable clothing that lets you move easily and gives your physiotherapist access to the area being assessed.
For example, shorts are helpful for hip, knee, ankle or lower-limb concerns. A singlet or loose-fitting shirt is helpful for neck, shoulder or upper-limb assessments.
Most initial and follow-up physiotherapy appointments are 30 minutes. If you’d like your physiotherapist to assess or treat more than one problem area, we recommend booking a longer 60-minute consultation to allow enough time.
Longer consultations are also available for complex presentations or when additional assessment and treatment time is required.
Bulk billed appointments are scheduled for approximately 30 minutes, in line with the relevant Medicare program, which requires a minimum consultation time of 20 minutes. Long consultations are not covered under these arrangements, and two Medicare-funded sessions cannot be combined to create a longer appointment.
If you need additional time, you can book a private 30-minute consultation immediately after your bulk billed appointment. The additional consultation is charged at our standard private fee and is subject to availability.
The number of appointments varies depending on your condition, how long you’ve had it, your goals and how you respond to treatment.
Following your assessment, your physiotherapist will discuss their recommendations with you. Your treatment plan will be reviewed regularly and adjusted according to your progress.
Treatment is tailored to your individual needs and may include:
Our focus is on helping you understand your condition, improve your function and work towards your goals.
Your physiotherapist may provide a personalised home exercise program to support your recovery. Completing your exercises as recommended helps you maintain progress between appointments.
Your program will be reviewed and progressed as your strength, movement and symptoms improve.
Yes. We offer individual hydrotherapy appointments at Tobruk Memorial Pool when clinically appropriate. Availability is limited, so we recommend contacting our reception team early to ask about available times.
Hydrotherapy may assist with rehabilitation, mobility, strengthening and exercise when land-based activity is difficult or uncomfortable. Pool entry fees are charged separately from the physiotherapy consultation fee.
Yes. You’re welcome to bring a family member, carer, support worker or another support person to your appointment.
We may ask for your consent before discussing personal or clinical information with anyone accompanying you.
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give at least four hours’ notice.
A $50 late-cancellation fee may apply when less than four hours’ notice is given or an appointment is missed. Giving notice allows us to offer the appointment to another patient who may be waiting for care.
Far North Physiotherapy is located at 2/532 Mulgrave Rd, Earlville QLD 4870, inside Barr St Markets.
Please use the Cairns Doctors entrance at Barr St Markets. Our clinic is upstairs, with lift access and onsite parking available.
Yes. Lift access is available to the clinic, and there is onsite parking at Barr St Markets. If you have mobility or access requirements, please let our reception team know before your appointment.
Whether you want to get back to the rugby field, return to running, or just move through your day without that nagging ache in your hip, we can help.
Book your first visit and you’ll leave with a clear diagnosis, an honest assessment of what’s going on, and a practical plan to fix it.
Trusted by the Northern Pride & 5000+ Local Patients.
