Allied Health Services
At Benalla Health, we provide a number of services designed to assist community well-being.
These include:
- Physiotherapy
- Exercise Physiology
- Dietetics
- High Risk Foot Clinic
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Pathology
- Lymphoedema Clinic
- Counselling
- Diabetes Education
- Health Independence Programs
How To Refer
For Organisations
All referrals are sent to: BHintake@benallahealth.org.au
Benalla Community Health does not have a specific referral form. Please send a cover letter and/or a copy of the consumers admission/ discharge summary to the above email address. Please ensure to include the consumers full name, date or birth and up to date contact details.
For Individuals
Self-referral is available for some services via phone. Please contact the number listed below to make an enquiry.
For more information, contact us on 5761 4500
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy aims to restore proper functioning to the body or, in the case of permanent disease or injury, to reduce the impact of that disease or injury. Contrary to popular belief, physiotherapists aren’t limited to the rehabilitation of sports injuries and back pain. Physiotherapists can also manage:
- Neurological conditions, such as stroke
- Multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries
- Lung conditions like emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis.
- Physiotherapists can help a person to recover from surgery.
Treatment options include a wide range of manual therapies, exercise programs, electrotherapy techniques and airway clearance techniques, tailored to your specific condition. Physiotherapists can also show you how to use, and where to get, equipment aids.
Types of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an effective form of treatment for a wide range of conditions. It can also help to speed recovery after many different types of surgery. Generally, the three different types of physiotherapy include:
Musculoskeletal – to treat muscles, bones and joints (also called orthopaedic physiotherapy). Common conditions treated include back pain, sprains, strains, arthritis, bursitis, workplace and sports injuries, problems with posture, incontinence and reduced mobility. Rehabilitation after surgery is also offered.
Cardiothoracic – to treat disorders of the cardio-respiratory system including asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Rehabilitation after thoracic surgery can also be offered.
Neurological – to treat disorders of the nervous system including acquired head injuries, stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation after brain surgery can also be offered.
A holistic approach
A physiotherapist works to improve your mobility and health and to reduce the risk of injuries. In many cases, an injury is caused by a range of factors working together. For example, persistent back pain may be triggered by a combination of poor posture, being overweight, repetitive work-related activities and incorrect technique when playing sport.
The physiotherapist aims to treat the back pain, but also to address the factors that contribute to the cause. This approach aims to lessen the risk of the injury happening again.
A range of therapies
Physiotherapists draw upon a wide range of therapies, tailored to suit your individual needs. Some of these therapies include:
Manual therapies – such as massage, stretching, manual resistance training, and joint mobilisation and manipulation, including spinal mobilisation.
Electrotherapy techniques – such as ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), laser therapy and diathermy.
Exercise programs – such as posture retraining, muscle strengthening, cardiovascular training and stretching.
Other services – taping and splinting, correcting flawed sporting techniques, and providing information on equipment aids such as wheelchairs and walking frames.
Exercise Physiologist – Community Rehabilitation
An Exercise Physiologist in a community rehabilitation setting supports individuals to improve their physical function, independence, and quality of life through safe, evidence-based exercise.
We work with people living in the community who may be managing chronic conditions, pain, recovering from injury or surgeries or reduced mobility as well as people looking to improve strength, mobility, and overall physical performance.
Who We Support
- Individuals recovering from illness, injury, or surgery
- Clients experiencing deconditioning or reduced functional capacity
- Chronic conditions (like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis etc)
- Musculoskeletal conditions/injuries
- Pain management for fibromyalgia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Post-surgery or injury rehabilitation
- Mental health support (anxiety, depression, stress)
- Weight management and metabolic health
- Neurological conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), stroke, Parkinson’s disease etc
- Improving strength, mobility, and overall function for elderly aiming to maintain independence
Our Approach
Exercise programs are tailored to each individual’s abilities, goals, and environment. Sessions may take place in:
- Community health centres
- Homes visits for heart failure consumers
Programs focus on practical, functional outcomes such as:
- Improving mobility, balance, and strength
- Reducing falls risk
- Increasing confidence with daily tasks
- Supporting return to community participation
- Managing long-term health conditions
What to Expect
- Comprehensive initial assessment
- Functional and mobility-based assessment
- Individualised tailored specific exercise prescription
- Supervised and progressive exercise sessions with ongoing monitoring/reviews and program adjustments
- One-on-one or group sessions
- Education and self-management strategies
- Collaboration with your families, carers, GP, physio, or other health professionals when needed
Why Community-Based Exercise Physiology?
Community rehabilitation focuses on real-world function, helping people move better in their own environments. Exercise Physiologists are trained to work with complex needs and adapt programs to ensure exercise is safe, meaningful, and achievable.
Dietetics
Benalla Health has several accredited practising dietitians who provide expert nutrition and dietary advice to improve health. An accredited practising dietitian (APD) is a university-qualified health professional with skills to translate the latest scientific information into practical advice on what to eat.
