Frequently Asked Questions

An accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) is a university-qualified allied health professional who uses evidence-based exercise prescription to prevent and manage chronic disease, disability, injury and ageing-related conditions.

Exercise physiologists are accredited by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and are recognised under Medicare, NDIS, DVA, Workers' Compensation and most private health insurance funds.

While both are allied health professionals, physiotherapists primarily focus on acute injury management and manual therapy (hands-on treatment). Exercise physiologists specialise in prescribing long-term exercise programs for chronic conditions, disability and functional improvement.

EPs are particularly skilled at working with NDIS participants, aged care clients and people managing complex or multiple health conditions — where consistent, structured exercise over time produces the best outcomes.

Exercare is a mobile allied health practice offering exercise physiology and occupational therapy across Melbourne. We specialise in:

• NDIS exercise physiology (plan and self-managed)
• Aged care and Support at Home exercise physiology
• Falls prevention and balance training for older adults
• Neurological rehabilitation (Parkinson's, stroke, MS, ABI)
• Chronic disease management (diabetes, cardiac, COPD)
• Hydrotherapy and aquatic exercise programs
• Mobile and community-based exercise programs

No referral is needed for most clients. You can contact Exercare directly if you are:

• An NDIS participant (plan or self-managed)
• Funding through Support at Home
• Paying privately or through private health insurance

A GP referral is only required for Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans. Ask your GP for a referral if you have a chronic condition and want to access a bulk-billed initial assessment.

Exercare is fully mobile — we come to you rather than requiring you to travel to a clinic. This makes exercise physiology accessible for clients who have difficulty travelling, including those with disability, limited mobility or complex health needs.

We offer a genuinely flexible service: home visits, gym-based sessions, hydrotherapy, park and outdoor sessions and telehealth — whatever environment works best for you. We also offer sessions in the evening by arrangement.

Yes. Exercise physiology is an approved support under the NDIS, typically funded through Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living Skills (support category 15). It may also fall under Improved Health and Wellbeing (support category 12) depending on your plan goals.

To access EP services, the support needs to be included in your NDIS plan and linked to your goals. If you're unsure whether your plan covers exercise physiology, contact your support coordinator or plan manager.

Yes. Exercare accepts both plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants.

• Plan-managed: We invoice your plan manager directly. You do not need to pay out of pocket.
• Self-managed: We provide you with an invoice and you claim reimbursement through the NDIS portal.

Exercare is currently working towards full NDIS registration. We are not yet NDIS-registered, which means we cannot work with agency-managed participants at this time.

Exercise physiology can support a wide range of NDIS goals, including:

• Improving mobility, strength and physical function
• Increasing independence with daily activities
• Improving community participation and social engagement
• Managing a health condition or disability
• Reducing reliance on supports over time
• Improving fitness, energy and overall wellbeing

Exercare supports NDIS participants with a wide range of disabilities and conditions, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Acquired brain injury (ABI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular dystrophy
• Down syndrome
• Stroke recovery
• Intellectual disability
• Parkinson's disease

Exercare provides all required NDIS documentation including:

• Initial assessment reports outlining functional capacity and goals
• Progress notes after each session
• Periodic progress reports for plan reviews
• Goal attainment summaries
• Letters of support as required

We work closely with support coordinators and plan managers to ensure all reporting meets NDIS requirements.

Yes, for NDIS participants (plan and self-managed) and Support at Home clients, with no waitlist. Regular therapy covers the north-east, east and inner suburbs, with assessments across wider Melbourne. Our OT service covers functional capacity assessments, home modifications, assistive technology, daily living skills, sensory processing and NDIS report writing. See our OT service areas →

Yes. OT is funded under Support Category 15 (Improved Daily Living Skills) for therapy, Category 05 (Assistive Technology) for AT assessments and Category 06 (Home Modifications) for home modification reports.

Exercise physiology focuses on building physical capacity through exercise. Occupational therapy focuses on the skills, environment and equipment needed for daily activities. The two complement each other well — at Exercare, our EP and OT work together and share goals.

