Balance and movement physiotherapy
Feeling dizzy, unsteady or worried about a fall?
We can help you regain confidence, improve stability and reduce risk.
Get started with physiotherapy
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll be back in touch.
WHEN TO GET HELP
Helping you stay steady, safe and confident on your feet
If you've been living with dizziness or balance concerns that aren't improving, we can help you make sense of what's happening and take a confident next step. Reach out if:
- you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo
- balance or movement changes are affecting what you can do
- you're avoiding activities because of how you feel.
Things you may have noticed
A spinning sensation when you roll over in bed, look up or bend down.
Your vision seems to blur or lag when you turn your head.
You feel unsteady and worry about falls on uneven ground or in busy places.
Sudden or severe dizziness needs urgent medical care, especially after a head injury or with new weakness, numbness or vision changes.
Ongoing dizziness or a vague unsteadiness when you move your head.
You feel foggy, tired or a bit off, but it’s hard to describe.
Everyday things like putting shoes on, driving or gardening have become harder.
What is vestibular physiotherapy?
Vestibular and balance physiotherapy assesses and treats dizziness, vertigo and balance problems. It uses simple exercises and movement strategies to help your brain make sense of signals from your inner ear, eyes and body so you feel steadier and more confident when you move.
SUPPORT WITH MOVEMENT AND BALANCE
What balance and movement physiotherapy can help with
Our physiotherapy service in Melbourne can treat many types of balance and movement concerns.
We’ll assess what’s causing yours and design a personalised plan to help you feel steadier, move with more confidence, do everyday tasks more easily and reduce the risk of falls.
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Sudden dizziness with movement
What it feels like
A sudden, intense spinning sensation when you change position, most often rolling over in bed, getting up in the morning, looking up or bending down. Episodes are usually brief, lasting seconds. It's most often caused by tiny crystals in the inner ear moving into the wrong place. It's common, not dangerous and very treatable.
What we do
We'll use a simple positioning test to confirm where the crystals are sitting, then guide them back to where they belong using a repositioning manoeuvre. This is a hands-on treatment done in clinic.
What to expect
Most people get significant relief quickly, often after one or two sessions. Others need a few weeks of home practice and review to slowly increase the movements so your body gets used to them.
Ongoing dizziness with movement
What it feels like
A vague, hard-to-describe dizziness that comes on with movements like turning your head, walking through a busy place or unpacking the dishwasher. You might also notice your vision blurring or lagging when you move or feel foggy and tired. It can follow a viral illness, be linked to migraines or come from a gradual weakening of the balance system. Sometimes there's no clear trigger.
What we do
We'll assess your symptoms and design a targeted home exercise program to help your balance system reset and strengthen. We'll review and progress the program with you at regular check-ins, usually every 3-4 weeks.
What to expect
This isn’t a hands‑on treatment. The real progress happens between appointments, through the exercises you do at home. Recovery often takes weeks to months, but most people improve steadily. For some conditions, the aim is to manage symptoms well rather than get rid of them completely. We’ll talk through what’s realistic for you right from the start.
Feeling unsteady, less confident and worried about falling
What it feels like
You feel wobbly or less sure on your feet, hesitating on stairs, holding on to furniture and avoiding outings because you're worried about balance. You may not feel dizzy as such, but you don't feel steady or safe. This can happen gradually as a result of getting older, being less active, or changes to strength, vision or hearing.
What we do
We'll look at what's contributing to your unsteadiness and design a practical program of balance and strengthening exercises. We'll also work on building your confidence in the movements and situations that feel risky.
What to expect
Improvement is usually gradual with regular practice. We'll set clear, realistic goals and review your progress over time.
HOW WE WORK
Our approach
Find the cause, then treat it
Focused on your goals
Clear about realistic outcomes
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
It’s easy to get started with vestibular physiotherapy
If you’re not sure if physiotherapy is the right next step, you can simply start with a conversation.