Benalla Health's dietitians can provide dietary advice and support for the following conditions:
- Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, pre-diabetes and gestational)
- Heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Cancer
- Gastrointestinal diseases including bowel surgery
- Disordered eating and eating disorders
Dietitians also provide information and education for:
- Childhood nutrition
- Healthy & safe eating during pregnancy
- Nutritionally adequate vegetarian and vegan eating
Each consultation will include an assessment of your individual nutrition needs and development of personalised dietary goals.
Benalla Health is also a Department of Health Home Enteral Nutrition Service (HENS) funded provider for those eligible.
For more information on Accredited Practising Dietitians please visit Dietitians Australia.
High Risk Foot Clinic
The High Fisk Foot Clinic commenced in 2010 at Benalla Health with the aim to take a collaborative approach to a client's care to improve their chronic disease self-management and wound healing outcomes.
The clinic is lead by a Senior Podiatrist and Registered Nurse. Our team works closely with GPs, District Nursing, Specialist/Surgeons and other health providers to ensure the best outcome for our clients.
Services provided include assessment and management of the following:
- toe or foot wounds
- lower leg wounds (below the knee)
- acute and/or chronic Charcot Neuroarthropathy
- vascular and neurological testing
- lower leg oedema and lymphoedema
"Last year I developed an ulcer on my right heel …my GP treated this … with no success at all. He referred me to your clinic where treatment had the desired result and the ulcer is now completely cured."
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy focuses on enabling individuals to improve their independence in meaningful daily activities. 'Occupations' refers to all activities a person engages in such as personal care, household duties, accessing and involvement in the community, work, study or leisure.
Occupational therapist assess:
- The individuals ability to perform their chosen occupation (including personal, domestic and community tasks).
- The environment in which the person performs their occupation.
- The unique ways in which individuals participate in occupations.
Occupational therapist interventions aim to:
- Build the skills and capacity of the individual to enable participation in their chosen occupation; providing education, prescribing assistive equipment and by modifying environments.
- Promote health and well-being through optimising the individuals ability to engage in occupations that enhance their health.
Some examples of occupational therapy includes:
- Making a shower safe by installing grab rails for a person that has experienced a fall.
- Assessing and training a person to use a scooter to access their community.
- Retraining an individual that has had a stroke to use their arm and hand in order to be able to write.
- Providing recommendations to inpatients to enable a safe return home during hospital admissions.
We do not provide a service to recipients of NDIS, HCP, DVA, TCA. We do not provide a paediatric service.
Speech pathology
Speech pathology at Benalla Health can help with a range of speech conditions.
We cater for preschool children and adults over the age of 18 years.
Our staff are trained to assist people with difficulties producing speech sounds, stuttering, forming sentences, understanding spoken language, swallowing difficulties and voice disorders.
One in seven Australians have difficulty communicating. This impacts their behaviour and self-esteem, and their ability to learn and socialise.
- Do you have a two-year-old child who isn’t talking?
- Is your four-year-old child’s speech difficult to understand?
- Do you regularly lose your voice?
- Do you cough when you eat or drink?
Our speech pathology team is available to assist you and your family with any of the above issues.
For further information, please download a fact sheet.
"I am very impressed with the quality of services we have experienced at Benalla Health. I have felt very comfortable and most welcomed and we are making great headway with our speech therapy sessions."
"My child has improved her speech in such a short period of time."
Lymphoedema Clinic
What is Lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling of a limb or a body region such as arms, legs and breasts. Protein-rich fluid accumulates in the tissues due to the lymphatic system not functioning as it should.
What causes Lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema can occur as a result of cancer treatment, surgery, trauma, venous insufficiency, obesity, genetics or other interference with lymphatic vessels and nodes. It is a chronic condition that cannot be cured and requires ongoing lifelong management on the part of the person who has it. The effects of the condition are physical, psychological, social and economic.
Who is the Clinic for?
Benalla Health Lymphoedema Clinic is able to provide a service for consumers with upper limb, lower limb and breast lymphoedema. We are unable to service consumers with abdominal or genetical lymphoedema at this time.
How can the Clinic help you?
The clinic provides education for consumers with or at risk of developing lymphoedema. The service places emphasis on self-management, prescription of compression garments and equipment to support self-management as well as structured exercise programs.
Services include:
- Education on appropriate skincare
- Specific exercises tailed at your individual condition
- Prescription compression therapy specially for your needs
- Education on self-lymphatic drainage
- Intermittent pneumatic compression pump therapy
- Treatment of Lymphatic Cording/Axillary Web Syndrome.
How much will it cost?
This is a publicly funded service, there is no cost for appointments. There may be a cost for prescribed compression garments depending on eligibility with various funding bodies.
How do I access the Clinic (ie. Referral)?
Referrals are accepted from:
- Consumers GP or Specialist
- Internal medical, nursing and other allied health professionals.
- Referrals will not be accepted from the consumer themselves, carers, caseworkers or family members.