Hydrotherapy is a physiotherapy treatment that uses warm-water-based exercise to support people whose recovery, comfort or function is limited by land-based exercise. At 101 Physio our hydrotherapy programs are supervised by physiotherapists and run from public aquatic centres serving each of our three clinics — Melton Waves for our Melton patients, AquaPulse in Werribee for our Hoppers Crossing patients, and (from June 2026) Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre for our Sunbury patients. Whether hydrotherapy is right for you depends on your assessment — your physiotherapist will discuss it as one option among several. If you've been told to "find a pool program" by a GP, surgeon or specialist, this page explains how the process works at 101 Physio. To book an initial physiotherapy assessment, call (03) 9746 6852 or book online.
On this page: What it is · Who it suits · Conditions · First visit · Pool sessions · Locations · Funding · FAQ
For general public information, see healthdirect Australia's physical activity guidance.
What hydrotherapy is — and what it isn't
Hydrotherapy is clinical, supervised exercise in warm water (typically 32–34°C), prescribed and run by a physiotherapist. It is not swimming lessons, aqua aerobics, or generic pool fitness — those are useful things in their own right, but they're not what hydrotherapy means in a physiotherapy context. A hydrotherapy session involves specific exercises chosen for your condition, performed in water deep enough to reduce weight-bearing through your joints, with your physiotherapist supervising progression and adjusting load as you tolerate more. The warmth helps muscles relax; the buoyancy reduces compressive load on painful joints; the water's gentle resistance lets the physiotherapist add load gradually without the impact of gym work.
Who hydrotherapy may suit
Hydrotherapy is not a default treatment we recommend for everyone. It tends to be considered when one or more of these is true:
- Land-based exercise is too painful, too fatiguing, or too risky given balance or weight-bearing tolerance
- You're in the early stages of post-surgical rehabilitation and your surgeon has cleared you for pool work but not full weight-bearing
- You have a condition where reducing joint load makes graded exercise more tolerable (arthritis is the obvious example)
- You have a neurological condition where buoyancy supports movement that gravity makes difficult on land
- You've tried land-based exercise rehab and it's flared symptoms repeatedly
Hydrotherapy may not be appropriate if you have open wounds, an acute skin condition, uncontrolled cardiac or respiratory disease, certain infections, severe incontinence, or particular contraindications your physiotherapist will check at assessment. We will go through these at intake.
Conditions where hydrotherapy may be helpful
A non-exhaustive list of presentations where we've used hydrotherapy as part of a wider physiotherapy plan:
- Osteoarthritis (knees, hips, lumbar spine) — particularly where land-based loading triggers a flare
- Chronic low-back pain, including post-disc-injury rehabilitation
- Post-surgical recovery: knee replacements, hip replacements, lumbar surgery, some shoulder reconstructions (timing depends on your surgeon's protocol)
- Rheumatological and inflammatory conditions where joint loading is uncomfortable
- Neurological conditions including stroke recovery, Parkinson's, MS — where buoyancy enables movement that's harder on land
- Generalised deconditioning, including after extended illness or hospital stay
- Older adults rebuilding strength and balance after a fall, where land-based balance work isn't yet safe
- Chronic pain conditions where graded exposure to movement is part of the management plan
Whether hydrotherapy is the right option for your specific situation depends on your assessment. Your physiotherapist will discuss the alternatives and trade-offs with you.
Your first appointment — in clinic, then pool
The hydrotherapy pathway at 101 Physio always starts with a physiotherapy assessment in clinic, not at the pool. Reasons:
- Your physiotherapist needs to examine you, take a history, and confirm hydrotherapy is the right tool. Sometimes after assessment we recommend something else.
- We agree the goals of the program (function, pain management, post-op milestones, etc.) and how we'll measure them.
- We screen for the contraindications listed above.
- You then have the option to proceed to pool sessions or to a land-based plan, depending on what suits.
What to bring to the initial appointment:
- Any referral letter, GP plan, or specialist correspondence
- Imaging or operation reports if relevant (you don't have to chase them; bring what you have)
- Your Medicare card, private health card, WorkCover/TAC/NDIS/DVA documentation as applicable
- Comfortable clothing for the assessment — you don't need swimwear at the initial in-clinic appointment
Once your plan includes pool sessions, reception confirms which pool you'll attend (based on your closest 101 Physio clinic) and books the sessions. Bring your swimwear and a towel from session two onwards.
What a pool session involves
A typical hydrotherapy session at 101 Physio runs 30–45 minutes in the pool. You meet your physiotherapist on deck, change in the centre's facilities, and the session runs in the warm-water pool with your physiotherapist either in the water with you or supervising from the side, depending on your needs and the specific exercises.
A session usually includes:
- A brief warm-up (gentle walking, range-of-movement work in chest-deep water)
- A main block of specific exercises — the buoyancy may support or resist movement, depending on which way you face and what you hold
- A cool-down / stretch phase
- A short de-brief with your physiotherapist about how you tolerated the session
We progress load and complexity over sessions, much like a structured gym program — but with much less compressive load on painful joints.
Pool locations
We don't have an in-house pool — that's normal for community physiotherapy in Melbourne's west. We run hydrotherapy from public aquatic centres our clinic teams have working relationships with.
