Accredited Exercise Physiology | North & West Melbourne
Safe, individualised exercise to support you through Cancer treatment and recovery.
Supervised by University-qualified Exercise Physiologists in a welcoming, private space.
"Conveniently based in West Melbourne, our clinical studio provides accessible care just minutes from major medical centres, including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and St Vincent’s."
Integrated with Your Medical Team: We coordinate care and provide progress reporting directly to your oncologist, haematologist, and GP throughout your treatment cycle.
GPs & Specialists: Referrals and clinical summaries can be sent securely via email to studio@themovementrefinery.com.au or provided directly by the patient
Exercise is Medicine, come as you are.
A cancer diagnosis brings a flood of appointments, uncertainty, and physical fatigue. While you can't control every aspect of your treatment, targeted exercise is one powerful tool you can control.
We find your "Goldilocks Zone"—the exact type, dose, and intensity of movement that builds resilience and eases side effects without pushing you into exhaustion.
Exercise Oncology built to enhance your treatment and wellbeing
Manage Cancer-Related Fatigue
Counteract treatment tiredness and rebuild day-to-day energy.
Rest alone cannot resolve cancer-related fatigue; targeted exercise breaks the fatigue cycle by reducing systemic inflammation, restoring cellular energy, and preventing the muscle deconditioning caused by treatment.
Protect Muscle & Bone Health
Counter muscle wasting and osteoporosis caused by chemotherapy or hormone therapies.
Recover from range of movement and strength altered from surgery and recovery periods, or, prepare for an upcoming surgery.
Ease Treatment Side Effects
Reduce nausea, peripheral neuropathy discomfort, joint stiffness, and surgical recovery time
Improve Treatment Tolerance
Evidence shows maintaining cardiovascular fitness helps your body tolerate systemic treatments better.
Support Mental Wellbeing
Lower anxiety, ease stress, and sleep better in an empowering, non-hospital setting. Enjoy a post-exercise mood uplift.
Prevent Secondary Health Risks
Guard heart health, blood pressure, and long-term metabolic health post-treatment.
Our Services
Our 3-Step Patient Journey
1-on-1 Clinical Exercise Physiology
Step 1: Thorough Initial Assessment
We sit down to discuss your diagnosis, treatment schedule, energy levels, and medical history. We correspond with your medical team and ensure you are holistically cared for.
Step 2: Custom, Safe Prescription
We map out a targeted program designed to match how you feel on good days and rest days.
Step 3: Guided Progression & Ongoing Support
Step-by-step coaching at our clinic, making gentle adjustments as your treatment shifts or energy changes and reviews mid-term and end-term.
Dedicated 1:1 supervision in our private clinical studio.
Fully tailored around your blood counts, surgery recovery, port sites, or daily energy fluctuations.
Ongoing communication directly with your oncology team and GP.
Ideal for: Active treatment, prehabilitation before surgery, or those who want total privacy.
Small-Group Sessions
Once you' have completed your intake sessions and feel ready, connect with local peers who genuinely understand what you’re experiencing.
Still 100% individualised—everyone completes their own prescribed program under close supervision.
Gentle, encouraging, and social atmosphere.
Ongoing communication directly with your oncology team and GP.
Ideal for: Maintenance, post-treatment recovery, and rebuilding community.
Rebates & Referrals
Medicare GPCCMP - formerly EPC or CDM:
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate via the General Practitioner Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) for up to 5 individual allied health consultations per calendar year. Let your GP know that you’d like to commence with us to improve your wellbeing.
Private Health Insurance:
Most Australian private health insurers cover Accredited Exercise Physiology under 'Extras' (Item 102 for initial consultations, Item 202 for subsequent). Check with your insurer for your rebate entitlement.
Do I Need a Doctor's Referral to Start?
No. You can book privately as a self-referred patient at any time. If you wish to claim via Medicare or DVA, a valid GP referral form is required prior to your first appointment.
On-the-spot claims (HICAPS/TYRO)
This will be available by March 2027. In the interim, we ask you to settle your invoice at the studio and seek reimbursement independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, you can book privately at any time. However, if your GP provides a General Practitioner Chronic Condition Management Plan (GP CCMP), you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 5 sessions per calendar year.
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We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
We have specialist post-graduate training in Oncology Exercise and are ready to walk beside you during this challenge.
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We expect your energy to fluctuate during treatment. On low-energy days, we modify your session to focus on gentle mobility, circulation, or recovery work rather than intense exercise.
We plan your programme based on your therapy cycle and can offer telehealth flexibility as needed.
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Yes. Most major private health funds offer rebates for Exercise Physiology consultations under extra cover.
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Yes. Exercise is safe and strongly recommended with medical devices and post-surgical sites in place, provided it is clinically adapted. We strictly modify loading parameters to avoid friction, line displacement, or intra-thoracic strain, avoiding direct pressure over ports and repetitive heavy upper-limb stress near PICC lines. For post-operative recovery, our Accredited Exercise Physiologists work within tissue-healing timelines and lymphoedema-reduction guidelines to safely rebuild range of motion and functional strength without placing surgical sites at risk.
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
All new clients begin with an Initial Assessment and subsequent consult for programme design. Then, it’s up to you whether you’d like to continue 1:1 or feel ready for our small group sessions. -
You do not need to wait—starting before or during treatment delivers the greatest clinical benefit. Current guidelines from the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) recommend embedding targeted exercise as standard supportive care across all stages. "Pre-habilitation" prior to surgery or systemic therapy builds physiological reserve to improve treatment tolerance and shorten recovery times. During chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy, prescribed exercise actively preserves muscle mass, reduces treatment toxicity, and remains the primary evidence-based countermeasure for cancer-related fatigue. Sessions are continually adjusted in real time around your treatment cycles and daily energy levels.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
We’ve done this before and are here to chat, answer questions and support you.
And … we chat. Get ready to talk TV, podcasts, fashion, philosophy, even sport. Or, if you prefer, silent sessions are AOK. -
Yes. Protecting vulnerable immune systems during active treatment is a clinical priority. Unlike crowded commercial gyms, our studio operates as a low-density, quiet environment with strict infection control protocols. Every piece of apparatus is disinfected with hospital-grade sanitiser before and after use, and our space is well-ventilated to optimize clean airflow. If your pathology indicates severe neutropenia or high infection risk, we offer private 1:1 consults during low-traffic periods, and our practitioners will wear clinical PPE to ensure you can train safely.