ALLIED HEALTH FLOURISHES IN REGIONAL AND RURAL VICTORIA Gen Health Hamilton serves local community and rural outreach with range of allied health services
With
Jessica Fishburn,
Physiotherapist & Director
Gen Health Hamilton, Victoria
Carl Joyce,
Podiatrist & Director
Gen Health Hamilton, Victoria
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Hamilton, Victoria | April 2025
Genhealth Hamilton was established in 2015 in regional and rural Victoria. The practice offers a range of services including physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, exercise science, and group classes such as clinical reformer therapy and clinical Pilates in Hamilton, which has a population of around 10,000. The clinic also serves a wider community within 100 kilometre, reaching rural residents and local industries.
The clinic caters to both private-paying patients and compensable clients referred by GPs or government-funded programs like NDIS and WorkCover. They address various health concerns, particularly in women’s pelvic health, with the clinic being one of the few in the region that specialises in this area.
Genhealth’s mission is to strengthen the health of the local community through a collaborative approach, allowing patients to access multiple services in one location. The multidisciplinary team is notably young and dynamic, contributing a vibrant energy to their healthcare delivery. The clinic has successfully reached approximately 9,000 of the 10,000 people in the community, showcasing their commitment to improving health outcomes.
The founders, initially four young women, took the risk to realise their vision for allied healthcare, turning it into a successful and community-focused business.
Australian Health Journal spoke with two Directors about the practice, the staff and the community they serve.
Source: Written by AUDIENCED from transcript
Filming credit: The Social Connection
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Physiotherapist, exercise physiologist support for management of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is commonly managed medically and typically with treatment. Exercise is also essential in the management of osteoporosis but tends to be under-utilised due to lack of knowledge and unfounded concerns about the risk of injury. In fact, optimal care of people with low bone mass, osteoporosis and/or increased risk of falling can and should include targeted exercise to help prevent osteoporotic fracture.
In early 2024, Healthy Bones Australia released a summary of the principles of osteogenic loading and fall prevention, the translation of those principles into clinical practice, evidence-based recommendations for exercise prescription, and special considerations, along with links to several relevant resources for people with or at risk of osteoporosis, falls and fractures.
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Strengthening Evidence Through Health Research Where Most People Access Healthcare
In February 2025, the Australian Government committed over $22 million for primary care research, including $5.2m awarded to Professor Michael Kidd, Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at UNSW and recently appointed Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, to lead the establishment of one of the largest research collaborations in Australia focused on improving primary care.
The Royal Australian College of GPs says a new national multidisciplinary consortium for primary care research is a positive step forward to improve patient care.
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Tasmanian researchers and clinicians working together
Tasmanian medical research charity funds projects that have a global impact and improve community health and well-being.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Stephanie Furler the Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation about the impact of this research locally and in global health.
