FAQ

Things You Should Know

What is an Exercise Physiologist?
Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) are University qualified, allied health professionals. They specialise is evidence-based, personalised exercise programs with the overall goal of preventing or managing chronic illness or injury and assisting in achieving your optimal functional capacity, health and wellness. The programs are practical and personalised with a home-based component that has a strong focus on successfully changing behaviours for a healthier lifestyle and healthier you.
An AEP can help by providing motivation and by designing a program of exercise or physical activity, with your input, that is both appropriate and effective, without being scary or impossible to achieve or maintain. They create programs that will take into account your capacity to exercise and any health issues you may have.
So, they don’t just work with healthy people who want to improve their health and fitness. An AEP can also help you to better manage such health issues as heart, metabolic or neurological disease, musculoskeletal injury and pain, cancer and cancer treatment, kidney and lung disease and mental health, and any other conditions where there is evidence that exercise can help to improve the person’s outcome.
Will I be able to manage the exercises, or will they be too hard?
Every new client has an initial assessment where their health history and current issues and goals are discussed, along with their previous and current physical activity experiences. From there, and this continuing discussion, a plan is designed to help meet the client’s goals in a safe and enjoyable way.
This may mean a period of one-on-one visits with their Exercise Physiologist or it may mean participating in a group class that meets their needs or a combination of both. We offer both options.
But be assured, whatever the case, you will be treated as an individual and your exercise experience will be tailored to your individual needs, capacity and interests – nothing else is sustainable and our goal is always to help you make a permanent, positive lifestyle change.
I haven’t been able to make the changes I know I need to on my own, can you help me?
Marlene has about a decade of working in exercise and rehabilitation having begun at a personal level where she was amazed at the results and then moving into the Statewide football scene (and some weekends working with visiting AFL Teams) as a Sports Trainer and Medical Team member whilst studying to become an Exercise Scientist and then an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
We have an overwhelming passion for wellness whether it be an athlete recovering from an injury or looking for a better balance of training or whether it be a person struggling to lose weight or an older person wanting to maintain their independence and functional capacity. Our goal is always to help you be the best possible version of yourself so that you can live a happier and healthier life. We will be there, on your team, listening to you and supporting and motivating you the whole way. Experience gives us the tools to help you make a change and passion gives us the energy and enthusiasm to help get you there.
What can I expect at my first Exercise Physiology appointment?
The first appointment, which is about an hour long, is basically a history taking and getting to know you and your goals session. There will be a lot of sharing of information including medical history, physical activity history, your specific goals or needs, and an assessment of your relevant physical capacity.
If you are having an initial assessment prior to joining one of our 3R’s Group classes, you will also undertake a full assessment of your weight, body composition, balance, strength and capacity to walk.
Education on how exercise can help you is provided and some guidance on diet if required. Then a printed exercise program is designed, based around the information collected from you. The exercises are then demonstrated and you are coached through themto ensure good technique. A video version of the exercise program is also available to people who have access to the internet.
Do I need a referral to see an Exercise Physiologist?
No. You can see us as a private patient and if you have it, you can use your private health insurance.
However, if you have a Care Plan or if you are and eligible Veteran with a Gold Card or White card, your GP may be able to refer you to us for Exercise Physiology if they thought it medically indicated. In this case either Medicare or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs would rebate at least some of the cost of your appointments.
Speak to your GP to see if this applies to you. We accept EPC Referrals and are also linked to cdmNet.
Are there any rebates or subsidies available to cover some of the cost of Exercise Physiology?
Yes. There are 3 types of rebate or subsidy available to eligible clients.
Medicare provides 5 subsidised Allied Health Referrals for clients who have a GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement Care Plan. They also provide a Group Allied Health Referral which subsidises 1 Assessment and 8 Group session – this is the referral we use for our 3R’s of Diabetes Group Program. Talk to your GP to find out if you might be eligible.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs funds allied health appointments for eligible Gold Card and White Card holders for conditions where Exercise Physiology is deemed a clinically necessary treatment. Talk to your GP to find out if you might be eligible.
The final option is private health insurance if you have it. More and more health insurance policies are including cover for Exercise Physiology in their Extras. Talk to your Health Insurance Provider to see if you are covered.
What should I bring to my appointments/sessions?
An Exercise Physiology appointment will include a certain amount of physical activity to assess where you are and to help design a program that is just right for you. So, please wear clothes that are comfortable to move around in and shoes that are stable to stand and move in such as joggers.
Please bring along a list of your current medications to your first appointment if you are seeing us as a private client. If you are seeing us because you have a referral from your doctor, we will probably already have that information, but it doesn’t hurt to have it with you just in case.
And please remember to bring along any medication that you may need during the appointment - such as asthma inhalers, angina medication or some form of glucose if you have diabetes.
Where are you located?
We currently work out of several locations.
Marlene sees both private and GP referred clients at the Launceston Medical Centre (The Hub) at:
274 Wellington Street
South Launceston 72520
Phone: 03 6388 8115
We also run some aged care specific Exercise Groups. New eligible clients are welcome to join the group at the Italian Day Centre on Tuesdays at 11am. You will need to be over 65 years of age and register with the Day Centre, but you don’t need to be Italian. Once registered you can participate in all their activities and join them for a midday meal on the day. Contact the Day Centre for more information.
Australian Italian Club
414 Westbury Road
Prospect 7250
Phone: 03 6234 2443 Email: infor@italiandaycentre.com
We will shortly be restarting our 3R’s Group Program for people with Type 2 Diabetes. This will be run as an hour of exercise and half an hour of education each week for 8 weeks. GP Referrals will be required.
Subscribe to our Updates on our Home Page now to be the first to hear about our new programs. These groups are always popular.

Things You May Like to Know

Are Exercise Physiologists the same as Personal Trainers?
No. Personal trainers are qualified to work with healthy population clients. These are people who want to improve their strength or fitness and have no underlying health issues which may impact on them exercising.
Exercise Physiologists are University trained and specialise in working with people who have underlying health issues such as chronic disease, cancer, or muscle or joint injuries or chronic pain. They have an in depth understanding of disease processes and how they, and the interventions and medications used to treat them, impact on the type and intensity of exercise prescribed to these people.
Exercise Physiologists also can and do, work with healthy population clients such as athletes and those who are looking at improving their strength and conditioning.
Are Exercise Physiologists the same as Physiotherapists?
No. Physiotherapists are also University trained and are specialists in musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation, though many do go on to gain further qualifications and specialisations to widen their scope of practice. They provide a high degree of manual therapy through massage and manipulation and dry needling, taping and bracing and are specialists in the acute (early) phase of injury rehabilitation. Physiotherapists can diagnose an injury and they can also order X-rays for their clients.
Exercise Physiologists provide a primarily hands-off treatment – except in the assessment phase of our treatment. They cannot diagnose injuries or order X-rays. They specialise in providing anexercise-based therapy as a treatment for the management and prevention of disease and the sub-acute and functional rehabilitation of injuries. They have an indepth understanding of disease processes and how they, and the interventions and medications used to treat them, impact on the type and intensity of exercise prescribed to these people.
Do you do insurance work such as Worker’s Compensation and MAIB?
Yes, We are experienced in working with both Workers’ Compensation and MAIB insured clients with musculoskeletal injuries, acquired brain injuries and clients with mental health issues related to the workplace or injuries received.

Further Information