For GPs and medical referrers
Referring to exercise physiology
When it helps, what comes back to you, and how to make the referral in under two minutes.
When exercise physiology is worth a referral
- Persistent musculoskeletal pain where passive treatment has run its course
- Deconditioning after injury, surgery, illness or extended inactivity
- Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis
- Anxiety, depression and PTSD, where structured activity would help but the patient will not start alone
- Patients on a WorkCover or CTP claim who need work capacity rebuilt, not just symptoms managed
- Veterans with a gold or white card, where there is no session cap and no chronic disease plan required
- Fear avoidance, where the barrier is confidence rather than capacity
The referral that helps most is the patient you know would benefit from exercise and you also know will not do it on their own.
What comes back to you
An initial report within five business days of assessment, then written updates every fortnight. Not attendance records. Function, capacity, what has changed and what is getting in the way.
If a report leaves you with a question, the treating clinician's mobile number is on it.
Funding pathways
- Medicare. Under a GP Chronic Condition Management plan, capped at five allied health sessions per calendar year shared across all providers on the plan.
- DVA. Gold and white card holders. No session cap, no chronic disease plan required, referrals run in treatment cycles and we write to you before each one ends.
- WorkCover and CTP. Requires a referral from a registered medical practitioner or a current work capacity certificate. We prepare and submit the treatment plan to the insurer.
- Private. No referral required.
Mental health
Exercise physiologists are not part of the Better Access scheme, so this is not a psychology substitute and we do not present it as one. What we do is the physical side of psychological recovery: structured activity, sleep, energy, confidence and the behaviour change needed to sustain it, delivered alongside your management rather than instead of it.
Our director delivers a day program and an inpatient program at Pine Rivers Private Hospital and collaborates with the University of the Sunshine Coast on exercise and wellbeing research.
How to refer
Use the referral form, email, or write a standard referral to Rehab Insight. Send what you have and we will follow up anything missing rather than sending it back.
What you get when you refer
- Contact within one business day
- We call the referrer, not just the client.
- First appointment within five business days
- Across South East Queensland. Cairns and Far North Queensland by arrangement.
- Initial report within five business days of assessment
- Function and capacity, not attendance.
- Written updates every fortnight
- Without you having to ask for them.
- Case conference attendance on request
- In person, by phone or by video.
- Direct access to the treating clinician
- You get their mobile. Not a reception queue.
Have a client who needs exercise physiology?
Send the referral, or call and talk it through first. Both work.