Business Details
31 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Pain Management Solutions
Advance Healthcare has been delivering evidence-based, multi-disciplinary healthcare services for over 25 years, evolving from the Spinal Management Clinics (SMC) group to become a leader in pain management and physiotherapy. Our team of expert physiotherapists, pain physicians, psychologists, and allied health professionals specialises in treating complex musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular focus on chronic back pain. We operate clinics across Victoria and offer telehealth services nationally, accepting referrals from private, WorkCover, TAC, NDIS, and My Aged Care programs.Our practitioners, many of whom hold PhDs, are actively involved in clinical research through partnerships with La Trobe University, ensuring our treatments remain at the forefront of scientific advancement. We prioritise patient-centred care, combining manual therapy, technology-driven diagnostics, and psychological support to restore function and improve quality of life. Our commitment to transparency, continuous learning, and community-focused care has established us as a trusted provider in Australia's healthcare landscape.
Services
Pain Management
Physiotherapy
Psychology
Occupational Health
Hydrotherapy
Nerve Conduction Studies
Telehealth Services
Back Pain Treatment
Functional Restoration
Graded Activity Program
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in evidence-based pain management.
- Our team includes PhD-qualified physiotherapists and pain specialists.
- We offer telehealth services across Australia.
- Our practitioners are involved in leading back pain research at La Trobe University.
- We accept WorkCover, TAC, and NDIS referrals.
Associations and certifications
- WorkSafe
- TAC
- NDIS
Services
Pain Management
Our multi-disciplinary pain management programs address chronic conditions through medical, physical, and psychological interventions. Led by specialist physicians and psychologists, we combine medication management, physiotherapy, and cognitive-behavioural strategies to reduce dependency on drugs and improve daily functionality. Patients benefit from personalised 8-12 week programs incorporating gym and hydrotherapy sessions, with measurable outcomes in pain reduction and quality of life improvement.
Physiotherapy
Specialist physiotherapy services focus on spinal injuries and complex musculoskeletal conditions using real-time ultrasound and surface EMG diagnostics. Our PhD-qualified therapists develop tailored rehabilitation plans integrating manual therapy, directional preference exercises, and core stability training. We prioritise functional restoration for sports injuries, workplace trauma, and chronic pain, with evidence-based protocols validated through clinical trials.
Psychology
Clinical psychology services address chronic pain-related mental health challenges and general psychological conditions like anxiety and depression. Using cognitive-behavioural and acceptance-commitment therapies, our specialists help patients develop coping strategies and return to daily activities. We provide both individual and group sessions within multi-disciplinary pain management frameworks, ensuring holistic treatment approaches.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy programs utilise heated pools to facilitate low-impact rehabilitation for severe musculoskeletal injuries. Supervised by physiotherapists with chronic injury expertise, sessions combine buoyancy-assisted exercises with progressive land-based transition plans. The 6-10 week programs include tailored exercise regimens and pool membership support for patients with WorkCover or TAC claims.
Occupational Health
Our occupational health services prevent and treat workplace injuries through early intervention physiotherapy and onsite corporate programs. We deliver functional capacity evaluations, pre-employment assessments, and manual handling training to reduce workers' compensation claims. Our evidence-based return-to-work strategies include graduated activity plans and regular progress reporting to employers and GPs.
People
Dr Jon Ford
Clinical Director
Dr Ford, a PhD-qualified musculoskeletal physiotherapist, pioneered the STOPS Back Pain methodology and leads Australia's largest clinical back pain research team at La Trobe University.
Charles Ruddock
Clinical Psychologist
With 18 years' experience, Charles specialises in chronic pain psychology and co-developed multi-disciplinary treatment frameworks for complex pain conditions.
Dr Aston Wan
Specialist Pain Physician
Dr Wan directs medical components of pain management programs, combining pharmacological treatments with rehabilitation strategies for chronic pain patients.
Dr Olivia Ong
Specialist Pain and Rehabilitation Physician
Dr Ong integrates rehabilitation medicine principles into pain management, focusing on functional restoration and return-to-work outcomes for injured workers.
Dr Safa Hamza
Rehabilitation Physician
Dr Hamza specialises in functional restoration programs, addressing physical and psychological barriers to recovery for long-term injury cases.
Questions
What pain management services do you offer?
We provide multi-disciplinary pain management including medical reviews, physiotherapy, psychology, and hydrotherapy. Programs run 8-12 weeks with measurable outcomes in pain reduction and functional improvement.
Do you accept WorkCover or TAC claims?
Yes, we're preferred providers for WorkSafe and TAC, enabling single-step approval for assessments and treatment programs.
Can I access services without a referral?
Physiotherapy requires no referral, but psychology and pain physician consultations need GP referrals. NDIS clients must be self-managed or plan-managed.
What research underpins your treatments?
Our STOPS Back Pain research program at La Trobe University has produced six randomised controlled trials validating our diagnostic and treatment protocols.
How do telehealth services work?
Telehealth consultations provide remote access to physiotherapy guidance, pain management strategies, and psychological support through secure online platforms.
Reviews (3)
Sean G.
Jun 24, 2021
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I was treated by Jacqueline, Mathew and Malcolm, all of whom were very professional, informative and considerate to my condition. I would recommend Advanced Healthcare to anyone seeking help with chronic pain. I will certainly be using their services in the future.
Mykah Jazfu
Apr 22, 2021
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Great staff very informative had a lot of great sessions with the physical and psychological support team they were all such great help.
Scott Edwards
Feb 05, 2021
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Having a chronic injury I found myself struggling for nearly 2 years coping with pain and daily ability. The approach of treating pain, exercise, and the right mindset brought much relief to my life in general. I am very thankful for the team at Advanced Healthcare for giving me the close attention I really needed to sort it all out. The plan was excellent and the support of the mix of medication, physio, and mindset was professional and done with a can do approach with reasonable goals along the way. I highly recommend the program to help with chronic injury or issues, I have a ways to go still
