FAQs about The Osteo Collective
Frequently asked questions.
The Osteo Collective exists to achieve the best results for you possible. It’s that simple. Your health is our priority.
I’ve never tried osteopathy before, what can I expect?
To help give you a better understanding head over to our blog post which answers this question in detail. Have more questions after this, give us a call!
How long do osteopathy treatments last?
Our first appointments last from between 45-60 minutes. During this time we take a detailed history of your injury, a past medical history, a full examination and treatment. Our standard appointments all last up to 30 minutes in duration.
How long do osteopaths study for?
Your osteopath has spent a total of 5 years at university. Completing a 3 year Bachelors degree and a further 2 year Masters degree in Osteopathy. During this time subjects such as human anatomy, physiology, pathology and biomechanics are all studied.
What should I bring/wear to my session?
For osteopathy and massage appointments, loose fitting clothing is the ideal attire to wear during your treatment to ensure we are not restricted with any techniques we may wish to use. However, adjustments can always be made. We occasionally ask patients to remove certain items of clothing to allow for effective treatment. However, this is not a necessity and consent is always obtained. For exercise physiology appointments, sports wear/activewear is preferred.
How many osteopathy appointments will I need?
Unfortunately this is a difficult question to answer without knowing your specific injury details, work, hobbies, family requirements etc. We will endeavour to give you this information to the best of our ability in your first appointment!
Do you treat children?
Yes we do. Occasionally we will refer children to a paediatric osteopath if required. We take the medical care of children very seriously, and will always involve other professionals (through referral) if we believe it necessary.
How long do physiotherapy treatments last?
Our first appointments last are about 45 minutes. During this time we take a detailed history of your injury, a past medical history, a full examination and commence treatment. Our subsequent appointments last up to 30 minutes in duration. We also offer longer subsequent appointments if we required more time.
What should I bring/wear to my session?
For physiotherapy appointments, loose fitting clothing is the ideal attire to wear during your treatment to ensure we are not restricted with any techniques we may wish to use. However, adjustments can always be made. We occasionally ask patients to remove certain items of clothing to allow for effective treatment. However, this is not a necessity and consent is always obtained.
How many physiotherapy appointments will I need?
Unfortunately this is a difficult question to answer without knowing your specific injury details, work, hobbies, family requirements etc. We will endeavour to give you this information to the best of our ability in your first appointment.
How long are your massage appointments?
You can book 45, 60, 75 or 90 minute massage appointments.
Is dry needling or cupping available?
Yes, these services are available and included in the cost if utilised during a massage. Please discuss this with your practitioner.
I’ve never been to a myotherapist. What do they do?
A myotherapist focuses on muscle and joint pain. They assess how your body is moving, identify what might be causing discomfort, and then use hands-on treatment to help relieve it.
Treatment may include things like massage, stretching, trigger point therapy, dry needling, and simple exercises to help you move better and reduce pain.
It’s not just about treating the sore spot, they look at how your whole body is working to help get longer-lasting results.
How long are the sessions?
Session lengths can vary. Initial appointments are 60 minutes, and return appointments are 45 minutes. 30 minute and 60 minute return appointments are available as required.
What’s the difference between myotherapy and remedial massage?
Both can help with muscle tension and pain, but myotherapy tends to go a bit further.
Remedial massage focuses mainly on treating muscles through massage techniques.
Myotherapy includes massage as well, but also involves deeper assessment, a wider range of treatment techniques (like dry needling or joint mobilisation), and often includes rehab exercises to support recovery.
In short, myotherapy is generally more focused on identifying the cause of pain, not just relieving the symptoms.
Will treatment be painful?
Some techniques can feel uncomfortable, especially if we’re working on tight or sensitive areas. That said, it shouldn’t feel overwhelming.
Everyone’s tolerance is different, so we always adjust pressure and techniques to suit you. Communication is key. If something doesn’t feel right, just let us know.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to see a myotherapist.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
Your first session will include:
- A chat about your symptoms and history
- Movement and posture assessment
- Hands-on treatment
- Simple advice or exercises to help between sessions
What should I wear?
Wear something comfortable that allows easy movement. Depending on the area being treated, you may be asked to expose part of the body (e.g. upper back, legs), but you’ll always be appropriately draped.
Can I use Medicare?
In some circumstances. Your GP may provide a referral as part of a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). Previously this was know as a Chronic Disease Management Plan. This can be up to 5 visits per year. Your GP may allocate appointments to either osteopathy or physiotherapy.