- Send an enquiry: no diagnosis or referral needed
- We’ll be in touch: to book an initial appointment
Sometimes physiotherapy may not help with your type of dizziness, and we’ll help guide you on best next steps.
We accept a range of payment options
NDIS plans
We accept self‑managed or plan‑managed funding
Private health insurance
You may be able to claim back later through your fund
Medicare rebates
With a GP Chronic Disease Management plan
Private payments
Made by credit card or debit card at the clinic
Meet the team
The clinicians behind your care
Amy Gillon
Physiotherapist
Amy has been working in vestibular and neurological physiotherapy since 1997, with a career spanning acute hospital settings, private practice and clinical education. She holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from La Trobe University and a Masters in Neurological Physiotherapy, and is an APA Titled Neurological Physiotherapist with a focus on vestibular rehabilitation.
Russel Anbiah
Clinic Director
Russel is a senior health leader with extensive experience across acute, community and public health services, including executive roles in clinical and allied health service management. At MTHC, he leads MTHC Hearing Care and MTHC Physiotherapy, and plays a central role in building connected, integrated care pathways across the organisation.
How to refer
Information for professionals
MTHC Physiotherapy helps adults aged over 18 with dizziness, vertigo, balance concerns, falls risk and movement-related symptoms to improve stability, independence and confidence in everyday life.
The service is part of MTHC’s connected care pathway and works closely with hearing care and other health services as needed.
Refer people aged over 18 to MTHC Physiotherapy when a person you’re seeing has:
- dizziness or vertigo triggered by movement, such as turning, bending, standing or walking
- signs suggesting a balance, movement or inner ear issue
- unsteadiness, instability, falls risk or fear of falling
- reduced confidence or daily function due to balance or movement changes
- vestibular conditions where physiotherapy is recommended
- neurological conditions affecting gait, balance, movement or function.
We treat a wide range of vestibular and balance conditions using targeted assessment and evidence‑based rehabilitation.
Vestibular conditions
- BPPV: current episode or post-BPPV sensitivity (people who need follow-up after repositioning)
- Peripheral vestibular hypofunction: vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, or Ménière's disease with co-existing imbalance or BPPV
- Vestibular migraine: with balance involvement
- PPPD: preferably diagnosed by a neuro-otologist, though emerging presentations can begin a home exercise program while awaiting neurology review
- Central vestibular dysfunction: cerebellar stroke, MS, ataxia, ABI
Balance, falls and movement concerns
- Imbalance or falls risk: age-related changes, deconditioning, osteoarthritis, reduced vision or hearing
- Fear of falling: or reduced confidence in everyday movement
- Simple post-concussion vestibular presentations: over four weeks post-injury, medically screened, with predominantly vestibular symptoms
- Neurological conditions affecting gait, balance or movement: including Parkinson’s, MS and stroke
Conditions we don’t treat
- Dizziness: where the primary issue is neck-related. A musculoskeletal physiotherapist is a better fit.
- Ménière’s disease: without imbalance or BPPV. ENT review through MTHC Hearing Care comes first.
- Acute concussion: or complex post-concussion with significant cervicogenic component, poorly controlled migraine or significant anxiety. A multidisciplinary concussion clinic, such as Epworth, is the right pathway.
- Dizziness that needs medical review first: sudden, severe dizziness, dizziness after a head injury, or new symptoms like weakness, numbness, trouble talking or blurred vision.
- Poorly controlled migraines: or significant anxiety as the primary driver of symptoms.
- We'll contact the person, confirm the booking and arrange an initial appointment.
- We'll assess what's contributing to their symptoms and confirm physiotherapy is the right pathway. If referral elsewhere is more appropriate, we'll help guide that.
- We'll work with the person to set clear goals and build a practical plan, whether that's a home exercise program, balance and strength work, or a combination.
How to refer
We don't need a formal referral letter, but a brief summary of what's been happening is helpful.
