Physiotherapy
Where to find this service
Physiotherapists at Western Health work with you to improve movement, independence and physical wellbeing during illness, injury or recovery.
We support you to stay mobile, manage pain and return to daily activities after surgery, hospitalisation or health setbacks.
What we do
Physiotherapists are highly trained and can help you in a number of ways which consider your whole body, not just your injury or condition. Your physiotherapy sessions may involve:
- movement and exercise
- hands-on treatment
- education and advice
- chest physiotherapy including breathing exercises
- falls prevention and rehabilitation
- pain management
- aquatic therapy
- discharge planning and referral to community supports.
Our physiotherapists work with other health professionals to deliver safe, goal-directed care in hospital and at home.
Read our page on research and achievements for more information.
Where services are available
Physiotherapy is available in a range of settings:
- inpatient wards (acute, subacute, ICU and rehabilitation)
- outpatient clinics
- emergency departments
- residential aged care
- community and home-based care (via eligible programs).
Who our services are for
We work with adults and children with:
- mobility concerns
- recovery from recent injury or surgery
- chronic health conditions (e.g. arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke)
- neurological, cardiorespiratory or orthopaedic needs
- postnatal, continence and pelvic health needs (at select sites).
Information for health professionals
Referrals to physiotherapy can be made by:
- hospital medical, nursing, or allied health staff
- general practitioners (for community health services)
- other community-based professionals in certain instances.
At Bacchus Marsh and Melton sites only, patients may be able to arrange a self-referral. Please contact (03) 9747 7609. Note: A referral from a GP is required for certain programs. Please let us know if you are an NDIS participant.
Advanced practice physiotherapy
Western Health’s Advanced Practice Physiotherapy program helps patients get faster and more effective care, especially for muscle, bone and joint problems. In this program, highly trained physiotherapists take on advanced roles, working collaboratively with doctors to assess and treat patients. This means people can often be seen sooner, get the right treatment earlier and may not need to wait to see a specialist.
Physiotherapy research
The Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology department has an active clinical research program. Physiotherapists have access to incredible research leads including Professor Cathy Said, Associate Professor Kimberley Haines and Dina Pogrebnoy. The research program at Western Health is available to all staff, irrespective of grade level, and support is offered for anything from small quality improvement projects right through to opportunities for involvement in large, multicentre funded trials.
Contact
If you require an interpreter, please let us know when your appointment is made.
Physiotherapy reception, Footscray Hospital:
Ph: (03) 7078 0000 OR (03) 7078 0001
Fax: (03) 8345 6064