Hub & Spoke Health is a multidisciplinary allied health provider based in Melbourne, offering physiotherapy, remedial massage and acupuncture from its Balaclava clinic at 28 to 30 William Street. The clinic brings several disciplines together under one roof, so your care stays coordinated and nothing gets lost between appointments.
Whether you are dealing with an injury, managing chronic pain, recovering from surgery, or simply need hands-on treatment to keep your body moving well, having your allied health team in one place makes it easier to get consistent, connected care.
This guide covers what an allied health clinic is, the services available in Balaclava, what a first appointment involves, how care is funded in Australia, and why a multidisciplinary setup tends to produce better outcomes.
What Is an Allied Health Clinic?
An allied health clinic is a healthcare practice staffed by qualified professionals who are not doctors or nurses but who provide essential therapeutic and rehabilitation support. According to Allied Health Professions Australia, allied health encompasses more than 20 distinct professions, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, psychologists, podiatrists, speech pathologists and massage therapists.
These professionals assist with recovery after illness or injury, manage chronic health conditions, improve mobility and strength, and support long-term wellbeing. In practical terms, allied health often covers the hands-on, goal-oriented care that sits between a GP’s diagnosis and your day-to-day recovery.
A clinic-based allied health practice brings several of these disciplines into a single location. Rather than booking appointments at three separate practices across the city, you see your practitioners in the same space, where they can share information about your progress and adjust your care plan together.
Services at the Balaclava Clinic
Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic currently runs three core services from its converted warehouse space on William Street: physiotherapy for musculoskeletal and movement conditions, remedial massage for deep soft-tissue treatment and recovery, and acupuncture for pain relief and wellbeing. More services are planned as the team grows.
Physiotherapy
AHPRA-registered physiotherapists at the clinic assess and treat musculoskeletal and movement conditions. This covers sports injuries, post-surgery rehabilitation, chronic back and neck pain, sciatica, and the everyday aches that build up over time.
Physiotherapy at the Balaclava clinic is also well suited to gym-goers and anyone doing regular strength or conditioning work. The team can address training-related issues, refine movement technique and help build a body that holds up to the load you put through it. Each treatment plan is tailored to your goals, giving you a clear path back to moving comfortably.
Remedial Massage
Remedial massage therapists work on the deeper structural causes of pain, treating muscles, fascia and soft tissue where tension accumulates. This suits chronic neck and shoulder tightness, lower back pain, postural strain from desk work, sports recovery, and stress-related muscle tension.
For anyone training regularly, remedial massage eases overworked muscles and delayed onset soreness, restoring range of motion and helping you return to training sooner. Health fund rebates are available on the day through HICAPS for eligible clients.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture treatments at the clinic support pain relief, muscle tension, headaches, stress and general wellbeing. Treatment draws on evidence-informed technique to help your body settle and recover. Acupuncture works well on its own or alongside physiotherapy and massage as part of a broader treatment plan.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
A first appointment at Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic starts with a thorough assessment where your practitioner takes the time to understand what is going on, what you want to get back to, and what has been tried already. Treatment usually begins in the same session, so you leave with a clear plan and progress already underway.
There is no lengthy intake process, and no referral is needed to get started.
The Better Health Channel (Victoria) recommends preparing for any allied health appointment by tracking your symptoms (when they started, what makes them worse), bringing a list of current medications, and noting any previous treatments you have tried. Arriving with this information helps your practitioner tailor the session to your specific situation from the first visit.
Why a Multidisciplinary Clinic Produces Better Results
A multidisciplinary allied health clinic brings several disciplines into the same practice, allowing practitioners to share information, align treatment plans, and coordinate care without the patient repeating their history or managing communication between separate providers. This connected approach tends to produce faster progress and fewer repeat assessments.
At Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic, physiotherapy, remedial massage and acupuncture work as a connected team. Your physiotherapist and massage therapist share the same understanding of your goals and progress. If acupuncture is supporting your pain management while physio rebuilds your strength, both practitioners know where you are in the process without you needing to explain it again.
