About US
Improving health and wellbeing
Osteopath Heath Williams started Principle Four Osteopath in 2010 with a focus on integrating manual therapy and exercise and strength conditioning so that clients could move from pain management to improving their overall health and wellbeing.
LOCATION
Principle Four Osteopathy is located in the heart of the Melbourne City CBD at Pleasance House, Level 4b, 178 Collins St Melbourne 3000.
We are located next to the Athenaeum theatre on Collins St which is near the corner of Collins St and Swanston St Melbourne City CBD.
HOW TO GET THERE
Train: We are only a short 5-minute walk from Flinders St train station, Melbourne Central train station or Parliament train station.
Tram: Catch a tram down Collins St or Swanston St and get off near the corner of Collins St/Swanston St or Collins St/Russell St. We are 2-minute walk from these two intersections.
Parking: There is off street parking (Wilson – 181 Little Collins st, T&G Wilson parking Russell st, Wilson 222 Russell st). There are 60-minute street parking available on Collins St and 2 hours available on Russell St.
FACTS
- We ask that you please arrive at the clinic five minutes early and take a seat in our waiting area which is located on the opposite side of our entrance within our exercise rehab studio
- We have a toilet and shower onsite if required.
- We accept Hicaps/Suncorp, Cash, EFTPOS, VISA and MasterCard.
- We ask that you pay for your consultation on the day of your appointment.
- We require 12 hours’ notice if you are unable to attend your consultation (a cancellation fee may apply for short notice cancellations < 12 hours’ notice.
- Should you be under the Medicare chronic disease management plan, WorkCover, TAC or veterans affairs scheme, please contact us prior to booking an appointment and seeing one of our osteopaths as you will be required to bring with you relevant claim numbers and information relating to your treatment and management.
PRIVATE HEALTH REBATE
We accept all Hicaps Private Health Funds onsite so that you can claim your rebate on the spot.
Note: Please check with your provider as to the rebate amount offered for osteopathy services.
Medicare Chronic Disease Management Plan
Osteopathic treatment can be covered by Medicare if you are eligible for the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) care plan. You can be eligible for this if you are suffering from a chronic medical complaint. If you are eligible, you will need to visit your GP who will write up a referral. You can receive a maximum of five osteopathic consultations per year that Medicare will provide a rebate for. CDM referrals will be billed at our standard consultation fees, with the Medicare rebate being billed directly to Medicare so that you are only required to pay the gap payment. Click here to read more about Medicare CDM.
WORKCOVER AND TAC
Our Principle Four Osteopathy osteopaths are registered Workcover and TAC service providers. If you are claiming osteopathic care through Workcover or TAC, Principle Four Osteopathy requires accounts to be settled on the day of treatment.
Click here to read about Workcover and Osteopathy.
Click here to read about TAC and Osteopathy.
make a booking now
Click the button to make a booking through our online booking system, or contact us on (03) 9670 9290
FAQs
If you are a new booked to see one of our Osteopaths at our Melbourne osteopathy clinic or you are wanting to find out more information about Principle Four Osteopathy and what’s involved, we have put together a list of commonly asked questions and answers below for you to review.
If you have a question that we haven’t answered in our FAQs section below, please email info@principle4.com and one of our osteopaths will respond as soon as possible.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DOES MY OSTEOPATH HAVE?
Osteopaths in Australia undertake 5 years of full-time study. This consists of a 3-year Bachelor Science (clinical science) and 2 years master’s degree in Health Science (Osteopathy).
Osteopaths are required by law to register with the Australian Board of Osteopaths and complete 25 hours of continued professional development annually.
The majority of Osteopath’s in Australia register with the Australian Osteopathic Association who represent the Osteopathic profession within Australia.
DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE MY OSTEOPATH?
No, anyone can make an appointment with an Osteopath. However, your general practitioner or specialist may recommend osteopathic treatment for certain conditions or problems. If you are unsure as to whether your specific complaint can be helped by Osteopathy, please call or email Principle Four Osteopathy
HOW LONG WILL MY APPOINTMENT TAKE?
Initial appointments are approximately 60 minutes. Follow up appointments are 30-40 minutes, with longer follow up appointments of 60 minutes being available should you have a complex complaint or multiple complaints.
SHOULD I BRING MY X-RAYS WITH ME?
Yes. If you have any relevant information (X-rays, CT, MRI, Ultrasound scans or doctors’ letters and reports), please bring these with you so that your Osteopath can review these.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Osteopathic consults
Osteopaths perform a detailed physical examination of the body to identify the problem. You may be asked by the Osteopath to dress down to your underwear (so please ensure you dress appropriately). Gowns are available to clients if they so choose to wear one.
Movement assessment, exercise rehabilitation and strength and conditioning consults
Please bring loose fitting clothing and shoes that you can perform exercise in. Please bring a towel with you also to the consult.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY FIRST APPOINTMENT?
Your first Osteopathic consultation will involve a detailed case history, physical examination and explanation of what they suspect is going on. If treatment is appropriate, manual therapy and further management advice and a prognosis will be given. If your Osteopath believes a referral for further investigation or an appointment with a GP is required, then they will refer you as required.
All clients should expect to have a clearer understanding as to what the cause of their complaint is and the best way of managing it.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The number of osteopathic treatments required can vary greatly depending on the nature of the complaint. Some individuals only require a few (2-5) treatments, whereas other more chronic complaints may require more.
Your osteopath will discuss with you during the consultation as to what they think is most appropriate for your particular condition. Principle Four Osteopathy philosophy is to work with the client in attaining their goals, whether this be to move more freely without pain or to reach a specific goal. At Principle Four Osteopathy believe our role is to help provide the client with the tools and strategies to help facilitate the change required for them to achieve their goals. Therefore, it is expected and required that all clients take an active role in the process of recovery or pathway to reaching their specific goals.
WHAT IF I NEED A REFERRAL FOR ASSESSMENT OR INVESTIGATION?
If the Osteopath thinks you would benefit from further investigations or other treatment modalities, they will discuss this with you and refer directly for imaging or to the appropriate professional.
DO YOU CHARGE FOR REFERRAL LETTERS?
No. All referral letters are inclusive of the consultation. At Principle 4 we believe in offering clients the best comprehensive service possible. The Osteopath may ask you if you are happy for them to update your GP on their condition and progress of treatment.
If the Osteopath believes they cannot help you or that there are more effective means of treatment and management of your particular condition, they will refer you to those who can best assist you.
WHAT IS THE MEDICARE CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM?
The Medicare Chronic Disease Management Program has been established for individuals with chronic conditions and complex care needs. A Medicare rebate is available for a maximum of 5 treatments per calendar year and patients must have a GP management plan and team care arrangements organised by their GP. If you think that you might be eligible for this, then it is recommended that you speak with our GP regarding this. Once referred to the Osteopath under the CDM program, the Osteopath will report back to the GP regarding the referral.