FAQs

Our holistic health practitioners use a customised, research-backed approach to help clients with their health conditions - including persistent symptoms and chronic conditions. Using science-based lifestyle changes, together with targeted short-term supplementation, nutritional therapies and functional medicine protocols, our protocols focus on achieving outcomes in the following areas of your health: Digestive issues Nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and excesses Mental wellbeing and stress reduction Metabolism and weight management Hormonal balance Heart and metabolic health Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions Skin conditions Mental clarity and energy

Our individualised programs incorporate clinical protocols that are informed by consistent research findings and functional medicine approaches. By combining science-based lifestyle changes, together with targeted supplementation, nutritional therapies, mental wellbeing, stress reduction, sleep optimisation techniques and healthy movement, we create a customised program and action plan that evolves with you throughout your care. If the optimal treatment plan is outside of our scope of expertise, we will help our clients connect with the relevant specialists to ensure they’re receiving the best care possible.

Throughout your Health Connection program, we track your progress using changes in your symptoms, how you feel, and biomarker measures to help gauge your healing process over time. Our symptom measures analyse a range of body areas, from musculoskeletal, to digestive and mental health, and tracks progress over time. Using this tracker, we give you a total score based on how you’re doing, as well as plot-point graphs to visualise changes over time, which gives you and your holistic health practitioner a snapshot of your health and progress to keep you motivated, informed and on-track, and to ensure your plan is best adapted to you.

Yes, we do. Supplements are powerful tools in many people’s health and healing. As clients establish healthier eating patterns, heal their gut lining and restore balance in the body, we may recommend supplements to help correct specific micronutrient deficiencies or excesses, support healthy sleep, cortisol, energy and gut microbiota. Any supplement recommendations will be both limited and targeted. This is because we take a food-first approach to nutrition, as long-term supplementation isn't a sustainable strategy to replace the nutrients you can obtain from a healthy diet and whole foods. The safety, quality, effectiveness and relevance of supplements are deeply considered by your Health Connection practitioner, who only recommends the supplements they feel are best for you. Health Connection practitioners are trained in using specific, high-quality, safety-tested ‘professional grade’ supplements that are third-party-validated and produced in industry-leading facilities, as well as being made by manufacturers that retail largely through certified healthcare professionals - in other words, they are often ‘practitioner only’ supplements. The supplements we recommend are indicated to work for the conditions they support, like treating microbial imbalances in the gut, healing the gastrointestinal tract lining, addressing nutritional deficiencies, or balancing blood sugar. We are highly selective and cautious in recommending supplements to support the lifestyle-responsive conditions we help with at the Health Connection. Like any drug, any supplement can have side-effects and should be monitored carefully, evaluated for negative reactions, or stopped if not efficacious. While we offer supplements for sale, clients are not required to purchase supplements through us. We do encourage clients to get their supplements through us because we know that the supplement dispensed is of high quality, and offers convenience for clients. Cost of supplementation is separate from the program cost.

A member of our wonderful care team is available to guide you through the ordering process from start to finish, and will reach out to you once you have been made aware of your supplement plan. Please feel free to direct any questions or queries regarding ordering your supplements to: care@thehealthconnection.com.au

We'd love to connect with you! To get started on your Health Connection journey, we ask all new clients to book an Initial Consultation so we can go through a comprehensive health history with you and make sure the care we provide fits your health goals and conditions. You are welcome to book a free 15 minute discovery call first to find out more. The Health Connection currently has a waiting list for New Clients. To begin working with a member of our holistic health team in the near future please email care@thehealthconnection.com.au to express your interest, or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to working together!

We understand how powerful of connection in health care, especially as an online business. That's why we offer all new clients our Free 15-Minute Discovery Call with a member of our personal Care Team to meet a member of our exceptional team, learn more about what we do at the Health Connection and discover whether we’ll be the right fit to support you on your health and wellness journey. It’s an opportunity to get to know one another a bit more, to better understand your health concerns and wellness goals, and for you to learn more about our Functional Medicine approach. We do this to ensure we are indeed the best fit for your needs, as we understand programs can be a significant commitment of your time and resources, and we want to make sure you have the best outcome possible. If you and our team feel you’ll be able to benefit from one of our personalised programs or services, we can begin our next steps together: booking an Initial Consultation and sending you a link to complete our thorough health history questionnaire at your own pace, online from home. Book your Free 15 Minute Discovery Call now.

