Acute Injury Assessment & Referral Clinic

Fast access to a physiotherapist assessment and, where needed, a referral for imaging or specialist review — often on the same day, without the wait for a GP appointment.

Get referred for scans or to a specialist, with no GP visit required

If you've got a new injury and think it might need imaging or specialist input, our physios can now arrange that referral for you directly. This applies to X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, specialist review, or a corticosteroid injection, and can be done as part of a physio appointment.

This isn't limited to one appointment type. Referrals can be arranged during any consultation, whenever it's clinically appropriate. But if you don't yet need treatment and just want an assessment and a referral, we offer a shorter, lower-cost initial appointment built specifically for that.

How it works

1. You come in for your appointment and get assessed.
2. If your physio thinks a scan or specialist review would help, they arrange the referral for you on the spot.
3. The referral gets checked and approved by the right medical practitioner, and you usually won't need to see a GP first.
4. You go and get your scan or see the specialist.
5. You come back to us, we go through the results together, and figure out what's next, whether that's treatment with us, or working alongside a specialist.

Referral fees are added an extra, on top of your consult fee. This is because we're charged directly to get each referral processed, so we pass that cost on rather than build it into everyone's fee - that way, if you don't end up needing one, you don't pay for it.

Two ways to access this

Have a new injury and just want an assessment and a referral, if needed?
Book our 30-minute Acute Injury Assessment & Referral appointment.

The 30 minutes is purely to give your physiotherapist time to take an accurate history, assess you properly, come up with a plan, and organise your referral if needed. This appointment does not include hands-on treatment.

You have a new injury, but would also like some treatment alongside your assessment?

Please book a longer appointment as the shorter initial doesn't allow time for this. You can book either a standard initial or new issue appointment (45 mins) or an extended appointment (60 mins). A referral can still be arranged in these appointments if it's needed, you don't miss out by booking a longer appointment time.

Traditional pathway vs. our pathway

When to go straight to the emergency department instead 🚨

• Loss of bladder or bowel control, or saddle numbness (possible cauda equina)
• Severe or progressive neurological symptoms (numbness, weakness, loss of coordination)
• Severe pain not settling with rest or over-the-counter pain relief
• Complete inability to weight bear
• Visible deformity or suspected open fracture
• Head injury with loss of consciousness, confusion, or worsening headache
• Chest pain, shortness of breath, or signs of a blood clot (calf swelling/pain with breathlessness)
• Signs of infection at an injury site (fever, hot, red, rapidly swelling joint)
• Uncontrolled bleeding

If any of the above apply, please go to your nearest emergency department or call 000 rather than booking this appointment.

FAQs

Do I need a special appointment to get a referral?

No, referrals can be arranged during any consultation where it's clinically appropriate. Our 30-minute appointment just gives you a faster, lower-cost way to access one if you don't need treatment yet.

Do I still need to see my GP?
Not always. For many musculoskeletal injuries, we can arrange your referral directly. Some conditions still need GP involvement, and we'll let you know if that's the better path for you.

Will my scan be bulk billed?
That depends on the type of scan, your situation, Medicare's criteria, and the imaging provider's own policies. We'll talk you through your options before arranging anything, but this pathway makes bulk billled scans more accessible by having them referred by a specialist.

Does the 30-minute appointment include treatment?
No. The 30 minutes is purely for taking an accurate history, assessing you properly, coming up with a plan, and organising a referral if needed, it doesn't allow enough time for treatment. If you'd like treatment in the same visit, please book a Standard or Extended Initial instead.

Does the consult fee include the referral?
No. The consultation fee covers your assessment, advice and management plan (+ treatment in longer sessions). The referral fee is a separate cost we're charged by our the third party who processes these referrals (REFR), which we pass on directly. We don't charge it unless a referral is actually needed, that way, if it turns out you don't need a scan or specialist referral, you're not paying for something you didn't use.

Will I be charged for a referral I don't need?
No. Referral fees only apply if your physiotherapist actually issues a referral. If no referral is needed, you'll only pay the consultation fee.

Is bulk billing guaranteed?
Bulk billing is available wherever you're eligible, but eligibility can depend on the type of scan and your individual circumstances. Your physiotherapist will let you know if there's likely to be an out-of-pocket cost before anything is lodged.

How quickly will I get my results?
This depends on the imaging provider and scan type, but because the referral itself is usually approved within a couple of hours, you can generally book your scan much sooner than the traditional GP-referral route.

Can I choose which radiology or imaging provider I go to?
Yes — once your referral is approved, you can take it to the imaging provider of your choice, the same as with any other referral.

What if I need a specialist straight away, not just imaging?
Let your physiotherapist know during your assessment, and if it's clinically appropriate, a specialist referral can be arranged without necessarily waiting on imaging first.

What if my injury turns out to be more serious than expected?
If anything concerning comes up during your assessment, your physiotherapist will guide you on the right next step, which may include referring you elsewhere urgently rather than proceeding with this pathway.

When should I see my GP instead of booking this?
If you need strong pain relief, ongoing management coordinated across multiple providers, or your care falls under a scheme like RTWSA or CTP, your GP is often the better starting point. This pathway is specifically designed for musculoskeletal injuries where imaging or a specialist referral is the main thing needed.

When should I go to the emergency department instead of booking this?
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed in the "When to go straight to the emergency department instead" section above, please go to your nearest ED or call 000 rather than booking this appointment.