Melton Waves — for our Melton clinic patients
Melton patients attend hydrotherapy at Melton Waves Leisure Centre on Brooklyn Road, Melton. It has dedicated warm-water programming space and the entry / accessibility setup we need for clinical sessions. Pool entry fees may apply on a per-session basis depending on the centre's current rates — reception will confirm at booking. Find our Melton clinic →
AquaPulse, Werribee — for our Hoppers Crossing clinic patients
Hoppers Crossing patients attend hydrotherapy at AquaPulse Wyndham in Werribee. AquaPulse has warm-water-pool facilities suited to clinical hydrotherapy. Pool entry fees may apply per session — reception will confirm at booking. Find our Hoppers Crossing clinic →
Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre — for our Sunbury clinic patients (from June 2026)
Hydrotherapy for Sunbury patients starts in June 2026 at Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre. If you're in the Sunbury catchment and interested in joining the program once it opens, our Sunbury reception team can register your interest now and let you know when intake opens. We'll publish session times closer to launch. Find our Sunbury clinic →
How hydrotherapy connects to your wider physiotherapy plan
Hydrotherapy at 101 Physio is not a standalone product — it's a tool we use within a broader physiotherapy plan. People typically:
- Start with pool work when land-based exercise is too painful or risky
- Transition to land-based exercise as tolerance builds
- Sometimes return to the pool intermittently — e.g. during flares or seasonal joint pain
Your physiotherapist will discuss the balance with you. We don't lock you into a fixed number of sessions; we agree progression milestones and re-assess. Most patients move off pool work once it has served its purpose. Some prefer to continue ongoing because they enjoy water-based exercise — that's a lifestyle choice, not a clinical recommendation, and pool entry can continue without physiotherapy supervision once you're independent.
Funding and payment options
Most of the funding pathways that apply to general physiotherapy also apply to hydrotherapy — but the pool entry fee is a separate item that's not always covered:
- Private health insurance — physiotherapy (including a hydrotherapy-supervised session) is generally claimable under extras cover. Rebate amounts vary by fund and policy. HICAPS on-site at all three clinics.
- Medicare — Enhanced Primary Care / Chronic Disease Management — eligible patients with a GP plan may access up to 5 Medicare-rebated allied-health sessions per calendar year. A gap above the rebate may apply.
- WorkCover — for accepted claims, hydrotherapy may be funded where it's approved and clinically related to the workplace injury. Reception can help you understand what details we need before booking.
- TAC — for accepted claims, hydrotherapy may be funded where it's approved and related to the transport accident.
- NDIS — NDIS participants may be able to access hydrotherapy where physiotherapy or related supports are in their plan. Reception can confirm whether we can support your plan type and goals.
- DVA — Gold and White cardholders may be eligible.
- Private payment — accepted for any session. Contact reception for the current fee schedule.
Pool entry fees charged by the aquatic centre are usually billed separately from the physiotherapy session. We'll explain the split before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral for hydrotherapy?
No — you don't need a referral to book your initial physiotherapy assessment, and hydrotherapy is decided as part of that assessment. A referral is required for some funded pathways: Medicare Enhanced Primary Care, WorkCover, TAC, DVA. For those, get the paperwork from your GP first or call us if you're unsure.
Can I do hydrotherapy without seeing a physiotherapist first?
Not as part of our program. Hydrotherapy at 101 Physio is supervised physiotherapy treatment — we need to assess you in clinic, agree the goals and exercises, and screen for contraindications before pool work starts. If you're after general warm-water exercise without clinical supervision, the public aquatic centres run their own classes — they're a good option for general wellbeing but they're a different thing.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition, your goals, and how you respond. Some people do 4–6 sessions and move to land-based work. Others use hydrotherapy intermittently across a longer rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist will discuss expected duration at the assessment and re-assess as you progress.
Are sessions one-on-one or in groups?
Both are possible. Some clinical hydrotherapy is delivered one-on-one in the pool with your physiotherapist; some is delivered in small groups (2–4 patients) with a physiotherapist supervising. Which suits depends on your condition and goals.
What about kids?
Children's physiotherapy is available at all three clinics. Whether hydrotherapy specifically is appropriate for a child depends on their condition, age and the recommending clinician (often a paediatrician or surgeon). Reception can talk you through the process.
Is hydrotherapy covered by my health fund?
In most cases the physiotherapist's time is claimable under extras cover, but the pool entry is usually charged separately by the aquatic centre. Check with your fund — and we'll itemise the costs before you book.
What if I can't swim?
Most clinical hydrotherapy happens in chest-deep water and doesn't require swimming. If you can stand in water and follow your physiotherapist's instructions, you can usually take part. We adjust the depth and exercises to what you're comfortable with.
When will Sunbury hydrotherapy start?
June 2026 at Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Reception is taking expressions of interest now — call us if you'd like to be on the list.
Ready to book?
Call us on (03) 9746 6852 or book online.
Your first appointment is a physiotherapy assessment in clinic — we'll discuss hydrotherapy as one option and decide together whether to proceed to pool sessions.
For non-urgent enquiries, contact us by email or through the website form. For urgent or severe symptoms, please contact your GP, after-hours doctor, or 000 — physiotherapy is not an emergency service.
Find your closest clinic: Melton → · Hoppers Crossing → · Sunbury →
Reviewed by Joseph Louka, AHPRA-registered Physiotherapist (Principal Physiotherapist) · Last reviewed 2026-05-28.