Our approach is to take the time needed to conduct an in-depth assessment to understand and identify the underlying causes of your health conditions and concerns. The Initial Consultation is 90 minutes, and costs $250. During your Initial Consultation, you will meet with your holistic health practitioner online over our secure Telehealth video services, designed for healthcare. Your holistic health practitioner will review your comprehensive intake forms, listen to your story, and create a timeline of symptoms to gain a thorough understanding or your case and establish a supportive therapeutic partnership with you. Your practitioner may also recommend laboratory tests, and will outline the next steps moving forward in creating a personalised health program to achieve the best outcomes for your health and well-being together. On your end, you will need a solid wifi or internet connection, somewhere you feel cosy and safe to sit during the consultation, and a device with a working camera, speakers and microphone. Please note the consultations are video calls, not just phone calls. We look forward to seeing you! Easily schedule your Initial Consultation online today.

Please ensure you have completed our comprehensive intake form and consent forms, and submitted them online (along with any previous, relevant lab test results or related medical records) at least 3 full days (72 hours) before your Initial Consultation. This allows your holistic health practitioner time to review it. Our comprehensive intake form may take an hour to complete, and has been designed so that you can fill it out online in your browser, and will save as you go, so you can always come back to it right where you left off! You can find a link to these forms in your welcome email after you book an Initial Consultation, and on your Client Portal. Once submitted, we simply ask that you show up ready to explore your unique health story together. We email you a link to join your session when you book, then re-email it 15 minutes before your session. Your link guides you into our virtual waiting area, so please arrive 5 minutes ahead of time. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

At the Health Connection, we offer personalised programs with a Functional Medicine-approach to Holistic Health and Nutrition consultations. Your health journey begins with an Initial Consultation over a Zoom Telehealth video call with our Holistic Health Practitioner to learn more about your health history, background, and wellness goals. Each new patient experience is designed to cover everything from an extensive health intake, through to innovative lab testing recommendations and nutrition consulting. Next, your care team will form a completely customised Health Plan to follow throughout a 12 Session Program, meeting regularly over video calls with your practitioner to support you in achieving the goals we laid out in our initial sessions, and to keep evolving your plan to best support you in healing, and empowering you to feel your best. Please find more details about programs by accessing our Programs page, or by reviewing our Services page for more information about how we help with specific conditions.

Absolutely! The Health Connection is an entirely virtual wellness experience. All consultations are conducted online through Zoom’s secure Telehealth video consultations. This means you can relax into your visits and connect with your holistic healthcare team from the comfort of your own home, making wellness care all the more accessible and affordable. We are based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Due to differing health regulations and legislature between states, territories, countries and regions around the world, our budding healthcare team are currently only accepting new clients from within Australia. If you reside outside of Australia, you are welcome to contact us here to register your interest.

No, our practitioners are not registered medical doctors other medical physicians. We do not prescribe or manage medications, and we do not diagnose disease. While our holistic health practitioners are widely trained in the functional medicine approach and clinical nutrition, we do not provide allopathic or acute care services, and require that you have your own primary care physician or GP. We will work with you closely as clinical practitioners, consultants and coaches in preventive, nutritional and functional medicine protocols to help you address the roots of chronic health problems to help empower you to feel your best. Our team can confer with your primary care doctor if required. If you are experiencing a health emergency or need urgent medical attention, please always dial '000' or visit your nearest emergency room.

