When patients are seeking Lymphoedema treatment, they often ask if a GP referral is needed to start the treatment. The short answer is no, you don’t need a GP referral to come to Melbourne Massage and Treatment, but other practices may ask for it.
I do understand that Lymphoedema can cause discomfort, swelling, and affect your quality of life, so I want to make it as simple as possible for you to access care. That’s why I offer a free 15-minute online consultation, where you can ask me questions about how we are going to work on your lymphedema, and where I can start to get a better picture of your clinical history.
What I Require Before Your First Visit
As already mentioned, no GP referral is needed, but before we commence any treatment, I will ask you to fill in an Initial Consultation Form.
On this form, you will be asked to:
Declare any present health conditions
List any previous injuries, surgeries, or illnesses
Note any medications you are taking
Share any relevant lifestyle information that may impact your treatment
- A series of questions specific to your lymphedema presentation, such as mobility impairments or pain level, if any
This ensures I have a thorough understanding of your current health and medical history so that I can tailor your treatment safely and effectively. This also allows me to understand the nature of your Lymphoedema, whether primary or secondary, and determine if there is a need to discuss other medical conditions with your GP or other health practitioners.
Why No GP Referral?
As a Clinical Myotherapist in Australia, I can offer lymphedema treatment without needing a GP referral to start with. 
On the other hand, since the Medicare plan does not yet cover Myotherapy (blame the politicians for it), I can’t offer a Medicare rebate for this type of service. But, if you are on NDIS as a non-registered provider, I can provide treatment for self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants.
Private Health Rebate for Lymphoedema Therapy
As mentioned above, a Medicare rebate is not available at Melbourne Massage and Treatment, but private health rebates are. Indeed, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, that is the hands-on treatment I offer as a myotherapist to treat a lymphedema presentation, is covered under the scheme Myotherapy and Remedial Massage.
The rebate percentage is based on the insurance contract you signed.
And yes, you can do the claim on the spot here at the clinic, at the end of the session, once we go through the payment.
Lymphoedema Therapy Cost at Melbourne Massage and Treatment
Given the usage of bandaging during the lymphedema therapy, the cost of this treatment is higher than that of other services. The bandaging, indeed, is used after the Lymphatic Massage, to compress the limb/s to maintain pressure on them and move the liquid while you are in movement or at rest.
As of August 2025, the cost of lymphedema therapy at Melbourne Massage and Treatment is as follows:
| Consultation | Price |
| 15-Minute Online Consultation | FREE |
| Initial Consultation – 90 minutes | $ 190 Inc. GST |
| Returning | $ 145 Inc. GST |
To successfully reduce swelling and alleviate the symptoms of Lymphoedema, a series of sessions is typically required, ranging from 3 to 5 sessions, depending on your presentation. It is not always possible to estimate the exact number of sessions to start with, as the limb reduction also depends on your clinical history, medications, exercise habits, food intake, appointment frequency and more.
Lymphoedema Appointment Frequency
The appointment frequency when treating a Lymphoedema presentation is a crucial aspect of treatment success.
This is because the lymphedema is there in the first place due to the lymphatic system being inefficient, and to ensure that we overcome this inefficiency, we have to stimulate the lymphatic system as often and frequently as possible.
Ideally, treatment should be done every 24 to 48 hours. This requires time management and commitment from the patient, which I do understand is a challenge. But consider this appointment frequency to be the central pillar of lymphedema management. The more frequently we stimulate the lymphatic system and the more frequently we work on breaking down the fibrosis (which may have been building up below the skin), the quicker we can achieve the desired results, and the less likely you are to encounter complications. When we talk of complications, we refer to:
- Fibrosis builds up
- Skin craking
- Infections due to skin damage
- Reduced mobility
- and more…
Get in touch now – No GP Referral Needed
To start your recovery, book a 15-minute online consultation, fill in the forms, and let’s take it from there. Or if you have any questions that you prefer to address via email, just get in touch via the contact page.
Furthermore, for those who have gone through cancer surgery or may suffer from a secondary lymphoedema on the Lymphoedema service page, you will find a questionnaire for Arm Lymphoedema and Leg Lymphoedema, which can help us understand the likelihood of lymphoedema development.
In addition to the questionnaire, going for a pre-appointment free consultation can also save us time to understand if there are any other conditions or contraindications about Lymphoedema that may need to be addressed first.
Lymphoedema Treatment Contraindications – That’s where a GP referral could come through.
Other medical conditions could be present while someone is suffering from Lymphoedema, and those presentations may be an absolute or partial contraindication to Lymphatic drainage.
Lymphoedema absolute contraindications may be:
- History of heart failure
- Liver and or Kidney fatigue
- Untreated cancer
- Active infections
- History of DVT
Lymphoedema relative contraindications may be:
- Asthma
- Open wound
- Pregnancy (present, not past)
Lymphoedema Clinic in Fitzroy North
My clinic is located in Fitzroy North, on 1/175 Holden St, and is inside the Fitzroy North Doctors’ GP clinic. This is a great opportunity also for the lymphedema patients, because if there is any need for wound management or extra care, the nurse on site can always help.
The cost of the nurse services is not included in the Lymphoedema therapy price shown above. The Nurse works for the GP clinic, so you will have to discuss prices and availability with them.
FAQ – GP Referral and Lymphoedema Treatment
Q: Do I need a GP referral for Lymphoedema treatment at Melbourne Massage and Treatment? A: No, you do not need a GP referral to start treatment here. However, some other practices may require it.
Q: What do I need to do before my first visit? A: You’ll need to complete our Initial Consultation Form, declaring current and past health conditions, surgeries, medications, relevant lifestyle factors, and answering specific questions about your Lymphoedema presentation.
Q: Can I claim Medicare for Lymphoedema treatment? A: No. Medicare does not currently cover Myotherapy or Lymphoedema treatment, but private health rebates are available under Myotherapy or Remedial Massage.
Q: Do you offer NDIS services? A: Yes. As a non-registered NDIS provider, I can provide treatment for self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants.
Q: How much does Lymphoedema treatment cost? A: As of August 2025:
– 15-Minute Online Consultation – FREE
– Initial Consultation (90 minutes) – $190 Inc. GST
– Returning Consultation – $145 Inc. GST
Q: How often should I have treatment? A: Ideally, every 24 to 48 hours to stimulate the lymphatic system and prevent complications like fibrosis, infections, or reduced mobility.
Q: When is a GP referral required? A: If you have absolute contraindications (e.g., heart failure, untreated cancer, active infection, history of DVT) or relative contraindications (e.g., asthma, open wounds, pregnancy), a GP referral or medical clearance may be needed before treatment.
– 15-Minute Online Consultation – FREE
– Initial Consultation (90 minutes) – $190 Inc. GST
– Returning Consultation – $145 Inc. GST
Giovanni La Rocca
Giovanni moved to Melbourne, Australia, from Italy in 2008 and became a citizen in 2017. He started studying massage therapy in 2016, then completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical Myotherapy in August 2024. During those years, he also specialised in Thai Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage for presentations like Lipoedema and Lymphoedema. Nowadays, he runs his clinic in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, where he integrates movement therapy into his practice to enhance overall well-being. He also values meditation, having completed several Vipassana courses. Committed to continuous learning, he aims to share his expertise in integrated therapies to help others achieve balance and resilience.