Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. For patients that are privately insured a referral is not needed. If patients are covered by Workcover / TAC / Veteran Affairs then a referral is required in order to claim through the insurance company. If you are unsure, give our rooms a call and our administrative staff can help you.

• Any x-rays, scans and tests relevant to your injury/condition if you have them
• Your referral if you have one
• If workers compensation, TAC or DVA: claim number and accident and employer details
• Your health fund card

At Melbourne Hand Therapy we have off the shelf brace options for various needs, however our therapists can also fabricate custom thermoplastic splints as well as casts as needed. If you have been referred for a splint or brace, your therapist will need to assess your injury/condition and can then recommend which is better suited for your individual needs. Additionally, they will educate you and provide you with exercises to further assist your recovery.

All therapists at Melbourne Hand Therapy are university-trained physiotherapists or occupational therapists who have completed further training and education in the area of hand and upper limb rehabilitation. We specialise in treating injuries and conditions from the shoulder to the fingers. We regularly receive referrals from local physiotherapists and osteopaths who believe their patient’s conditions are better treated by specialists in the area.

24 hours’ notice is required for all cancellations and failure to do so will result in a $55 cancellation fee. The allocated time has been specifically set aside for your individual treatment and less than 24 hours’ notice often results in an inability to offer this appointment to others.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept, change or cancel appointments via email. To make, change or cancel an appointment please call our friendly receptionists on (03) 9899 8490.

We appreciate the importance of protecting your medical and personal information. You can be assured that all Melbourne Hand Therapy staff have adopted the National Privacy principles in the collection, use and security of this information.

At times, we may need to share your information with other health service providers to ensure good quality health care. It may be necessary to discuss your condition / progress with your referring practitioner / local doctor, or other therapists involved, (which may include work rehabilitation specialists). If you do not wish for any information to be sent to or discussed with other health professionals, please let us know.

Hand Therapy is covered for patients under Workcover / TAC / Veteran affairs with no additional fees.

For private patient costs, please contact our main rooms (on (03) 9899 8490) to discuss specific fees. Any equipment required as part of your rehabilitation, such as splints, theraputty etc. will incur additional charges.

Claiming through your health fund depends on your level of cover. You can contact our reception staff to get the appropriate codes and contact your health fund directly to find out how much you may claim. In our main clinics, if you are covered, we can claim through your health fund on the day of the appointment.

Medicare rebates cover a portion of your occupational therapy and physiotherapy services if your General Practitioner has referred you under the Enhanced Primary Care or Chronic Disease Management Program. This entitles patients to claim up to 5 allied health visits per year for those suffering chronic or longstanding conditions. To be covered for this plan, you will need to bring your documentation to your session so our reception staff can process your rebate.

For all enquiries and appointments, please contact our main rooms on (03) 9899 8490.