As we establish care, your Health Connection practitioner will begin a discovery process to get to know you, your history, and your needs to help formulate a Health Plan specifically created for you. There are many facets to this initial discovery process, including online questionnaires and, often, lab testing. If you're not sure which lab tests will be relevant, we recommend waiting to upload previous lab results until after your Initial Visit with your Health Connection Practitioner so we can prioritise and focus more specifically on the information that's needed after your first appointment to best inform the making of your Health Plan. To better help you understand what previous lab tests are useful, we have outlined the following guidelines: Conventional lab results within the last 3-6 months Functional Medicine test results within the last 12 months Please upload previous lab test files directly onto your Health Connection Client Portal for your Care Team to access.

Once you complete your Initial Consultation, your practitioner will create a personalised program just for you, to work through together over 12 follow-up sessions. Depending on how sessions are spaced, and your progress, the program will last 3 to 6 months. Throughout your program, you’ll work with your holistic health practitioner to dive deeper into your health history, testing insights and unique story, to identify the root cause of your symptoms. Once they understand the root causes, your care team can work with you to address underlying conditions to bring the body into balance. Together, we’ll develop a care plan for long-term health focused on healing and optimising wellbeing. We’ll be with you every step of the way to implement your Health Plan and achieve lasting outcomes. Find a step-by-step breakdown of our 12 Session Program here. This page covers how your Health Connection journey works, from getting started, to getting individualised recommendations, progressing through your care, ongoing support, progress tracking, and getting results.

Your Health Connection Program is a 12 Session Plan spaced over 3 to 6 months, and focuses on providing you with root-cause resolutions for your symptoms, and support for long-term autonomy over your health. Your Program Includes: 12 in-depth sessions with your holistic health practitioner designed to: Follow up on your Health Connection questionnaires and Initial Consultation to understand your unique health history, current health concerns, goals, lifestyle and diet. Give you recommendations for functional testing and blood work that suits your individual health, risk factors, and circumstances. Go over your personalised care plan with you, review testing insights and results, discuss and track your progress, help you implement recommended lifestyle changes, set achievable goals, adapt your plan based on how you’re responding to change, and optimise your wellbeing. An individually designed health care plan that specifically addresses your unique needs, considering the full portrait of your lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, stressors, movement, mental wellbeing, health and goals. Recommendations and access to functional testing and comprehensive blood work to identify your nutrient deficiencies or toxicities, cellular health, genetics, toxin exposure, hormone balance, gut health, and more, to help you get to the root of your symptoms. Online support with our convenient online scheduling so you can find a time that works for you and unlimited messaging with your care team and holistic health practitioner using your Health Connection client portal, so you can stay connected between visits. High quality, targeted supplements with transparent pricing, all in one place, so you don’t have to wade through chemists or online stores looking for the best solutions. Receive accessible, holistic healthcare from the comfort of your own home, from preventative care to chronic health concerns, to messaging support and referrals when necessary. Plus, we’ll coordinate care with your specialists and other healthcare providers where appropriate, and keep a secure record of your progress, lab results and health data accessible to you through your Health Connection client portal.

The cost of your Initial Consultation is not included in the cost of your program, and is booked and billed separately. All new clients must have an Initial Consultation before beginning a program. Other costs not included in your program that may require out-of-pocket expenses: Lab tests: Many basic tests are bulk-billed, or covered partially or fully with insurance, when ordered through your GP. Some tests may not be covered at all. Speciality tests (like stool, urine, and saliva) are not included in the cost of your program. Healthcare services or products outside of your program, or recommended by the Health Connection, such as fitness classes or supplements.

Healing Takes Time Our programs are developed with evidence-based protocols to get results that are worth the investment. Plus, with toxin elimination, hormonal shifts, gut regeneration, skin cell renewal rates, nutrient replenishment, food intolerances - our bodies need time to restore, adapt, and eliminate. Working with our team along the way ensures your Health Plan evolves with you and continues to be tailored to any barriers you face while implementing recommendations, goals and lifestyle changes. We're Setting You Up for Long-Term Success Studies show it actually takes 18 days to 8 months to form a new habit (not just 21!) - and the length of our program is built around this concept. Regular visits over 3-6 months gives you enough time to put recommendations into practice so you are empowered with better well-being, an understanding of how you respond to and implement change, supporting your long-term autonomy over your health.

