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Yes.  Acupuncturists are AHPRA registered practitioners and all services involving Acupuncture qualify for a rebate from your health fund.

In a typical acupuncture session, your practitioner will assess your individual needs after reviewing your medical history and current health complaint. After ascertaining what you wish to achieve through your acupuncture sessions, a treatment plan will be formulated. In addition to acupuncture , other Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques may be used as adjunctive methods where necessary. For example , for shoulder pain, acupuncture, massage and cupping may be used together.

 On your first appointment, please arrive 10 minutes early to fill in your intake paperwork. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them.

It is best to have eaten a small amount before acupuncture.

 Within this session there will be assessment of your health issue and your initial Acupuncture treatment.

 Bring along the reports from any scans or biomedical tests if you have them.

 Please wear comfortable loose clothing. 

The amount of acupuncture needed for your particular condition will depend on the length of time you have had the health issue and the nature of the problem. For an acute problem which has only occurred recently, it will generally take less time to see results than in a long term or chronic problem. Usually more than one visit will be necessary. Your acupuncturist will be able to tell you how many times you will need to have treatment for the best outcome when you come in for your appointment . 

The simple answer to this question is no. There are some similarities in that the same type of needle is used , However there are some significant differences between the two practices.

Basically, Dry needling seeks to release tight muscles by targeting "trigger points" in neuromuscular junctions.

Acupuncturists call trigger points Ah Shi or tender points. They are an integral part of musculoskeletal treatment in Chinese Medicine. This type of needling method is one of the many techniques used by Acupuncturists to resolve painful and tight muscles. Dry needling is limited in its scope as it only works locally, which is not always the best way to treat muscular injury and dysfunction. Dry needling is quite limited in its theory and application when compared to the techniques and knowledge base that an Acupuncturist would use when working  with musculoskeletal pain.

The major differences between the two practices are education  levels ,qualifications and clinical experience. In most cases a dry needling certificate can be completed in as little as one weekend by practitioners ranging from physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors or Massage therapists.

 No clinical supervision is given within this short course on needling , which results in unskilled and inadequately trained people using deep needling techniques on the public. It increases the probability of needle injuries and pneumothorax, or lung puncture. Acupuncturists, on the other hand study a Bachelor of Health Science degree in both Chinese medicine and Western Biosciences of 4000 hours with a minimum of 600 hours of professionally supervised clinical  practice before graduation. 

Unfortunately the word "Acupuncture" is not protected in AHPRA's title protection as  the title Acupuncturist is . Dry needling practitioners often will refer to what they do as Acupuncture, or advertise "Acupuncture/ Dry needling". This is very misleading to the public as most people are unaware of the vast difference between the education levels and clinical expertise of a registered Acupuncturist and a minimally  trained certificate level Dry needling practitioner. If you want to be certain that you are going to a professional Acupuncturist, ask if your practitioner is registered with AHPRA as an Acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner. 

Acupuncture is generally a painless experience. Occasionally there may be momentary sensation that settles quickly. Acupuncture needles are very fine and are designed to be inserted with minimal discomfort to the patient. If you have a phobia of needles, please be sure to tell our Acupuncturist who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and help to reduce your anxiety about needles.

Yes it is.  Savitri is a registered Workcover  Provider. You must have a doctors certificate verifying a work related injury for your first session and then show eligibility for Workcover to continue treatment . Only registered Acupuncturists are allowed to provide Acupuncture for Workcover.

 Dry needling from a Physiotherapist is not the same as Acupuncture from an Acupuncturist.                   

Acupuncture is a drug free treatment option that enhances the ability of the body to recover homeostasis, or balance. Acupuncturists insert thin needles into points on the body which initiate responses from the Central nervous system . 

Modulating effects on pain and metabolism are achieved through acupuncture's ability to increase blood circulation and stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and other natural opioids . Acupuncture has also been found to have positive effects on brain chemistry through the regulation of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands which are responsible for the smooth running of hormonal activity in the body. The combination of all these factors can result in a broad spectrum of effects on various body systems relating to digestive function, temperature control ,breathing hormone release, sexual and cardiac function

Yes you can ,if you are in one of the following two groups :

1: Self managed plan : Person chooses their own providers. They have a general budget for therapy which they use to pay for therapy of their choice . They  pay the provider direct and then  are reimbursed by NDIS.

2: Plan managed : This is similar to Self managed, except that patients  invoice is sent to their plan manager,      who reimburses the provider

This clinic is unable to provide for NDIA managed patients. These clients are under sole management of NDIA and can only be provided for through NDIA registered businesses.