Emergency Information

Allied health services

At Benalla Health, we provide a number of services designed to assist community well-being.

These include:

For more information or to book an appointment for Benalla Health services please call us or drop in to our Centre which is open weekdays 8.30am to 5pm. Phone (03) 5761 4500 or visit us at 45 Coster Street, Benalla.

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.

Dietitian services


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 and pre-diabetes)
  • Heart disease, cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Food allergies or intolerances
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal diseases including bowel surgery

Dietitians also provide Information and education for:

  • Childhood nutrition
  • Eating during pregnancy
  • Healthy vegetarian and vegan eating

Each consultation will include an assessment of your individual nutrition needs and development of personalised dietary goals. Other Services include the following:

  • Health promotion
  • Home Enteral Nutrition Service (HENS)
  • Group Education

To book an appointment with a dietitian please call Benalla Community Health on (03) 5761 4500.

For more information on Accredited Practising Dietitians please visit the Dietitians Association of Australia website or the Better Health Channel

High Risk Foot Clinic 


Our High Risk Foot Clinic team currently consists of an allied health team.

It is aimed at people who may have a wound on their foot that isn't healing or a history of foot or lower limb wounds.

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.

Our team works closely with GPs, district nursing, the Health Independence Program and other health providers to ensure the best outcome for our clients.

The team includes:

  • Podiatrist
  • Registered nurse
  • Credentialed diabetes educator 
  • Dietician

How do I access this service?

Usually your GP will make a referral to our service, however other clinicians can make a referral on your behalf.

Phone:  (03) 5761 4500

"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

The occcupational therapy program at Benalla Health offers a wide range of services, including, but not limited to:

  • Falls prevention and hazard identification
  • Assessment for provision of assistance aids and equipment
  • Home assessments
  • Pressure care assessment and management
  • Cognitive assessment
  • Upper limb assessment and retraining
  • Personal alarm applications
  • Wheelchair and seating assessments
  • Scooter and electric wheelchair assessments and training
  • Education on energy conservation

If you would like to book an appointment, or enquire if seeing an occupational therapist could assist you, please phone Benalla Community Health on (03) 5761 4500.

To discover how an individual  may benefit from this type of therapy an occupational therapist must first explore what "occupations" a person is involved in. Occupation is commonly thought of as paid employment.  However occupations actually refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, families and with communities to occupy their time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include activities that people need to do, want to do, or are expected to do.

Occupations include activities such as:

  • Showering
  • Accessing the supermarket
  • Writing a letter
  • Playing sport 
  • Working
     
What is occupational therapy?

The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in activities of daily life, otherwise known as occupations.  Occupational therapists promote health and well being by working with people and communities to modify tasks or environments to provide people with the opportunity to engage in the occupations, or daily activities that they want or need to be able to do.

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
  • Teaching a child with a disability to throw a ball
  • Helping a person that has been injured return to paid employment.

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 on 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 consumer 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, 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 public funded service. There is no cost for appointments. There may be a cost for prescribed compression garments depending on eligibility for 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.

All referrals are processed through Benalla Health Intake intake@benallahealth.org.au. Once your referral is received and processed, you will be contacted to notify you of your appointment time or if you have been places on a waitlist.

General Information:

The clinic operates Tuesday mornings and Thursday’s out of the Community Rehabilitation Centre.
58 Samaria Road, Benalla.