Client Information And FAQs
What Is An Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)?
AEP’s are university qualified allied health professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for people with acute, sub-acute or chronic medical conditions, injuries or disabilities.
Pathology domains covered by the services of AEPs include cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, musculoskeletal, cancers, kidney, respiratory / pulmonary and mental health, and any other conditions/disability for which there is evidence that exercise can improve the client’s clinical status.
Exercise & Sports Science Australia is the peak professional body and sole accrediting authority for Accredited Exercise Physiologists. ESSA is also the accrediting body for Accredited Exercise Scientists, Accredited Sports Scientists and Accredited High Performance Managers.
How to Gain and Maintain AEP Accreditation with ESSA?
To gain AEP accreditation with ESSA, an individual must:
1. Graduate from a minimum of 4 years of study in an ESSA accredited course meeting the AQF requirements for Level 7 that leads to bachelor degree qualifications.
2. Meet the professional standards for exercise science, leading to accreditation as an Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES)*, including 140 hours of practical experience for the purpose of undertaking an exercise intervention to improve health and fitness, wellbeing or performance, or focus on prevention of chronic conditions.
3. Meet the professional standards for exercise physiology, including 360 hours of practical experience with clients with clinical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurological)
4. AEPs are dual accredited, holding the foundational accreditation of AES in addition to their AEP status.
To maintain accreditation with ESSA, an AEP is required to:
1. Hold and maintain a valid first aid and CPR certificate.
2. Hold and maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
3. Complete an annual continuing professional program comprising 20 points per annum.
4. Uphold the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice.
Check out our team!
Frequently Asked Questions
We have great coverage. We deliver Exercise Physiology services to clients across all suburbs in Newcastle, the Central Coast, the Hunter Valley, and Port Stephens.
We can also consult with clients Australia-wide, via telehealth.
For clinic based consultations you can see us at: 1/316 Maitland Road, Mayfield, 2304.
Absolutely! We have great relationships with the majority of gyms and hydrotherapy centres within our service area.
We cover our own entry, so long as the participant/worker covers their own entry.
No unfortunately gym and pool memberships are a cost for the participant to manage.
Under workers compensation it will depend on whether it is deemed reasonable and necessary by the insurer.
We are happy to help people cover the costs of basic exercise equipment if we deem it helpful for them to achieve their NDIS goals.
Unfortunately, we cannot pay for extensive exercise equipment under the NDIS.
Under WorkCover if deemed reasonable and necessary we may purchase basic equipment with insurer approval.
Yes.
We charge WorkCover travel in line with the SIRA Exercise Physiology fees schedule.
We charge NDIS travel as follows:
– If the session takes place within 30 minutes drive from Mayfield Clinic, we charge 15 minutes.
– If the session takes place greater than 30 minutes drive from Mayfield Clinic, we cap travel at 30 minutes.
If you want to minimise travel costs, you can discuss session length of session, clinic visits, location options, and/or online sessions with your Exercise Physiologist.
The initial assessment is where the client and Exercise Physiologist get to meet for the first time.
The purpose of the initial assessment is for the client and Exercise Physiologist to get to know each other, discuss goals, discuss health history, assess current status (questionnaires and basic physical assessments), and most importantly collaborate together to develop an individualised exercise plan.
The initial assessment is usually more talk based, rather than exercise based – the majority of exercises begin after the initial assessment.
*NDIS participants also complete a Service Agreement at the end of the initial assessment.
No two programs look the same, so we really can’t know this until after the initial assessment.
The reason for this is that we take an individualised approach, not a ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Some of the factors that determine what a program look like include: client goals, client exercise preferences and likes, disability/medical conditions, safety, and current evidence around what is effective.
Programs can be delivered at home, in the gym, at a hydrotherapy centre, online, in clinic or in the community (or a combination of multiple options).
This is different for everyone.
In an ideal world, we help people to be able to self-manage their exercises and they can manage independently into the future. For some, this may be achieved in just a few consultations.
For others with more complex needs, and who may not be able to self-manage consultations may be more regular and continue for a longer period of time.
For NDIS participants, we usually focus on making a short to medium term plan based around their current NDIS plan period, then review periodically when the plan review is approaching to determine future needs.
