The Allied Health Practice Setup Guide

There's no business guide for exercise physiologists. So we wrote one.

NDIS registration decisions, Medicare billing as a non-AHPRA profession, getting GPs to understand what you do, and a 90-day plan for building your practice.

$79AUD

Instant PDF download. 65 pages. 30-day money-back guarantee.

7 chapters|65 pages|Updated March 2026

You know the clinical side. Nobody taught you this part.

The business guides that exist for physios and podiatrists don't exist for you. And the generic allied health advice doesn't cover the things that are different for EPs: the GST rules, the ESSA accreditation pathway for Medicare, the NDIS registration decision, or the fact that half the GPs in your area aren't sure what an accredited exercise physiologist does.

You're probably trying to figure out whether to register as an NDIS provider (and what it costs if you don't), how the GST exemption works when you're not AHPRA-registered, and how to explain to a GP why they should be referring CDM patients to you instead of the physio down the road.

On top of that, Medicare CDM billing changed in July 2025. GPCCMP replaced the old GPMP/TCA system, and most of what you'll find online still references the old rules.

There's virtually zero business content written specifically for exercise physiologists. This guide covers the CDM pathway, NDIS, pricing, GP referrals, and a practical 90-day plan. Specific to your profession, current rules, $79.

What's inside

7 chapters. Each one covers a specific decision or skill your degree didn't.

1

The Decision: Employed vs Private

A real income comparison. What you'll actually take home in Year 1 vs staying employed, once you account for super, leave, and the expenses nobody mentions. Plus the scenarios where staying employed is the smarter call.

2

NDIS Basics for CDM Practitioners

Should you register as an NDIS provider? How plan management types affect when you get paid. The GST complications for non-AHPRA professions. What registration costs and whether it's worth it when you're starting out.

3

Pricing Your Services

How to set your fee when everyone gives you a different number. The gap fee maths, when bulk billing makes sense (rarely), and how to tell patients your price without apologising.

4

Finding Your First Clients

How to walk into a GP clinic when you've never done it before. What to say, what to bring, how to follow up so they remember you. Plus the directories worth listing on and the ones that waste your money.

5

Financial Foundations

Setting aside tax when nobody's withholding it for you. Paying your own super. Budgeting when your income is $2,500 one week and $900 the next. The bank accounts to set up before you see your first patient.

6

Common Mistakes & What They Cost

Ten mistakes with real dollar figures. The $14,400/year underpricing mistake. The $5,000 restructuring mistake. The insurance gap that could end your career. Each one with what it costs and how to avoid it.

7

Your First 90 Days

Week by week: how many patients to expect, when to visit GPs, what to set up and in what order. With benchmarks at 30, 60, and 90 days so you know if you're on track.

Quick Reference Appendix

Key points from the four free reference guides (business structure, CDM billing, provider numbers, practice costs) with links to the full versions.

Reference vs playbook

Four free reference guides live on this site. This guide covers the seven chapters that don't.

Free guides on this site

  • What sole trader vs Pty Ltd means
  • How GPCCMP Medicare billing works
  • Getting your Medicare provider number
  • Practice setup costs, broken down

Reference material. Available free.

This guide

  • Should you go private? (real income numbers, not 'it depends')
  • NDIS: should you register, and what it costs if you don't
  • What to charge per session (framework, not 'check your area')
  • How to get GPs referring to you when you know zero GPs
  • Tax, super, and cash flow on variable income
  • Ten mistakes that cost new practice owners $10,000+
  • Week-by-week plan for your first 90 days

Strategy & action plans. $79.

$79

Less than one session fee.

30-day money-back guarantee. Instant PDF download.

Common questions

Can I find this online for free?

The reference material, yes. Four chapters' worth is free on this site. What doesn't exist anywhere is a single resource covering the decisions specific to EPs going private: should you do it, how to price, how to build GP referrals when they don't know what you do, and what order to tackle it. There's virtually nothing written for EPs on the business side.

Is this relevant to my state or territory?

Yes. Medicare CDM billing, ESSA accreditation, and business structure are all federal. Where state-specific rules apply, the guide notes them.

What format is the guide?

65-page PDF. Download link immediately after purchase.

Is this up to date with the GPCCMP changes?

Yes. Updated for the July 2025 changes. Most content online still references GPMP/TCA, which no longer applies for new patients.

I'm ESSA-accredited but still working towards AEP. Can I use this?

The business planning, pricing, and financial chapters are useful right now. The Medicare chapters explain the ESSA accreditation requirements for provider numbers, so you'll know exactly what you need when you're ready.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. Email within 30 days for a full refund.

The guide your degree didn't include.

Medicare billing to your first 90 days. 65 pages covering everything between qualifying and opening your doors.

$79 AUD. Instant download. 30-day money-back guarantee.

© 2026 Private Practice Guide. All rights reserved.

This site provides general information only. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.