WorkCover Exercise Physiology.
Exercise physiology for workplace injuries — funded through WorkCover Queensland
If you have sustained a workplace injury and have an approved WorkCover Queensland claim, our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan can provide exercise physiology rehabilitation with no out-of-pocket expense. We liaise directly with your claim manager throughout your rehabilitation, handling the administrative requirements so you can focus entirely on your recovery.
Exercise physiology plays a particularly important role in WorkCover rehabilitation for patients managing significant deconditioning, chronic pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, and the functional capacity demands of return to work — areas where structured, progressive exercise programming under clinical supervision produces the most meaningful functional gains.
Is there an out-of-pocket expense?
There is no out-of-pocket expense for approved WorkCover exercise physiology appointments. We invoice WorkCover Queensland directly and liaise with your claim manager throughout your rehabilitation. You will need to provide your approved claim number, a current certificate of capacity from your GP, and be within the approved dates of your claim.
If you have only just submitted your claim and do not yet have a claim number, you are welcome to book — you will need to pay upfront and seek reimbursement from WorkCover once your claim number is issued. Contact WorkCover Queensland on 1300 362 128 to check the status of your claim.
How many sessions are approved?
WorkCover Queensland will approve 1 initial exercise physiology appointment per claim. If further treatment is clinically indicated, we will provide progress reports and liaise directly with your claim manager to request additional sessions. For patients requiring ongoing exercise physiology beyond the initial appointment, we submit an exercise physiology management plan — outlining your progress, treatment goals and the ongoing rehabilitation required. WorkCover will then assess and approve further sessions based on this plan.
What does WorkCover exercise physiology involve?
Exercise physiology in the WorkCover context is specifically focused on restoring the functional capacity needed to return to work safely — not just general fitness improvement. Our approach is outcomes-focused and return-to-work oriented from the first session.
Your initial assessment establishes baseline measures of strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and functional capacity, identifies the specific physical demands of your occupation, and determines the gap between your current capacity and what your job requires. This functional gap drives the exercise program design.
Progressive exercise programming then systematically builds the specific physical qualities your job demands — whether that is lifting capacity, cardiovascular endurance for sustained physical work, upper limb strength for manual tasks, or general functional capacity for sedentary roles. Sessions are supervised and individualised — not generic group exercise.
Common WorkCover presentations
Exercise physiology is particularly valuable in WorkCover rehabilitation for:
Lower back injuries from manual handling, sustained postures and repetitive bending — the most common WorkCover presentation. Progressive lumbar and core strengthening alongside graded return to lifting capacity is the primary exercise physiology contribution.
Shoulder injuries from overhead work and repetitive reaching — progressive rotator cuff and periscapular strengthening rebuilds the upper limb capacity needed for manual and overhead occupational tasks.
Post-surgical rehabilitation following spinal surgery, rotator cuff repair or other procedures arising from workplace injuries — building the strength and endurance needed to meet occupational demands following surgical recovery.
Chronic pain and central sensitisation following workplace injury — graded exercise exposure is one of the most evidence-based interventions for chronic post-injury pain, progressively restoring activity tolerance and reducing pain sensitivity.
Significant deconditioning from prolonged absence from work — rebuilding cardiovascular fitness, general strength and work conditioning before return to full duties.
Return-to-work conditioning — structured programs building the specific physical capacity required for the patient's occupational demands, with progressive simulation of job-specific tasks as return-to-work approaches.
Working with the broader team
Our exercise physiologist works as part of your broader WorkCover team — liaising with your claim manager, physiotherapist, GP and employer as required to ensure a coordinated, safe and practical return-to-work plan. We provide all required clinical reporting and progress documentation to WorkCover throughout your rehabilitation.
Where physiotherapy is also part of your rehabilitation, our physiotherapy and exercise physiology teams work collaboratively. See our WorkCover physiotherapy page for the physiotherapy component of WorkCover rehabilitation.
For motor vehicle accident injuries managed through CTP rather than WorkCover, see our CTP exercise physiology page.
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). For further information about WorkCover Queensland, visit worksafe.qld.gov.au or call WorkCover directly on 1300 362 128.
To book your WorkCover exercise physiology appointment, call us on 07 3706 3407, email [email protected] or book online below.
