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FAQs

faq

 

Physiotherapy, Massage & Podiatry

You may book an appointment online, or feel free to give us a call at the studio on 9650 2220.

Ideally, wear loose and comfortable clothing. Depending on the treatment, your physio/ massage therapist may require you to remove a layer of clothing. If possible, wear shorts if you have a lower limb injury, and your gym shoes, or a singlet for a shoulder injury. (But don’t worry if you forget—we have shorts and singlets available to borrow in the clinic.)

We do not bulk bill for physiotherapy services. You will be required to pay the full fee at the time of your appointment, or a GAP payment if you have private health cover for physio. Please bring your private health fund card with you if you wish to claim on the day of your appointment.

Yes, we do. Please bring your private health fund card to your appointment. If you do not have access to your private health fund card on the day, we will provide you with a receipt so you can claim your rebate.

No, a doctor’s referral is not required for a private consultation. However, if you do have a GP or specialist referral it is a good idea to bring it along to your first appointment, along with any scans or investigations (XRAY, CT, MRI, Ultrasound). Please note, a referral is required for worker’s compensation and TAC patients. 

Yes, we do. Please bring your GP referral and provide your claim number and the contact details of the case manager at your insurance company. If you have any queries, please call reception.

You will receive a reminder SMS the day before your appointment. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please be aware that as a rule we require 24 hours’ notice. Please call us at your earliest convenience on 9650 2220, or email reception@thealignmentstudio.com.au during office hours. Cancellations made on the day of your appointment will incur a cancellation fee.


Chronic Disease Management Scheme

Yes, you must bring your GP Management Plan to your appointment to claim a Medicare rebate.

Under the initiative, you will receive a Medicare rebate on a total of five allied health provider services per year. These may be divided between providers as you and your GP see fit.

Medicare currently offers a rebate of $53.80 for all services included in the scheme. You will need to pay your full account to us at the time of treatment. If you have your bank account and Medicare accounts linked we can process your rebate for you on the spot through our HICAPS terminal. (Note: we do not bulk bill, so there will be a GAP payment—please call us to discuss further.) If your accounts are not linked, you can take your receipt to claim your rebate at a Medicare office.

Chronic medical conditions are those that have been present for longer than six months and need careful management, such as musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. To qualify, you will need to see your GP who, after assessing your situation, may provide you with a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements to best manage your condition.

If you have a chronic condition or illness, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for your physiotherapy or podiatry treatment. Under the Government’s Chronic Disease Management scheme (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC), certain individuals are entitled to a Medicare rebate for a total of five allied health provider visits each calendar year. Physiotherapy and podiatry are among the services included in this scheme. (All the providers at The Alignment Studio are eligible and registered with Medicare.)


Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy

In both men and women, assessment usually includes a pelvic floor examination at the client’s first or second visit. This may take the form of a perineal (external) or internal examination. Internal examinations are done discretely and only with the client’s informed consent.

Pelvic health physiotherapists work closely with referring doctors, GPs and specialists, psychologists and dieticians to improve your health and wellbeing. While a doctor’s referral is not necessary to see a pelvic health physiotherapist, it can be useful in clients who are 50 years and over, or who have complex medical backgrounds.

All patients should also bring a list of current medications, including dosages, copies of relevant reports, scans and investigations, and details of previous surgery.


Pilates & Clinical Pilates (Rehab)

As a boutique studio, we keep our classes small and intimate, with a maximum of 3 participants in Studio and Clinical Pilates and 4 in Express Reformer. This allows our instructors to provide personalised attention and individual adjustments. Ensuring you’re safe, supported and sufficiently challenged as you recover from injury or work towards your fitness goals.

You can book a class online or by calling us at the studio on 9650 2220.

To book your spot in a class at The Alignment Studio, you will need to prepay the casual class fee, or have a pre-purchased pack. You can purchase classes online, or by calling/visiting the studio. Please ask at reception if you have any questions.

Sure! You can add yourself to our waitlist by calling the studio. Should a spot become available, you’ll receive a notification via text, email or phone call (depending on your alert preferences). Note: There are limited spots available on our waitlists. As a courtesy to others who may wish to attend a full class, please remove yourself from a waitlist if you no longer require the spot. Note that once you have been removed from a waitlist and added to a class, cancellation guidelines apply.

No. As a boutique studio and clinic, we do not have a shower, bathroom or changing facilities on site. Please arrive in your workout gear. Should you need toilets, there are facilities located within Collins Place.

In almost all cases, yes. At The Alignment Studio, we believe regular movement enhances your recovery. We therefore pride ourselves on having created a safe and supportive environment for individuals of all levels of fitness and physical capability to achieve their goals. We are also passionate about utilising exercise to improve the physical and mental health of those with chronic illness. Call us on 9650 2220 to discuss your situation, and we’ll recommend the class or program that’s right for you.

