INFORMATION FOR REFErRERS

Clinical assessment and treatment guided by the latest evidence

Referring to Fairfield Osteopathic Clinic

We'd like to make this as easy as possible.

Fairfield Osteopathic Clinic has been serving the inner north since 2004. We work with a wide range of GPs, maternal and child health nurses, paediatricians, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals, and we take the referral relationship seriously. Your patients will be well looked after, and you'll hear from us.

Phone: 03 9489 0981 Fax: 03 9482 7300
Email: info@fairfieldosteo.com.au
Address: 298A Station Street, Fairfield VIC 3078

Funding and referral pathways

Medicare — Chronic Disease Management Plan (Team Care Arrangement) We accept TCA referrals and aim to confirm receipt by fax on the day. Patients access up to five consultations with a Medicare rebate of $61.80. We have the privilege of spending up to 60 minutes for an initial consultations and 30 minutes for any subsequent consultations.  Unfortunately, this means we cannot bulk bill for EPC referrals. Please view our schedule of fees page to see what the cost gap will be for your patients.

TAC — We bulk bill TAC patients directly. No gap for the patient.

WorkSafe Victoria — Registered provider.

Department of Veterans' Affairs — Registered provider.

Private health insurance — Rebates available through most funds.

What your patients can expect

An initial consultation of up to 60 minutes, thorough history, physical assessment, clear explanation of findings, and a treatment plan that combines hands-on care with education and practical advice. We don't just treat the presenting complaint; we make sure patients leave understanding what's driving it.

What you can expect from us

A written report following assessment, prompt communication if we have clinical concerns, and a direct referral elsewhere if something falls outside our scope. We're collaborative by nature and maintain close relationships with neurologists, paediatricians, OTs, lactation consultants and MCH nurses.

Who we see and who to refer to

Six practitioners with broad and complementary special interests across the full lifespan.

Mark Cooper — Persistent and complex pain, sports injuries, rehabilitation. 19 years in practice.

Angie Bruce — Pain science, women's health, paediatrics. 19 years in practice.

Paula — Complex presentations, visceral and digestive complaints, hormonal disturbances, trauma recovery, paediatrics. Nearly 30 years in practice. Post-graduate trained in biodynamics.

Lucy — Paediatrics and infants, women's health, pregnancy, pelvic pain, hypermobility. Trauma-informed.

Callan — Tendon conditions, sporting injuries, aged care.

Sarah — Aged care, mobility, sports injury.

[View full practitioner profiles]

Conditions commonly referred

Musculoskeletal pain, persistent pain, headaches, TMJ, BPPV and dizziness, concussion, nerve entrapment, pregnancy and postpartum, pelvic pain, infant feeding and unsettledness, developmental concerns, perimenopause and menopause, aged care and mobility.

The science of pain and how we treat it has changed significantly in the last decade. We read, we question, and we keep up, because it changes how we treat people, and that matters.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

New to osteopathy?

If you’ve never seen an osteopath before, your first appointment with Fairfield Osteopathic Clinic will focus on understanding what’s really contributing to your problem.

We take a thorough history, assess how you move, listen to how and what you are experiencing, then discuss treatment options using then discuss treatment options using plain language — no jargon, no mystery. You'll leave your first appointment with a clear picture of what's going on, what we think will help, and what to expect next.

Our job is simple: help you get better,
move freely, and not need us anymore.


  • You don't need a referral to see an osteopath, remedial massage therapist, or acupuncturist. However, if you are seeing us under a "Chronic Disease Management Plan or Enhanced Primary Care Plan" through Medicare, your GP practice must provide an appropriate referral.

  • Medicare rebates are only available when referred through the "Chronic Disease Management Plan or ENhanced Primary Care Plan," which your GP practice arranges. The current Medicare rebate for these services is $61.80 and is only available when seeing an osteopath. 

    Appointments are not Bulk Billed at our practice. All osteopathic appointments involve an out-of-pocket expense.

  • Our practitioners are registered with most major health funds. If your private health insurance level allows, you can claim your rebate at the time of your appointment through our HICAPS terminal. Alternatively, we can provide paid invoices, which you may use to claim manually through your health insurer's website patient portal.

  • Every patient's case is different. For the most part practitioners will only need to see you a handful of times to get you back up and running (so to speak). Your practitioner will discuss timeframes and prognosis with you. 

  • Osteopathy is one of the longest standing manual therapy professions. Your University qualified practitioners are skilled at performing a thorough case history, examination, hands on treatment, as well as providing exercise and rehabilitation advice. In short, osteopathy is right for most people. We take into account every person's cultural background, religious beliefs, personal preferences as treating practitioners. However, hands on examination and treatment techniques are necessary to address most presenting complaints.

  • We treat people across the lifespan. From babies to the elderly, everyone can benefit from osteopathy. 

    Techniques will vary depending on age and the physical presentation. 

  • Generally, it is a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothing to osteopathic appointments. We will often require you to remove garments, down to your underwear, so we can examine and treat you appropriately. Gowns are provided for modesty purposes but are open at the back. Towels are also used for draping purposes when lying on the treatment tables.

  • Bring along all medical imaging results or reports, as well as any other medical reports from specialists that are relevant to your presenting complaint.

  • Osteopathy is grounded in biomedical science and focuses on the muscular and nervous systems — assessing how the structure of the body affects its function. If your pelvis is influencing the way you move, we're interested in that, not just the place that hurts. Treatment is shaped by the patient as much as the condition, drawing on hands-on techniques, exercise and postural advice, always informed by the best available research evidence.

    Curious about how Osteopathy compares to other manual therapies?This article from The Conversation is a good place to start.

Fairfield Osteopathic Clinic also offers remedial massage and acupuncture.

Evidence-informed osteopathy in Fairfield for back pain, injury and movement problems. Clear assessment, honest advice and modern clinical care. Book online.