Your treatment plan considers the whole picture rather than one symptom at a time. You spend less time travelling between clinics, coordinating appointments and repeating the same intake forms, and more time actually getting better.
Are Allied Health Services Covered by Medicare?
Allied health services are generally not covered by Medicare on their own. However, patients with chronic conditions or complex care needs may be eligible for Medicare-subsidised sessions through a GP Management Plan (formerly known as a Chronic Disease Management plan). Under this arrangement, your GP creates a plan, refers you to specific allied health professionals, and you receive a limited number of Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year.
Private health insurance with extras cover may also partially reimburse allied health consultations, including physiotherapy, remedial massage and acupuncture. Coverage varies between insurers and policies, so check your specific plan for annual visit limits and rebate amounts. At the Balaclava clinic, HICAPS is available on-site, which means eligible clients can process their health fund claim at the time of the appointment and pay only the gap.
For NDIS participants, many allied health services can be funded through your plan. Hub & Spoke Health is a registered provider and delivers a range of allied health services across Melbourne, including exercise physiology, occupational therapy, dietetics and more beyond what the Balaclava clinic currently offers.
If you are unsure about your funding options, your GP or the Hub & Spoke Health team can help clarify what applies to your situation.
Why Choose Hub and Spoke Health
Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic combines a calm, purpose-built treatment space with a fully qualified, multidisciplinary team and the flexibility to switch between in-clinic and mobile care depending on what suits you. The clinic sits on William Street, a short walk from Balaclava Station and easy to reach from across Melbourne’s bayside area.
A calm, dedicated space: the clinic occupies a converted warehouse with private treatment rooms. Each session is one patient, one room, one practitioner giving you their complete focus.
Care that moves with you: in-clinic appointments suit those who prefer a dedicated clinical environment with full equipment on hand. But if getting to the clinic is ever the hard part, Hub & Spoke’s mobile team can treat you at home instead. You are not locked into one format.
Full clinical equipment on site: everything needed for thorough assessment and hands-on treatment is available in the room, so there is no improvising with limited tools.
Easy to reach: a short walk from Balaclava Station, roughly seven minutes by direct train to Flinders Street. On-site parking is available at cost. Trams run along Carlisle Street, making the clinic accessible from St Kilda, Ripponlea, Elwood and St Kilda East.
Close to complementary services: imaging, pathology and pharmacy services are nearby, which helps when your care involves a scan, a script or a referral along the way.
How to Book at the Balaclava Clinic
Booking at Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic is straightforward: reserve a spot online or call the team directly. No referral is required to get started, though bringing any existing care plan or NDIS details to your first session helps set up billing correctly from day one.
Practitioners are on site through the week, so you can find a time that fits your schedule.
Hub & Spoke Health, Balaclava Clinic: 28 to 30 William Street, Balaclava VIC 3183.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to see an allied health professional?
You do not need a referral to book at Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic. You can contact the clinic directly and arrange an appointment. However, if you want to access Medicare-rebated sessions, your GP will need to create a care plan and provide a referral to the relevant allied health professional.
What is covered in allied health?
Allied health covers a broad range of therapeutic services, including physiotherapy, remedial massage, acupuncture, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, dietetics, psychology, podiatry and speech pathology. Each profession focuses on a different aspect of physical, mental or functional health, and they often work alongside GPs and specialists.
Can I claim allied health on my private health insurance?
Many private health insurance policies with extras cover include partial rebates for physiotherapy, remedial massage and acupuncture. At Hub & Spoke Health’s Balaclava clinic, HICAPS is available on-site so you can process your claim and pay only the gap on the day. Check your policy for annual visit limits and specific rebate amounts.
What is the difference between in-clinic and mobile allied health?
In-clinic care takes place at a dedicated practice with private treatment rooms and full clinical equipment. Mobile allied health brings the practitioner to your home or another location. Hub & Spoke Health offers both options, so you can choose the format that works best for your recovery, schedule or mobility needs.