Pilates is one of the most beneficial forms of pre and postnatal exercise! However, please speak to your doctor first, and alert your instructor/physiotherapist to your situation as adjustments may need to be made. In some cases, an initial one-on-one assessment may be required.

Yes—if your private health insurance policy includes cover for physiotherapy you can claim for these exercise-based sessions. Rebates will differ depending on your policy, so please speak to your insurer.

PLEASE NOTE, for claiming purposes all Clinical Pilates classes with 2-3 participants are classified as Group Physiotherapy consultations (HICAPS code 560) according to the following criteria.

  • A pre-intervention assessment is conducted by a physiotherapist (your initial assessment)
  • The class program is tailored to your individual needs
  • Clinical record keeping is maintained (our staff record notes at each session)
  • The session is taken by a physiotherapist
  • A re-assessment occurs regularly based on the physiotherapist’s clinical judgement
  • The Group class has a maximum of 5 participants

No. Under new reforms to natural therapies cover, Pilates is excluded from all private health insurance policies. Therefore, you will no longer be able to claim for any Reformer or Studio Pilates services (including those taken by a physiotherapist). 

Our QuickStart Clinical Pilates Program is designed to get your rehabilitation underway and facilitate your transition into our group Clinical Pilates classes. It includes up to three one-on-one sessions with a physiotherapist, starting with a discussion about your injury history and comprehensive assessment of your movement mechanics. Real-time ultrasound may also be used to provide visual feedback around core muscle activation.

An individual rehab program will then be created by your physiotherapist and you’ll be introduced to a range of Pilates equipment. After completing these one-on-one sessions, many clients choose to move into our more economical small group classes. Here they continue with their individual program under clinical supervision. Regular reassessments are required to remain in the group physiotherapy/ Clinical Pilates program and to claim on private health.

For Pilates and group physiotherapy, wear comfortable, stretchy or loose clothes that allow you to move freely. For example, a t-shirt/ tank and leggings/shorts. (You may want to wear a fitted top for modesty during any inverted positions.) Socks must be worn for hygiene reasons. We sell a variety of Grip Socks at reception.

Yes, we have private Pilates classes available, as well as duets. In some instances, new clients and beginners may be required to do a one-on-one session with a physio or instructor. All clients are required to have a full assessment with a physiotherapist before commencing Clinical Pilates.

At The Alignment Studio, we understand that things happen and sometimes the best laid plans go awry. However, we hope you can appreciate that, as our class sizes are small, we require 12-24 hours’ notice if you wish to cancel out of a pre-booked class*.

All of our physiotherapists and Pilates instructors are committed to ensuring each client is fully supported while pursuing their movement goals. It’s for this reason we intentionally keep our class sizes small and intimate. This allows for personalised attention and modification, and helps ensure a safe, effective and enjoyable practice for everyone.

As class spots are limited, we ask that you please cancel within the required cancellation window detailed below. This gives us the greatest chance to fill your spot with a client from our waitlist. It also helps ensure our hard-working staff are remunerated for their efforts (including the huge amount of behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into each class!).

Therefore, please ensure you follow the procedures below for cancellation.

ALL GROUP PILATES CLASSES: Express Reformer, Studio Pilates
Clients are required to cancel 12 or more hours before scheduled class

ALL CLINICAL PILATES CLASSES: Private, duet and group
Clients are required to cancel a full 24 hours before scheduled class

ALL PRIVATE & DUET CLASSES: Clinical Pilates, Studio Pilates
Clients are required to cancel a full 24 hours before scheduled class

* Please note that failure to cancel within these timeframes will result in a client being charged the full class fee/ having the class deducted from a pre-purchased pack, despite non-attendance.

** If you have exceptional circumstances for late cancellation, please call/ email us at your earliest convenience.

Phone/ Email Cancellation

Please call or email within our opening hours:
Monday – Friday | 7am – 7pm
Saturday | 7am – 1pm
9650 2220 | reception@thealignmentstudio.com.au

Please note: We are unable to accept class cancellations made outside of these hours. For Monday morning classes, cancellations must be made the Saturday prior (within opening hours).

Online Cancellation

You may also cancel online through our bookings platform. The same cancellation windows apply.

As a courtesy to other clients and The Alignment Studio staff, please do cancel at your earliest convenience. This allows other clients to be moved from our waitlists into their chosen class.


Integrative Nutrition & Health Coaching

You can book an appointment online, (select the Endless Vitality option), give us a call at the studio on 9650 2220, or call Tara directly on 0403 823 825.

No, a doctor’s referral is not required for a private consultation. However, if you have received a referral, please bring it along.

No. Endless Vitality is not a designated company by insurance providers and as our services are currently considered outside the usual model of healthcare insurance, at this time reimbursements will not be supported.

Please download and complete the Health Assessment, located on the Consultations page on the Endless Vitality website and bring the completed form to your consultation.

You will receive a reminder SMS the day before your appointment. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please be aware we require 24 hours’ notice. Please call us at your earliest convenience on 9650 2220. Failure to do so may result in a cancellation fee.