Physiotherapy

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.

Physiotherapists are highly trained and use many ways to help you, these often 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. 

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)

We work with adults and children with:

• Mobility concerns
• 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)
   

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, referrals must include medical history, current condition, and reason for referral. 
 

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.

If you require an interpreter, please let us know when your appointment is made.

Sunshine Hospital:

Ph: (03) 8345 6661
Fax: (03) 8345 6084
 

Williamstown Hospital

Ph: (03) 9393 0168
Fax: (03) 9393 0112

Footscray Hospital: 
Ph: (03) 8345 6661
Fax: (03) 8345 6064