No referral is required for NDIS OT or self-funded FCAs. You need relevant funding in your NDIS plan — typically Capacity Building (Category 15) for OT therapy or specific AT or home modification funding. Your support coordinator can help confirm what's in your plan.

Yes. Our occupational therapists see Support at Home clients for home safety, falls prevention, equipment and home modifications, including AT-HM prescriptions. Allied health is a clinical support under Support at Home, so there is no client contribution. More about Support at Home OT.

Yes — our EP and OTs coordinate directly, sharing goals and communicating about your progress, making your overall care more effective and your plan funding more efficient. Learn more about OT at Exercare →

Yes. Exercise physiology sits under the Clinical Supports category of the Support at Home program (which replaced Home Care Packages in November 2025).

As a Clinical Support, it is fully government-funded with no participant contribution, regardless of income or assets. Exercare works directly with your provider and care manager to arrange services and provide documentation.

Our exercise physiologist has extensive experience with conditions common in older adults, including:

• Falls risk and balance impairment
• Osteoporosis and osteopenia
• Parkinson's disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiac conditions and cardiac rehabilitation
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid)
• COPD and respiratory conditions
• Dementia and mild cognitive impairment
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• General deconditioning and frailty

Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation in older Australians. Exercise physiology is one of the most effective evidence-based interventions for reducing falls risk.

A tailored program typically includes:

• Strength training for leg and core muscles
• Balance and coordination exercises
• Gait and walking training
• Flexibility and mobility exercises
• Functional movement training for daily activities

Programs are progressive and adapted over time as your strength and confidence improves.

Yes. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology visits to residential aged care facilities across Melbourne, depending on the service. We work with facility staff and care teams to deliver programs that complement existing care plans.

Please contact us to discuss visiting arrangements for your facility.

To access Medicare-funded exercise physiology through Exercare, you need:

• A referral from your GP under the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan (also known as an Enhanced Primary Care plan or EPC)
• A diagnosed chronic health condition (e.g. diabetes, cardiac disease, COPD, arthritis, obesity)

Under the CDM plan, you are entitled to up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year across all allied health providers combined. Ask your GP to refer you to Exercare specifically.

Your initial assessment is bulk-billed if you have a valid GP referral under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan. A travel fee applies if you live more than about 15 minutes from our Dandenong North base. A gap fee applies to subsequent sessions, which we'll outline during your first contact with us.

Please bring your GP referral and Medicare card to your first appointment.

Medicare CDM referrals are available for clients with a chronic condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for 6 months or more. Common eligible conditions include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease and cardiac conditions
• Obesity
• COPD and respiratory conditions
• Osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal conditions
• Mental health conditions (in some cases)

Your GP determines eligibility. Discuss your condition with your GP to find out if a CDM referral is appropriate for you.

Many private health funds offer rebates for exercise physiology under extras cover. The amount varies depending on your policy and fund. Exercare accepts all major private health insurers including Medibank, Bupa, HCF, nib, AHM and others.

We recommend checking with your fund to confirm your annual exercise physiology benefit before booking. You will pay the session fee and claim your rebate through your fund's app or card.

Yes. Self-funded (private pay) options are available with transparent, upfront pricing. Contact us for a fee schedule. We accept bank transfer, credit card and most payment methods.

Your initial assessment is conducted by your exercise physiologist at your preferred location. It typically includes:

• A detailed health and medical history review
• Discussion of your goals and priorities
• Functional movement and capacity assessments
• Strength and balance testing (where appropriate)
• Design of your personalised exercise program

Initial assessments usually take 45–60 minutes. Subsequent sessions are typically 45–60 minutes depending on your funding type and needs.

Exercare sessions can take place at a location that suits you:

• In your home — the most common option for NDIS and aged care clients
• Local gym — we can attend your existing gym membership or recommend suitable local facilities
• Hydrotherapy pool — at accessible heated pool facilities across south-east and eastern Melbourne
• Park or outdoor space — for community-based programs
• Telehealth — online video sessions for clients who prefer remote delivery

Session frequency depends on your goals, condition and funding. Most clients start with weekly or fortnightly sessions and transition to monthly as they build independence. Your exercise physiologist will recommend the right frequency during your initial assessment.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and supportive footwear. For your first session, it helps to have:

• A list of your current medications
• Any relevant medical reports or specialist letters
• Your NDIS plan number or funding details (if applicable)
• Your Medicare card and GP referral (if applicable)
• A water bottle

You can call, email or complete an online intake form anytime and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Appointments are available on weekdays and evenings, with weekend appointments available for occupational therapy. Contact us to find a time that suits you.

