Is it worth paying for Private Physio in Australia?

Physiotherapists typically study for at least four years at a University in Australia before officially being allowed to practice and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), whether in private practice (your local clinic), in a hospital or aged care/community setting. Many more now study a bachelor's degree before studying a Masters of Physiotherapy, which can take up to 5 years.

In Australia, the reality is that physiotherapy services are only available through the public healthcare system if you’ve been admitted to the hospital (you will be looked after by physiotherapists in the hospital) and when you are discharged (there might be home care physiotherapy, or you may be admitted into an outpatient clinic to come into the hospital for ongoing rehabilitation)

The reality is, for most people, unfortunately, the public health system doesn’t cover Physiotherapy in Australia.

So, is it worth paying for private physiotherapy and are physios worth the money?

are physios worth the money?

Physios are definitely worth the money in Australia. Here’s why. Physios not only help you with the physical limitations of your injury or pain, by helping alleviate pain and discomfort through hands-on treatment such as massage or dry needling. Physios are also worth the money because they help with the psychological effects of an injury on your lifestyle, relationships and work, by calming you and guiding you through the process of injury, including determining how long your pain will take to dissipate. Furthermore, private physios are worth their weight in gold, as they can communicate with your coaches, General Practitioner, Employer and partners/parents, in order to communicate with them what is going on, or what has occurred and its likelihood of recovery.

Additionally, Physios can help you rehabilitate your injury to make sure that it either doesn’t happen again, or that the chances are as low as possible of reinjury by educating you on the injury and strengthening your body to withhold damage in the future.

Think about this. Imagine you’re off work for two months due to an injury, because you don’t see a Physiotherapist to understand what has happened and what can be done. That’s two months of being at home which may affect income, two months of not exercising, which can affect your mental and physical health, which can also have a flow on effect onto your relationships both at work and at home. Imagine if you spend a few hundred dollars on your injury. You might find you’re back to work within a month, and can slowly start exercising lightly after a few weeks, which maintains your mental and physical health, which maintains your relationships and keeps your job. Physios are worth the money now right?

3 Other Reasons it is worth paying for Private Physio in Australia

1. Firstly, you get Personalised Treatment. Private physiotherapists can provide more individualised care than public healthcare systems. Because private physiotherapists have fewer patients to see and more time to devote to each patient, they can provide more personalised treatment plans tailored to your specific needs. Furthermore, their adept at managing all the other aspects of an injury including return to work, return to training, communication with other healthcare professionals, including surgeons ect to make your life easier.

2. Secondly, you have a greater choice of practitioners, with differing skillsets and expertise. In the private sector, you can choose from a range of physiotherapists with different areas of interests. A clinic should have practitioners with a wide range of skill sets. With physiotherapists with expertise in dancing, ballet, running, cycling, CrossFit, Olympic Lifting, Powerlifting, Circus arts, Gymnastics, Australian Rules Football (AFL) and Soccer.

3. Thirdly. Physios are worth the money due to convenience. Private practices may have longer hours of operation and more flexible appointment times, making it easier to fit appointments into your schedule.

In conclusion, whether or not it's worth paying for private physiotherapy depends on your circumstances. Private physiotherapy may be the right choice if you need urgent or specialised care or prefer more personalised treatment. However, we firmly believe that seeing a private practice Physiotherapist with detailed industry experience, a passion for rehabilitation and support will speed up your recovery. The money you pay, will be worth every cent when you’re back to living pain-free and enjoying yourself with what makes you happy.