No. You do not need a doctor's referral to see one of our Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists if you are privately funding your appointment.
A referral is only required if your consultation is being funded by a third party, such as the NDIS (plan-managed or NDIA-managed), Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), WorkCover, or a third-party insurer.

Yes. Private patients may receive a rebate if their health fund includes Extras Cover for Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy.
If you have a chronic health condition, your GP may also refer you under a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM), making you eligible for a Medicare rebate for allied health services.

Yes. Apricus Health is a registered provider under the NDIS.
We work with self-managed, plan-managed, and NDIA-managed participants and have been proudly supporting NDIS clients in Townsville since 2016.

Yes. We accept referrals through My Aged Care funding streams, including Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) packages.
Talk to your assessor or case manager about referring you to Apricus Health.

Yes. We provide Occupational Therapy and Hand Therapy services to veterans with a valid DVA referral (D904 form).
A DVA referral covers up to 12 sessions or 12 visits, whichever comes first. Separate referrals are required if you are accessing both community and hand therapy services.

Yes. If you have an approved Workers' Compensation (WorkCover) or Compulsory Third Party (CTP) claim, Apricus Health can support your rehabilitation.

If you are an injured worker, you can contact us directly to arrange therapy.
You will need:

• A current referral from your treating doctor or rehabilitation provider,

• An approved claim number,

• An up-to-date medical certificate while receiving services.

If you are an employer or case manager looking to refer an employee, please contact our team directly.
We can assist with:

• Initial assessments and functional reports,

• Workplace rehabilitation and goal planning,

• Communication with insurers and treating teams to support return-to-work outcomes.

Our team is experienced in WorkCover and CTP rehabilitation, and we are committed to providing clear communication and high-quality therapy at every stage of recovery.

We welcome referrals from GPs, specialists, case managers, and other healthcare providers.

You can refer a client quickly and easily by using our online referral form. We can also provide fillable PDF/Word forms, and also paper forms for clinic use. 

When submitting a referral, please include:

• The client’s full name, date of birth, and contact details,

• Relevant background information or reason for referral,

• Funding information if applicable (e.g., NDIS participant details, WorkCover claim number).

For DVA clients:

• A D904 referral form is required and must be issued following an in-person consultation with the client.

• Each D904 covers up to 12 appointments (including telehealth) or 12 visits, whichever occurs first.

• Separate referrals are required for different types of services — for example, one referral for community-based occupational therapy and another for hand therapy if both services are needed.

• DVA clients can have multiple D904s issued as clinically appropriate; there is no annual limit.

• We apply our clinical judgement when requesting additional D904s to support ongoing client goals and functional needs.

• We provide regular written reports and are always happy to discuss the client’s progress directly with GPs to ensure we are working together on the client’s overall health plan.

For Medicare (CDM/EPC) clients:

• A valid Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) — previously known as an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan — is required to access Medicare rebates for allied health services.

• Please note: Apricus Health is not a bulk-billing clinic. Clients accessing Medicare rebates will still be charged a small out-of-pocket fee. Our team is happy to provide a detailed quote before appointments are booked.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a referral before submitting it, please contact our friendly team on 07 4755 2337.

We aim to make the referral process simple, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of both clients and healthcare providers.

We understand that life sometimes throws unexpected events our way and we need to cancel appointments. At Apricus Health we do the best we can to support our clients and their important people by:

• Sending out reminder texts at least 2 days prior to the session.
• Complete a check in call if a reply has not been received.

So that we have the best chance to offer your appointment time to another client, we ask that cancellations be made by 3pm at the latest the day before your appointments. Some clients may still be charged for cancelled appointments. 

Please note that under the NDIS price guide businesses are allowed to bill 100% of the agreed upon session cost when notice is given in less than 7 days. At Apricus Health we have made the decision to bill 100% of the agreed upon session cost if notice is given in less than 2 days (48hrs) prior to the appointment time. 

For more information, or to cancel an appointment contact our friendly admin team on 07 4755 2337 or by email at hello@apricushealth.com.au. 

Many of our Occupational Therapy services are available via Telehealth, home visits, or community settings such as schools or workplaces, depending on your funding and goals.

Whether your child is funded by the NDIS or not, contact our friendly team to book in an initial assessment. We can then assess the individual needs of your child and create a personalised care plan to support their development and wellbeing.

Any x-rays, scans, and tests relevant to your visit if you have them, your health fund card, your workers compensation medical certificate and claim number information if applicable, your referral letter if you have one, any musical instruments or work/hobby/sports equipment that you feel may be contributing to your condition (or a video of you using this equipment if it is bulky or non-transportable)

Yes. Apricus Health stock a huge variety of thumb, wrist and elbow braces as well as custom thermoplastic splints. To ensure your splint / compression garment is suitable the therapists at Apricus Health need to formally assess your condition. During the consultation they will provide education and exercises to further assist your recovery and provide time frames around splint / orthoses wearing.

Yes. But in most cases we can offer an immobilisation orthoses that is even more convenient. For more information on whether the cast is the best option for you visit out blog.

Yes. The therapists at Apricus Health can provide assessment and care for acute injuries such as dislocations and broken bones from fingertip to shoulder. We are able to refer for imaging (eg x-rays) if we feel this is required. We can provide same day treatment including pain reduction, swelling management and casting / custom bracing as necessary. Call us on 4755 2337 for an urgent same day appointment.

No. Hand Therapists generally see patients within the first five days following surgery to fabricate splints and remove bulky post-surgery dressings. Initially the rehabilitation is focused on pain reduction, reducing swelling, fitting splints, and keeping unaffected joints moving. The therapist are trained in wound care, dressing changes and removal of stitches and can provide peace of mind about what you can and can’t do after surgery.

Your feedback is very important to us.
You can speak to any of our team members, email hello@apricushealth.com.au, or submit feedback confidentially through our website here.
You can also view our Feedback and Complaints Policy, including an Easy Read version.

Yes. Key policies such as our Rights and Responsibilities, Feedback and Complaints, and Privacy Policy are available in Easy Read format to support accessibility for all clients.
You can access them here or ask our team for a printed copy.