Barwon Health Physiotherapy provides specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people to gain as much movement and physical independence as possible.

Conditions seen

Physiotherapy specialist services are primarily provided via the following specialist clinics:

Conditions not seen

Barwon Health Physiotherapy Specialist Clinics do not accept referrals for the following conditions:

  • Delivering passive treatments such as massage, dry needling and electrotherapy

For information regarding other Physiotherapy services available within Barwon Health please refer to the following pages:

How do I access this service?

To be seen in the physiotherapy specialist clinics, you need to be referred by your GP, a specialist doctor, a Barwon Health clinician or by a community healthcare provider.

We are unable to see you in our clinics without a referral.

Appointment timeframe

All requests for specialist clinic appointments are scheduled according to the patient’s clinical need. Clinicians assess whether an appointment is urgent or routine, based on information provided in the referral.

Barwon Health aims to offer a first appointment within 30 days to all patients with urgent problems. Patients with routine (non-urgent) problems are offered appointments as they become available.

The estimated waiting time for routine (non-urgent) first appointments is listed below as a general guide. This waiting time is reviewed and updated regularly.

Speciality
Estimated timeframe

Physiotherapy Clinic

1 - 3 months

For Health Professionals

State-referral criteria may apply for conditions under this specialty requiring further assessment and management. Referring clinicians are encouraged to utilise Western Victoria Community HealthPathways for referral guidelines and requirements for all conditions.

For urgent referral advice, please contact the Allied Health Office on 03 4215 0826.

Adult referrals: External referrers should refer suitable conditions to the appropriate Specialist Clinic at Barwon Health (see links above).

For general musculoskeletal issues, referrals should be directed to Community Health via the Information and Access Service ([email protected]).

Paediatric referrals: Please complete the Paediatric Physiotherapy Referral form and send via:

  • ReferralNet
  • Fax: 03 4215 0833

Adult referrals: Please see the relevant Specialist Clinic page for information on referral templates for those services.

Paediatric referrals: Please complete the Paediatric Physiotherapy Referral form, ensuring all required referral information is included.

For patients who require reassessment, a new referral should be sent through. To facilitate earlier access, the new referral must contain the following information:

  • State the referral is an update for a current patient
  • Date of original referral
  • Reason for requesting a review of referral (e.g. deterioration in clinical condition, pathology)

The referrer will be notified of the outcome of the re-triage process.

GPs or referring clinicians wishing to discuss the triage of their patient’s referral, or who require additional information, please ring the Allied Health Office on 03 4215 0826. 

Page last updated: January 20, 2026