Referral information

Independent Rehabilitation Services (IRS) provides support exclusively to adults (16 years +) with neurological conditions.

We provide community-based allied health services of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology.

Learn more about us and our referral process below.

Ready to make a referral?

Referrals can be made by support coordinators, a treating professional, a family member, clients themselves or anyone involved in care.

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Need more information?
Keep reading below.

Who we treat

  • Adults (over 16 years of age)
  • Funding types – NDIS, TAC, WorkSafe Victoria
  • From hospital, post-acute care (PAC)
  • Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan (formerly Enhanced Primary Care)
  • Privately funded
  • Neurological diagnosis

Conditions we treat

  • Stroke/CVA
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Traumatic/Acquired Head Injury (TBI/ABI)
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Dementia
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Guillain Barre Syndrome
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Dyspraxia
  • Transverse Myelitis
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Myopathy
  • Meningioma
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Neuralgia
  • Paralysis
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxia
  • Vestibular/Balance Disorders
  • Motor Neurone Disease (MND) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Apraxia
  • Ataxia
  • Bells Palsy
  • Brain Tumour
  • Conversion Disorder
  • Dystonia
  • Foot Drop
  • Friedreich’s Ataxia
  • Functional Neurological Deficit
  • Functional Weakness
  • Hemiparesis
  • Falls and Balance
  • Post Neurological Surgery

Our services

Occupational Therapy

Equipment prescription such as wheelchairs, bathroom aids and scooters

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

Physiotherapy

  • Current function/baseline assessment 
  • Aquatic therapy safeguarding assessment/safety plan 
  • 1:1 or 2:1 Aquatic therapy sessions
  • Training of support person/people on safely running the aquatic therapy sessions
  • Provision of pool program 
  • Review and progression of program as required
  • Current function/baseline assessment 
  • Mobility/transfer assessment on/off gym equipment
  • 1:1 or 2:1 Gym sessions for provision of exercise program
  • Training of support person/people on safely running the gym sessions
  • Review and progression of program as required 
  • Current function/baseline assessment including spasticity, PROM, motor function, cardiovascular assessment
  • Trial of home based equipment ie. free weights, thera-bands, balance foam/discs, steppers, mini-exercise bikes
  • Trial of larger scale equipment within gym, store setting or home based trial where equipment delivery is offered by the supplier ie. treadmill, exercise bike, motomed/FES, tricycles, bicycles
  • Completion of report/advocating for purchase of equipment

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

Speech Pathology

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

Why refer to us

  • IRS has been in operation for 25 years
  • Expertise in managing complex neurological conditions
  • Collaboration with other healthcare providers
  • Evidence-based treatment approaches
  • Tailored programs to meet individual needs

Our expertise & approach

Established 1999

IRS was formed in 1999, since then we’ve grown into who we are today, but we have always retained our essence and core values. It goes without saying that our experience, reputation and trust are unparalleled.

Our team

The expertise of our team is second to none. Our clinicians’ experience in and passion for community neuro is what allows us to do what we do at the highest level.

Community-based

We establish programs in the home, place of residence or local community, to maximise function and achieve the best outcomes for all our clients.

Client-centred

We have a whole person approach, we focus on the goals that matter the most to our clients and we advocate for our clients’ needs. 

Participation

We believe every individual has the right to participate in their life and community and that change continues for a person as they integrate and gain independence in these areas. 

Collaboration

Working with a multidisciplinary team allows us to provide a holistic approach to our care. We also work closely with our client’s support system to maximise outcomes.

The referral process

Hospitals

  1. Submit your referral online as early as possible (please note: we don’t require the exact discharge date).
  2. Our intake team will review the referral within 5 business days. We’ll be in touch if there’s any further information we require.
  3. We’ll liaise with the relevant parties to confirm funding.
  4. A clinician will reach out to schedule a handover.
  5. Upon discharge, therapy begins!

All other referral types

  1. Submit your referral online.
  2. Our intake team will review the referral within 5 business days. We’ll be in touch if there’s any further information we require.
  3. We’ll liaise with the relevant parties to confirm funding.
  4. The client will be placed on our waitlist, see our current availability.
  5. As soon as there is availability, a clinician will reach out to schedule the first appointment.
  6. Therapy begins!

How to refer

Have the following information ready:

NDIS
NDIS plan or NDIS goals
NDIS plan manager details (if relevant)
NDIS Support coordinator details (if relevant)
Funding available
Relevant medical reports

TAC
TAC claim number
TAC claim manager details
Relevant medical reports

Submit your referral via our online referral form

Information by referral type

We are a registered NDIS service provider for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology. We provide community based neurological rehabilitation for our NDIS clients, based in their home and their community.

Once an NDIS referral has been received and processed, an NDIS service agreement draft will be drawn up for the participant and their family to sign.  Once completed, participants will be placed on our waitlist. The next available clinician will be allocated and an appointment will be made by contacting the participant or next of kin (if appropriate).

Participants will be accepted who are self-managed, plan managed or NDIA managed.  It is highly recommended that the NDIS plan be forwarded with the referral to gain a thorough understanding of the participant’s goals and allocated funding.

We are a recognised TAC provider of community based neurological Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy (including Framework OT assessment and /or intervention) and Speech Pathology to TAC clients.

Once a TAC referral has been received and processed, our intake team will request funding for initial assessment. Once confirmation of funding is received, the client will be placed on our waitlist and the next available clinician will be allocated. Once allocated,  an appointment will be made for that person by contacting them or a next of kin (if appropriate).

The allocated clinician/s will then contact the Support Coordinator directly to let them know when they will visit the client, their contact details and discuss any expectations of the service they are to provide including any relevant issues regarding the client.

Referrals for any clinical area can be made by anyone involved in care, a family member or the client themselves over the phone, fax or by email or by contacting a clinician directly.
Once a referral has been received and processed, a clinician will be allocated and an appointment made for that person by contacting them or a next of kin (if appropriate). If the client is an inpatient, one of the treating clinicians will contact you to arrange an introductory visit to the client and their treating team if possible in their facility prior to seeing them at home.

Clients will be seen for individual sessions once funding approval has been received (if required).

The allocated clinician/s will then contact the referrer to let them know they will visit the client, give their contact details and discuss your expectations and any relevant issues regarding the client.

Referrals can be made directly to our office from the treating GP by faxing or emailing the appropriate paperwork. If eligible for our services, client’s will be contacted and an appointment made. Our service will incur a gap payment and the clients will be informed of this prior to an appointment.

Clients and/or family members can refer directly to our services by email, phone or completing our referral form online. Once a referral is received, a member of our intake team will be in contact to discuss eligibility for our services and funding.

Meet our intake team

Staff Portrait of Maddie Bright, Practice Manager at IRS

Maddie Bright
Practice Manager, Occupational Therapist

Maddie expertly manages the referral and intake process, nurturing relationships with our referring partners and maintaining an efficient allocation process internally.
Read more

Staff Portrait of Janie Sargeant, Speech Pathologist at IRS

Janie Sargeant
Lead Intake Coordinator, Speech Pathologist

Janie manages the referral and intake process, working closely with our referring partners to ensure a smooth transition for new clients to our allied health services.
Read more

Megan Agganis
Intake Coordinator, Speech Pathologist

Megan helps manage the referral and intake process, working closely with our referring partners to ensure a smooth transition for new clients to our allied health Services.
Read more

Link to our service areas page
Link to our current availability page
Link to our FAQs page

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