For Injured Workers, we generally taper our sessions as self-management increases up until the time that return to life/work goals have been achieved.
We have been in operation since 2019 and the longest wait list we have ever had is two weeks, and even that was only for a short period of time. We have managed to hire and retain quality team members which has allowed us to meet increasing demand and avoid wait times. We aim to complete initial assessments within five days of receiving a referral.
We are strong advocates of early, active, work specific rehabilitation for clients with acute/sub-acute neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and/or psychological injury including but not limited to: ligament damage, muscular damage, fractures, postural issues, whiplash, neural conditions, post-surgical, depression, anxiety, stress, and/or PTSD.
We also assist clients with chronic work-related conditions to upgrade their capacity for work, and most importantly improve the quality of life outside of work.
We help with: chronic pain, fear avoidance, musculoskeletal de-conditioning, weight management, restoring range of motion, work specific functional upgrading, and work hardening for durability.
Additionally, we have extensive experience working with NDIS participants with a wide range of disabilities.
We help all NDIS participants and Injured Workers.
Within the NDIS
Physical Disabilities: Cerebral Palsy, Paraplegia, Cystic Fibrosis, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Amputation, Chronic Pain, Acquired Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries, Spina Bifida, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, Hearing/Vision Impairment.
Psychosocial Disabilities: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD.
Intellectual Disabilities: Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Prader Willi, Autism, ADHD, ADD, Fragile X Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Within WorkCover / CTP
We are strong advocates of early, active, work specific rehabilitation for clients with acute/sub-acute neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and/or psychological injury including but not limited to: ligament damage, muscular damage, fractures, postural issues, whiplash, neural conditions, post-surgical, depression, anxiety, stress, and/or PTSD.
We also assist clients with chronic work-related conditions to upgrade their capacity for work, and most importantly improve the quality of life outside of work.
We help with: chronic pain, fear avoidance, musculoskeletal de-conditioning, weight management, restoring range of motion, work specific functional upgrading, and work hardening for durability.
This is completely dependant on an individuals situation.
At a minimum we recommend 3.5 hours which would allow us to travel, complete an assessment and complete a report which could then be taken to a plan review to discuss with your NDIS Planner.
Some people who already have funding for Exercise Physiology, may wish to trial the service before fully committing -10 hours of funding would allow for this.
Other people are committed to Exercise Physiology and may factor in up to 2-3 hours per week to help them towards their goals.
It is all very individualised and we certainly respect choice and control.
Exercise Physiology is a Capacity Building Support.
You can use funding from either of the two Capacity Building categories to access Exercise Physiology:
– Improved Daily Living (CB Daily Activity).
– Improved Health & Wellbeing (CB Health and Wellbeing).
No, unfortunately we cannot accept Core funding for Exercise Physiology.
A lot less than you may think.
Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists both need to complete at least four years of university training to become qualified. They are both classified as allied health professionals. They are both trained in prescribing exercise, education and behaviour change interventions to help participants achieve their goals.
Physiotherapists are able to provide manual therapy and diagnose, however as we know diagnosis is usually irrelevant in the NDIS as diagnosis is established before someone qualifies for the NDIS, and benefits of manual therapy for chronic conditions and disabilities is questionable.
As Exercise Physiologists spend ALL of their time focussing on delivering exercise, education and behaviour change interventions (and no diagnosis/manual therapy), it is safe to say that they are the specialists in that area, and there is no profession in Australia more highly trained when it comes to that.
Additionally, the current NDIS rate for Exercise Physiology is $166.99, while the current NDIS rate for Physiotherapy is $193.99. This means participants choosing Exercise Physiology will get ~16% more value, out of choosing Exercise Physiology over Physiotherapy.
Note: within both professions practitioners have sub-specialisations – it would be ideal to link with a practitioner that has a sub-specialisation in the disability/condition that you are seeking assistance with.
Absolutely!
The quickest and easiest way to start Exercise Physiology with Uplift is to fill out our online referral form – see ‘Quick Referral’ top right of the page. Once this form is filled out, it will be received and reviewed by the team manager who can immediately begin processing the referral into our system.
Once processed into the system, it is allocated to the most appropriate Exercise Physiologist (considering geography, complexity, gender requests etc.) and the Exercise Physiologist will be in contact to book an initial assessment at an agreed time, date and location.