Under new rules introduced by Medicare in 2025, the referal letter from your GP must specify the services (ie osteopathy or physiotherapy), but not the provider. A referral with a different provider’s details can still be used with our practitioners if you choose.
Osteopathy
Bulk Billed:
- Dr Abbey McNamara (Cheltenham)
- Dr Daniel Trevisan (Cheltenham)
- Dr Tanya Vong (Malvern East)
Full fee with Medicare rebate:
- Dr Scott Toniazzo (Malvern East)
- Dr Todd Stewart (Cheltenham)
- Dr Mia Chepanidis (Malvern East)
- Dr Anjelica D’Alessandri (Malvern East)
Physiotherapy
Bulk Billed:
- Matthew O’Sullivan (Malvern East)
Can I claim on private health insurance?
Most private health insurance extras include osteopathy, physiotherapy, myotherapy and remedial massage therapy. However we recommend you check with your private health insurer to ensure you are covered before commencing treatment.
Do you treat patients on WorkSafe (WorkCover)?
Yes, we do. Workcover patients are able to access osteopathy, physiotherapy (and remedial remedial massage if referred by their GP.) Please ensure you have an approved claim number and are approved to access your required service.
Osteopathy
Bulk Billed:
- Dr Abbey McNamara (Cheltenham)
- Dr Daniel Trevisan (Cheltenham)
- Dr Tanya Vong (Malvern East)
Gap fee payable:
- Dr Scott Toniazzo (Malvern East)
- Dr Todd Stewart (Cheltenham)
- Dr Mia Chepanidis (Malvern East)
- Dr Anjelica D’Alessandri (Malvern East)
Physiotherapy
Bulk Billed:
- Matthew O’Sullivan (Malvern East)
Remedial Massage
Full Fee payable with invoice provided for claiming:
- Dylan Haasnoot (Malvern East)
Myotherapy
Not available through WorkSafe.
Do you treat patients on Workcover or TAC?
Yes, we do. TAC patients are able to access osteopathy, physiotherapy, and exercise physiology. Please ensure you have an approved claim number and are approved to access osteopathy or exercise physiology.
Osteopathy
Appointments with all of our osteopaths are bulk billed for approved TAC patients (no out of pocket expense).
Physiotherapy
Appointments with all of our physiotherapists are bulk billed for approved TAC patients (no out of pocket expense).
Remedial Massage
Not available under TAC.
Myotherapy
Not available under TAC.
I have a DVA card. Can I access your services?
Yes, you can access osteopathy, physiotherapy, myotherapy and remedial massage. The number of treatments you can receive depends on your level or DVA card. There is no out of pocket expense to utilise these services.
Please bring your referral from you GP along with your card to your first appointment.
At The Osteo Collective, we understand that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes, you may need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. However, late cancellations or missed appointments mean that we are unable to offer that time slot to others who may be in need of our services, and it significantly impacts our business. To ensure fairness and keep our services available to as many clients as possible, we have established the following cancellation policy:
1. Individual Appointments:
- Cancellations within 6 hours: If you need to cancel your appointment within 6 hours of your scheduled time, a fee equal to 50% of the booked service cost will be charged.
- Non-Attendance/No-Show: If you do not attend your appointment without prior notice, a fee equal to 100% of the booked service cost will be charged.
- First Late Cancellation/Non-Attendance: We understand that sometimes things come up unexpectedly. The first time you cancel within the 6-hour window, we will kindly remind you of our policy and let you know that, moving forward, we will need to charge the fee as outlined above.
2. Group Sessions:
- Due to the limited space in our group sessions, cancellations within 6 hours of the scheduled class will result in the full cost of the session being charged. This ensures that others who may be waiting for a spot in these popular sessions have a fair chance to participate.
3. Payment Responsibility:
- If you are receiving treatment via a third-party payer (including but not limited to TAC, Worksafe, DVA, CDM/EPC [Medicare]), please note that the cancellation fee cannot be charged to these payers. In such cases, the patient will be responsible for paying the fee directly.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this policy. Our goal is to provide the best possible care and service to all of our clients, and your support in keeping appointments helps us do just that.
Thank you for choosing The Osteo Collective for your healthcare needs.
What does an osteopath treat? Can you help with chronic low back pain? Do you treat sports injuries? People ask us all kinds of questions before visiting The Osteo Collective. Do you have a question for us? Get in touch.