If you have sustained a workplace injury and have an approved WorkCover Queensland claim, our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan can provide exercise physiology rehabilitation with no out-of-pocket expense. We liaise directly with your claim manager throughout your rehabilitation, handling the administrative requirements so you can focus entirely on your recovery.
Exercise physiology plays a particularly important role in WorkCover rehabilitation for patients managing significant deconditioning, chronic pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, and the functional capacity demands of return to work — areas where structured, progressive exercise programming under clinical supervision produces the most meaningful functional gains.
Is there an out-of-pocket expense?
There is no out-of-pocket expense for approved WorkCover exercise physiology appointments. We invoice WorkCover Queensland directly and liaise with your claim manager throughout your rehabilitation. You will need to provide your approved claim number, a current certificate of capacity from your GP, and be within the approved dates of your claim.
If you have only just submitted your claim and do not yet have a claim number, you are welcome to book — you will need to pay upfront and seek reimbursement from WorkCover once your claim number is issued. Contact WorkCover Queensland on 1300 362 128 to check the status of your claim.
How many sessions are approved?
WorkCover Queensland will approve 1 initial exercise physiology appointment per claim. If further treatment is clinically indicated, we will provide progress reports and liaise directly with your claim manager to request additional sessions. For patients requiring ongoing exercise physiology beyond the initial appointment, we submit an exercise physiology management plan — outlining your progress, treatment goals and the ongoing rehabilitation required. WorkCover will then assess and approve further sessions based on this plan.
What does WorkCover exercise physiology involve?
Exercise physiology in the WorkCover context is specifically focused on restoring the functional capacity needed to return to work safely — not just general fitness improvement. Our approach is outcomes-focused and return-to-work oriented from the first session.
Your initial assessment establishes baseline measures of strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and functional capacity, identifies the specific physical demands of your occupation, and determines the gap between your current capacity and what your job requires. This functional gap drives the exercise program design.
Progressive exercise programming then systematically builds the specific physical qualities your job demands — whether that is lifting capacity, cardiovascular endurance for sustained physical work, upper limb strength for manual tasks, or general functional capacity for sedentary roles. Sessions are supervised and individualised — not generic group exercise.
Common WorkCover presentations
Exercise physiology is particularly valuable in WorkCover rehabilitation for:
Lower back injuries from manual handling, sustained postures and repetitive bending — the most common WorkCover presentation. Progressive lumbar and core strengthening alongside graded return to lifting capacity is the primary exercise physiology contribution.
Shoulder injuries from overhead work and repetitive reaching — progressive rotator cuff and periscapular strengthening rebuilds the upper limb capacity needed for manual and overhead occupational tasks.
Post-surgical rehabilitation following spinal surgery, rotator cuff repair or other procedures arising from workplace injuries — building the strength and endurance needed to meet occupational demands following surgical recovery.
Chronic pain and central sensitisation following workplace injury — graded exercise exposure is one of the most evidence-based interventions for chronic post-injury pain, progressively restoring activity tolerance and reducing pain sensitivity.
Significant deconditioning from prolonged absence from work — rebuilding cardiovascular fitness, general strength and work conditioning before return to full duties.
Return-to-work conditioning — structured programs building the specific physical capacity required for the patient's occupational demands, with progressive simulation of job-specific tasks as return-to-work approaches.
Working with the broader team
Our exercise physiologist works as part of your broader WorkCover team — liaising with your claim manager, physiotherapist, GP and employer as required to ensure a coordinated, safe and practical return-to-work plan. We provide all required clinical reporting and progress documentation to WorkCover throughout your rehabilitation.
Where physiotherapy is also part of your rehabilitation, our physiotherapy and exercise physiology teams work collaboratively. See our WorkCover physiotherapy page for the physiotherapy component of WorkCover rehabilitation.
For motor vehicle accident injuries managed through CTP rather than WorkCover, see our CTP exercise physiology page.
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). For further information about WorkCover Queensland, visit worksafe.qld.gov.au or call WorkCover directly on 1300 362 128.
To book your WorkCover exercise physiology appointment, call us on 07 3706 3407, email [email protected] or book online below.
Who to book in with:
If you have any questions about Workcover appointments please don't hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reception staff by calling 07 3706 3407 or emailing [email protected].