Can I Get Physiotherapy Treatment After a Work Injury?

If you’ve been injured at work, one of your top priorities should be recovery—both physically and financially. Many workers in Victoria don’t realise that physiotherapy is often one of the first and most effective treatments after a work-related injury. The good news? Yes, you can access physiotherapy after a work injury, and in many cases, you won’t need to pay anything out of pocket once your WorkSafe claim is accepted.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know: from what to do immediately after getting injured, to accessing WorkSafe-covered physiotherapy in suburbs like Richmond and South Yarra, to understanding how to get free or no-gap physiotherapy sessions with a registered provider.

What Makes Our Clinic Proficient in Work Related Physiotherapy Care?

At SportsHealth Physiotherapy in Richmond and in South Yarra, our physiotherapists have acquired certifications through the Early Intervention Physiotherapy Framework , a program designed by worksafe victoria to further train physiotherapists to efficiently manage work related injuries in the state.

As Physiotherapists we are trained to assess, diagnose and treat muscle, joint, nerve and tendon injuries—which are among the most common injuries sustained at work. Whether you’ve experienced lower back pain from heavy lifting, shoulder strain from repetitive work, or neck pain from poor ergonomics at a desk job, early physiotherapy intervention can help you:

• Manage pain and inflammation

• Regain strength and flexibility

• Prevent long-term disability

• Safely return to work sooner

Both our Richmond Physiotherapy Clinic and South Yarra Physiotherapy Clinic have post graduate physiotherapists with specialised masters degrees in injury rehabilitation. We aim to provide you with a same day appointment whenever possible in order to minimize any delay in starting your treatment, especially when returning to work safely is a high priority.

How to Access Physiotherapy Through WorkSafe Victoria

If you’ve been injured at work in Victoria, WorkSafe offers a compensation scheme that allows you to receive funded physiotherapy treatment. Below are the details on how the process works and what you need before you are eligible for physiotherapy care at either of our clinics in Melbourne.

1. Report the Injury Immediately

As soon as the injury occurs, you must:

• Notify your employer as soon as possible, most importantly, within 30 days of your injury.

• Fill out an incident report form at work. Your HR team will be able to provide you with one.

• See a GP for an official assessment of your injury.

2. Lodge a WorkSafe Claim

To receive funded physiotherapy treatment, you will need to submit a WorkCover claim form to your employer. You’ll also need a Certificate of Capacity from your GP outlining your injury and work limitations.

Once the claim is lodged, your employer’s WorkSafe insurance agent will assess and approve (or decline) the claim.

3. Start Physiotherapy Early – Even Before Claim Approval! - We are EIPF Certified!

You can actually begin up to five physiotherapy sessions immediately, even before your claim is formally approved. These sessions are pre-approved under WorkSafe guidelines to ensure early intervention.

You’ll need to:

• Choose a physiotherapist who is registered with WorkSafe - All our Physiotherapists at Richmond and South Yarra are registered.

• Ensure your GP provides a referral to physiotherapy

• Provide your physiotherapist with your injury details and claim number (if available)

Once your claim is accepted, WorkSafe will cover:

• Ongoing treatment costs: We do NOT charge a gap fee for your treatment and ongoing care!

• Any additional referrals or services required such as MRI or xray scans are covered under the work cover scheme.

• Communication between your physio, GP, and employer is covered by worksafe at no added cost to you when you attend on of our clinics.

No Gap Physiotherapy: What Does That Mean?

In many clinics—especially in areas like Richmond and South Yarra—WorkSafe-approved physiotherapists offer “no gap” treatment, meaning:

• You pay nothing out of pocket.

• The physiotherapist bills WorkSafe directly for all your treatments.

• You can focus on recovery, not financial stress as we guide you back to work duties safely.

If you already see a physiotherapist you can ask the clinic whether they offer bulk billing for WorkSafe patients.

At our clinic, for example, we provide:

• Hands-on therapy for immidiate pain management

• Pain management through electrotherapy modalities that can help relieve pain and get you started with your rehab process.

• Return-to-work rehabilitation: A step by step guide which takes biological healing timelines in consideration along with your physical capacity in the early stages of your injury.

• Shockwave therapy (at no extra charge): One of the most effective treatments for muscle, joint, ligament and tendon injuries, Shockwave therapy has become very widely used in both medical and physiotherapy clinics. At our Richmond physiotherapy and south yarra physiotherapy clinics, we offer this service at no extra charge.

• Physio-monitored exercise programs: We use the latest in technology to ensures that you get the most comprehensive home based exercise plans. Our exercise programs are all easey to understand video based plans that can be followed on your phone in the comfort of your home!

What Types of Work Injuries Do We Help Treat?

Some of the most common workplace injuries treated by our clinical physiotherapists include:

• Lower back pain from lifting, twisting or prolonged sitting

• Neck and shoulder pain from poor posture or repetitive tasks

• Tendonitis (e.g. tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries)

• Knee pain from slips, falls or repetitive strain

• Wrist and hand injuries from typing, tools or machinery

• Muscle strains and sprains

• Post-surgical rehabilitation for fractures or ligament repairs

Treatment plans are tailored to your injury, your job, and your recovery goals. The physiotherapist will often liaise with your GP, employer, and WorkSafe case manager to guide your return-to-work plan safely and confidently.

What Happens After the Initial Five Sessions?

Once your claim is approved, you can continue to receive physiotherapy under WorkSafe funding with no gap out of pocket payments!

At our clinics, your physiotherapist will:

• Provide treatment updates to your GP and WorkSafe case manager, outlining your situation.

• Reassess your function and progress through physical assessment and questionnaires.

• Adjust your rehab plan as needed, specially in accordance with your work duties that you need to return to.

If additional services are required—such as clinical Pilates, ergonomic assessments, or specialist referrals—your physiotherapist will request approval through WorkSafe.

Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Injured Worker

You have the right to:

• Access quality treatment from registered health providers.

• Return to work safely and gradually to ensure no injury reccurence.

• Be reimbursed for medical and travel costs related to treatment you recieve at Richmond or South Yarra Physiotherapy clinics.

• Choose your own physiotherapist and GP after doing your research. Remember to look for physiotherapists registered under the Early Intervention Physiotherapy Framework!

You are responsible for:

• Attending medical and physiotherapy appointments as recommended by your healthcare professional.

• Following your rehabilitation plan as diligently as possible.

• Communicating openly with your employer and WorkSafe agent about any problems or concerns that you may have during the course of your recovery.

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