Hydrotherapy (also called aquatic physiotherapy or aquatic exercise therapy) is a form of exercise conducted in a warm water pool, typically 33–36°C. The properties of warm water — buoyancy, resistance and hydrostatic pressure — make movement easier, more comfortable and more effective for many clients.

Exercare's exercise physiologist designs and supervises personalised hydrotherapy programs in accessible pool facilities across south-east and eastern Melbourne.

Hydrotherapy is particularly beneficial for clients who:

• Experience pain that limits land-based exercise
• Have joint conditions such as arthritis or osteoarthritis
• Are recovering from surgery or injury
• Have neurological conditions such as Parkinson's, MS or stroke
• Are older adults with limited mobility or balance
• Have NDIS goals that include aquatic exercise

Hydrotherapy is not suitable for clients with open wounds, active infections or certain cardiac conditions. Your exercise physiologist will assess suitability at your initial assessment.

Yes. Hydrotherapy delivered by an accredited exercise physiologist can be funded through:

• NDIS (plan and self-managed) under Capacity Building
• Support at Home (Clinical Supports) — no out-of-pocket cost
• Medicare CDM (with GP referral)
• Private health insurance extras (check your policy)
• Self-funded (private pay)

No. Hydrotherapy programs are conducted in shallow water and do not require swimming ability. Your exercise physiologist will always be present in or beside the pool to ensure your safety and guide your exercises.

Yes. Exercise physiology is one of the most important non-pharmacological interventions for Parkinson's disease. Evidence shows that regular, progressive exercise can slow disease progression, improve gait and balance, reduce freezing episodes and improve quality of life.

Exercare's programs for Parkinson's clients include strength training, balance and coordination exercises, gait training and high-intensity interval training where appropriate. We can deliver sessions at home, at a gym, in a hydrotherapy pool or via telehealth.

Yes. Exercise physiology plays a key role in stroke rehabilitation and long-term recovery. A tailored program can help improve strength in affected limbs, restore balance and coordination, improve walking ability, reduce fatigue and support return to daily activities.

We work closely with neurologists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals to ensure our program complements your broader stroke recovery plan.

Yes. Exercise — particularly weight-bearing and resistance exercise — is one of the most effective interventions for preventing and managing osteoporosis. It improves bone density, builds muscle strength, improves balance and reduces falls risk.

Exercare's programs for osteoporosis are tailored to be safe and appropriate for your current bone density and fracture risk level.

Yes. Exercise is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Regular structured exercise improves insulin sensitivity, helps regulate blood glucose levels, supports weight management and reduces cardiovascular risk.

Exercare provides evidence-based programs combining aerobic and resistance training tailored to your fitness level and diabetes management goals. We work in coordination with your GP and endocrinologist as needed.

Exercise physiology covers south-east and eastern Melbourne, a little over 30 minutes' drive from Dandenong North, including:

• Greater Dandenong, Casey, Frankston and Kingston
• Monash, Knox, Glen Eira and Bayside
• Cardinia (Pakenham, Officer and Beaconsfield)
• Whitehorse, Boroondara, Stonnington and Port Phillip

Occupational therapy covers the north-east, east and inner suburbs for regular therapy (about 30 minutes from Templestowe Lower), including Manningham, Banyule, Nillumbik, Whitehorse, Boroondara, Maroondah, Knox, Monash, Darebin, Yarra and the City of Melbourne. Functional capacity assessments are available across wider Melbourne.

View all service areas →

Yes. Exercare offers telehealth sessions for clients across Victoria who are outside our mobile service area. Telehealth is conducted via video call and is suitable for program reviews, progress check-ins and exercise instruction for clients who can exercise independently.