What days are you open?

Cobden Physio is open 8:30am to 5:30pm Tuesdays to Fridays. Classes may run outside these times. The reception desk is not attended full-time, but you can leave a message on our phone.

Do I need a referral to see a physio?

No. You can refer yourself for physiotherapy without a doctor’s referral. If you are covered by Workcover or the TAC, in many circumstances, you do not need a referral. However, it may be wise to check with us (or your insurer) first. To be eligible to receive a Medicare Rebate (for Chronic Disease Management Plans), you do require a doctor’s referral. Veterans also require a referral.

What happens during the first consultation?

Cobden Physio allows additional time for the first consultation. This gives you time to tell your therapist what the issue is, and what you would like to achieve. The therapist will then do a detailed assessment of your issues and formulate a treatment plan. For some more complex conditions, the initial assessment may take more time or be split over several sessions.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

If you have medical information or scan results,, or letters from other health professionals this can be helpful. Otherwise, please arrive a few minutes early to complete our paperwork. There is ample parking on the main street of Cobden.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cobden Physio requires 24 hours’ notice of cancellations. This is to enable us to fill your appointment with someone who is waiting for our assistance. While we understand that life can be hectic at times, we are also busy and appreciate your understanding in this.

Do you accept TAC, DVA and Workcover clients?

Yes, we do. All our providers can assist here. There are no gap fees to pay.

Do you accept NDIS and Support At Home Clients (SAH)?

Yes. We accept both and run several programs for clients covered by these schemes. You will usually need to have discussed this with your support coordinator (NDIS), or care partner (SAH), and this person should contact us with the terms of your referral.

What if I have a Medicare Care plan?

If you have a careplan, your family doctor should have discussed with you what services you are going to access. This plan allows you a total of 5 subsidised sessions over a calendar year – across any allied health services. We will ask you to pay upfront on the day of service, and will assist you to claim your Medicare rebate on the spot. There is a gap fee to make up the difference between our fees, and what Medicare pays.

How do I pay for my appointment?

If you are covered by a third party payer (eg the TAC, or DVA), you do not pay us – we invoice your payer directly. For private patients, we have EFTPOS, and HiCAPS (for private health funds), and can accept cash payments.

What if I have a Medicare Care plan?

If you have a careplan, your family doctor should have discussed with you what services you are going to access. This plan allows you a total of 5 subsidised sessions over a calendar year – across any allied health services. We will ask you to pay upfront on the day of service, and will assist you to claim your Medicare rebate on the spot. There is a gap fee to make up the difference between our fees, and what Medicare pays.

Do you do home visits?

Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Please call us to discuss.

What is GLA:D®?

In 2012 a clinical research team in Denmark designed a program, based on research, for people with hip or knee OA. GLA:D® – “Good Life with osteoarthritis: Denmark” – is a program of education and exercise designed to help reduce the symptoms of hip and/or knee osteoarthritis.

There are 12 supervised exercise sessions over 6 weeks, and 2 education sessions. Each session – education and exercise – will take about 60 minutes. These sessions are run by local clinicians who have been trained by GLA:D® Australia.

As well as providing the treatment framework for osteoarthritis, GLA:D® Australia collects research data from participants. This data is de-identified, which means that it can’t be used to identify participants. We ask you to complete questionnaires with information about your health and your experiences with osteoarthritis before you start, then at 3 months and again at 12 months. Your clinician will also undertake some progression tests. The GLA:D® Australia team will use this information to work towards improving access to the best possible care for people with osteoarthritis.

Who does it help?
GLA:D® has been shown to help people of all ages with mild, moderate and severe osteoarthritis by reducing pain, increasing mobility and enhancing quality of life. Often surgery such as joint replacement can be avoided.

Studies in Scandinavian countries have also shown that people who have completed the GLA:D® program before having a total knee joint replacement tend to recover more quickly. Similar ‘prehab’ results have been found for total hip replacement.

Why does GLA:D® help?

There are many reasons why GLA:D® and similar exercise programs can help reduce pain and improve mobility, because exercise affects a person in a variety of ways: from improving bone and muscle strength to elevating mood. Exercise itself is a recognised treatment for some chronic health conditions and reduces the risk of many others.

The exercises done in GLA:D® target joint stability, muscle strength and confidence with movement.

How can I get to do GLA:D®?

The team at GLA:D® Australia provides training to clinicians (physiotherapists and exercise physiologists) across Australia who choose to participate. You will have an assessment with your clinician and make an appropriate treatment plan. If that plan includes GLA:D®, your clinician will arrange to register you to do the program, and will either provide the program to you or help you to select a GLA:D® clinician. Our ‘Locations’ webpage shows you the clinicians who have completed the training: www.gladaustralia.com.au/Locations.

Another option is to use telehealth. There are a number of clinicians offering this service: https://gladaustralia.com.au/list of-clinics-offering-the-glad-program-via-telerehab/. If you have an area that you visit from time to time, you could look at attending a clinic in that area for an assessment and complete the program via telehealth. People are experiencing the same outcomes this way.

What happens in a session?

The GLA:D® education sessions are an opportunity for the clinician to tell you about the latest research evidence and for you to ask questions and discuss it with the clinician and other participants.

The GLA:D® exercises are a set of 10 exercises, plus warm-up and cool-down, aimed at improving the strength and function around your hips and knees. Sessions are run in small groups of around four to six people. In each session, the same exercises are done by each person at the level appropriate for them. The clinicians who run GLA:D® programs have been trained to customise the program to suit the individual: YOU.

Will it hurt?

Whenever you do new exercise, it’s normal and acceptable to have very mild pain during and after the session for up to 24 hours – and maybe a bit longer at first. Your clinician will help you learn how to monitor your pain so that you can challenge yourself without making your pain worse in the long run.

The cost to do GLA:D® is just like doing any other allied health treatment: it depends on your individual circumstances and the clinic you attend. You may be able to use private health insurance**. Eligible participants may be able to use Medicare funding to cover costs of assessments and some people may be eligible to access publicly-funded services. Clinics will differ in how they are able to offer the sessions, and what is included in the fees. If you are paying privately, it’s likely that the full program of 2 education sessions and 12 exercise sessions will cost between $400-800.

**Item code 560 ‘Group Consultation’

What happens after GLA:D®?

Your clinician will make an appointment to review your goals and progress 3 months after you are registered. This usually gives enough time for you to complete the program and start exploring what to do next. You may decide to work towards getting into a gym-based program, or heading back to running, or simply finding ways to increase your level of physical activity throughout the week.

The exercises and strategies you learn in GLA:D® are also easily able to be continued by you at home. Most importantly, they are a tool for you to use whenever you feel you need to – for example, if something happens to reduce your level of activity, or if your pain increases. Some people will go back to doing their GLA:D® program after recovering from surgery

I still have questions…

Speak to your clinician, or email the GLA:D® Australia Team on GLAD.Australia@latrobe.edu.au.