Dr Mary Magarey

Dr Mary Magarey is a Specialist Physiotherapist in both Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Sports & Exercise Physiotherapy. A Specialist Physiotherapist, as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists, has completed additional training in a field of physiotherapy and has attained the highest level of skill, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice to provide expert care (Australian College of Physiotherapists, 2022).

Mary is the only physiotherapist in Australia to hold Fellowships across two disciplines.

Mary has a PhD in shoulder diagnosis, undertaken in conjunction with two of Adelaide’s leading orthopaedic surgeons and has been assessing and managing people with shoulder related problems since the mid 1980s. She also has extensive experience working with junior national level athletes, having travelled to 3 Junior World Softball Championships as team physiotherapist and been the managing physiotherapist at Australian Softball Federation Youth International Friendship Series for 15 years.

In her academic role through the University of South Australia, she developed and ran the Sports components of the Master of Musculoskeletal & Sports Physiotherapy program for 25 years and taught on the Musculoskeletal component of the program for more than 40 years.

Mary’s focus at Blend Physio is on the shoulder complex – shoulder, neck, thoracic spine and arm. Anyone with a problem in this area, whether a sports-related, one related to general wear and tear or anything else, Mary can offer advice and management.

Mary is a highly experienced, enthusiastic physiotherapist who loves a challenge and is available for Specialist consultations. Mary is happy to see anyone with a challenging musculoskeletal problem, particularly of the shoulder, but also loves helping people with other conditions, both acute sporting and longer term conditions.

Mary is often told she is ‘passionate about her patients’. She takes a lot of time and care with very detailed assessment and recommendations for management.

Why might you consider consulting a Specialist Physiotherapist?

What IS a Specialist Physiotherapist?

A Specialist Physiotherapist is one who has undertaken additional training and examination in a particular field of Physiotherapy through the Australian College of Physiotherapists. The additional training consists of a minimum of a two year program specializing in a particular field of physiotherapy (eg Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy or Sports Physiotherapy, but there are other disciplines available) on top of having completed a Masters degree in the particular field. That means that it is not realistically possible to achieve Fellowship in less than 5 years post initial qualification as a physiotherapist.

Once the physiotherapist has passed the exams at the end of the training program, they are entitled to use the title of ‘doctor’ and Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

The training and examination process is the equivalent of that of a medical specialist in relation to rigour of training and standard of assessment.

Unfortunately, at this stage, the Specialist Training Program is not recognized by the Physiotherapists Registration Board as it has not yet achieved formal accreditation by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, but the College of Physiotherapists is working as hard and as quickly as possible to achieve this accreditation. When that accreditation is achieved, Specialist Physiotherapists will be recognized by the Registration Board at a different level to regular physiotherapists, thus requiring the health funds to create separate item numbers for treatment by a specialist, therefore allowing higher rebates than for a regular physiotherapist.

So, why choose to see a Specialist Physiotherapist?

If the physiotherapist you are working with decides they need advice/assistance from another physiotherapist with higher qualifications and more experience to assist with progression of your treatment, they may suggest a consultation with a Specialist Physiotherapist to help guide your ongoing treatment with your regular physiotherapist. In such a situation, you may only see the Specialist Physiotherapist on one or two occasions and your treating physiotherapist, with your consent, may attend the Specialist appointment to help them understand where they can take your treatment further. So, your regular physiotherapist and the Specialist Physiotherapist may manage your treatment as a team.
Your treating physiotherapist may consider that you need treatment at a higher level than they are able to provide you, in which case they may refer you on to the Specialist Physiotherapist to take over your treatment, at least in the short term.
You may choose to see a Specialist Physiotherapist independent of seeing a regular physiotherapist. You do not need a referral to see a Specialist, the choice to see one is yours alone. That choice is up to you.

What about costs of seeing a Specialist Physiotherapist?

Like when you see a medical specialist, where you would expect to pay higher fees than those your GP charges, so the fees of a Specialist Physiotherapist are higher than those or your regular physiotherapist. You can enquire about the fees when you make an appointment.
Unfortunately, at this time, because Specialist Physiotherapists do not have separate registration to regular physiotherapists, you do not receive a higher rebate from your health fund for seeing a Specialist Physiotherapist, so your out of pocket costs are higher. Please ask at reception what the fee is for seeing a Specialist Physiotherapist at their practice, as this will vary between practices. However, it is likely that you would only need 2-3 visits with a Specialist Physiotherapist before referral back to your regular treating physiotherapist or you will be provided with an appropriate self-management program.

Is there a Specialist Physiotherapist consulting at BLEND PHYSIO?

Yes, there is. Dr Mary Magarey is a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Specialist Sports Physiotherapist – the only double qualified Specialist Physiotherapist in Australia. We are very privileged to have Mary’s expertise available for you in our clinic.
Mary’s particular area of expertise is related to disorders of the ‘shoulder complex’, including the neck, shoulder, upper arm and upper back, but she also has higher level of expertise across most areas of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy. If you are interested in a consult with Mary, please discuss this with your current treating physiotherapist or enquire through Reception at Blend Physio.
Mary would be happy to answer questions in relation to whether she considered her area of expertise might be of value to you or not.