Online: Complete our referral enquiry form [link]
Phone: 03 9035 5333
Email: aud-reception@unimelb.edu.au
Address: Ground Floor, 550 Swanston St, Carlton 3053
Hours: Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 4.30 pm
One connected system of care
MTHC is where healthcare, education and research come together
SUPPORT FOR CHANGING NEEDS
A connected system of care
We offer a range of services to support people across different health needs and stages of life. You can move easily between services as your needs change, without starting from scratch each time.
PURPOSE‑LED HEALTHCARE
Affiliated with the University of Melbourne
We’re a not‑for‑profit healthcare organisation affiliated with the University of Melbourne. This means high‑quality, evidence‑informed care for you and your family.
Frequently asked questions
What does physio cost?
MTHC Physiotherapy is a private service. An initial 60-minute assessment costs $180 or less with a Chronic Disease Management plan. Review appointments take 30 minutes and cost $90 or less with a Chronic Disease Management plan. A Chronic Disease Management plan is set up by your GP and is limited. If you have one, bring it to your appointment. We also accept WorkCover, DVA, TAC and NDIS. Let us know your funding type when you book.
What happens at a first appointment?
Your first appointment is a 60-minute assessment with our physiotherapist. We'll go through your history, do a functional assessment (watching how you move, balance and respond to different positions), and talk through what's contributing. By the end, you'll have a clear explanation, a starting plan and a sense of what's ahead.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Please bring a list of your current medications, medical conditions and any relevant reports or test results. If another clinician has recommended physiotherapy, bring that information too.
How are vestibular and balance problems diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually involves talking through your symptoms, a physical check, and a few simple tests that look at hearing, eye movements and balance. These help show how well the inner ear and balance system are working and what might be causing the dizziness.
How many appointments will I need?
It depends on your symptoms, goals and what’s contributing to them. Some people may only need a small number of sessions. Others may need review over a longer period, especially if symptoms are linked to other conditions or longer-term balance changes.
Will I need to do exercises at home?
For most conditions, yes, and the exercises are the treatment. We'll design a program specific to your symptoms and review your progress at regular appointments, adjusting the program as you improve. For the crystal problem (BPPV), treatment is done in clinic, and home exercises may or may not be needed.
What kind of physio helps with vertigo?
Vestibular physiotherapy is a type of physiotherapy that focuses on dizziness, vertigo and balance concerns. It uses assessment, education, movement strategies and exercises to support the balance system and everyday movement.
Can physiotherapy help with dizziness?
Physiotherapy can help with some types of dizziness, especially when symptoms are linked to movement, balance or the vestibular system. Your physiotherapist will assess your symptoms and explain whether physiotherapy is likely to help, or whether another type of care should come first.
Why do I feel dizzy when I turn, bend or stand?
Dizziness with movement can happen for different reasons. It may relate to the inner ear, balance system, blood pressure, medication, migraine, neck symptoms or another health factor. Our assessments help work out what may be contributing and what the safest next step is.
Will physiotherapy cure my dizziness and balance issues?
Some people recover fully, while others improve a lot or learn ways to manage symptoms so they interfere less with daily life. We’ll be clear about realistic goals and expected outcomes from the first appointment.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact MTHC Physiotherapy directly. GPs, specialists, audiologists, allied health practitioners and other professionals can also refer.
What if physiotherapy isn’t the right starting point?
We’ll explain why and help you think through the next step. This may include GP review, specialist review, hearing care or another MTHC service.
Am I eligible for any discount as a University of Melbourne Staff Member or Student?
University of Melbourne staff and students are eligible for a 5% discount for vestibular physiotherapy services. Please bring proof of enrolment/employment with you for your appointment.
Contact us
MTHC: Physiotherapy
Ground Floor, 550 Swanston St,
Carlton 3053
Phone: 03 9035 5333
Fax: 03 9347 1535
Email: aud-reception@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4.30 pm
Closed public holidays
Directions
Find out how to get here