Our 12 Session Program is $1,280 upfront, which saves you $220 - meaning you get nearly a whole month free*! Or, you can pay in monthly instalments of $500 over 3 months ($1,500 total cost). No matter how you pay, the program will run from 3 to 6 months depending on your progress, lab results, and unique circumstances. The program cost covers your 12 follow-up visits and the rest of your Health Connection experience, like your personalised care plan, unlimited messaging and support, testing reviews and insights, secure online member portal, and more. *For this price comparison, the program cost has been spaced equally out over 6 months.

The first consultation is your Initial Consultation. This goes for 90 minutes. Your second consultation is when we begin your program, and we allocate 45-60 minutes to go through a Report of Findings after your Initial Consultation and lab testing, if applicable. The remaining follow-up consultations of your 12 Session Program are 45 minutes in length.

Clients of our Health Connection programs have access to uncapped messaging with their care team! While this includes your holistic health practitioner and care managers, we encourage clients to book a virtual visit when they want to connect with their practitioner about complex topics or concerns. Connecting with your care team is available anytime through your Health Connection client portal. It’s perfect for when you have questions between visits, or want to update your practitioner about how you’re responding to treatment. You should get a response within 72 hours, but usually sooner! NOTE: Unlimited messaging is not for emergency care or services. If you require urgent medical attention, please call ‘000’ or visit an emergency room. For more complex questions, you may need to set up an appointment to speak to us directly, at the discretion of your holistic health practitioner and care team.

As you adventure into our programs for the first time, you will meet your personal Care Team, including your Holistic Health Practitioner, who are all here to help you along the way. And they’ve likely been in your shoes before too. Their aim is to show up for your questions, your stories, and to provide you with the best and most informed guidance they can, while helping you correspond with your health practitioner in between sessions, arrange your appointment schedule, billing enquiries, and ensure you feel comfortable throughout your care. Health care is personal, and there is no greater honour than to be entrusted with your wellbeing. Our promise is to be here with patience, kindness, curiosity and guidance for when you need it, and to stay with you as your biggest cheerleaders as you unlock your wins. Our mission is to see and hear every single client, to make sure you feel understood, so we can create the best outcomes together, and help empower you to thrive well beyond the end of our program together.

For new clients of our 12 Session Programs, visits are spaced over the 3 to 6 months from signing up. This means there will be 1-2 weeks between sessions depending on your needs and health practitioner recommendations. We find this is an optimal amount of time to stay connected with your care team, stay committed to and on track with your action plan, make timely adjustments to your plan as needed, and monitor progress meaningfully. We understand life isn't always linear, and, for compelling circumstances, are able to extend your program out to 8 months total if needed. At the end of your 12 Session Program, you’re welcome to transition into a fresh set of follow-up visits, booked individually as needed, or in pre-paid programs of either 6 or 12 sessions, to use over the 12 months following. We'll be here for you as long as you need us. If you choose to continue with a program, which may be recommended for more complex client cases, clients paying monthly will continue to be auto-charged monthly, or upfront according to their new care plan. More questions about how programs work? If you’re not yet a Health Connection client, feel free to get in touch here. If you’re currently a client, get in touch with your Care Team here.

Health Connection clients have access to a range of advanced practitioner-order-only functional lab tests to better steer clients along the road towards achieving optimal well-being and dive deeper into their physiology, making health data accessible, which can be re-measured and tracked over time. Program clients also have discounted access to practitioner-only therapeutic-grade supplements, as well as exclusive deals on Health Connection-curated products and services from our vetted wellness partners.

No. Wherever you feel is most comfortable, quiet and secure for you to have a virtual consultation, you are able to.

All Health Connection consultations are paid for in advance through our secure online payment system. New clients are taken through an Initial Consultation before beginning any Health Connection program. The Initial Consultation is separate from our programs, and has a separate cost. Thus, the Initial Consultation is paid for on its own. When signing up for programs, we give you the option to pay either (1) monthly, or (2) in an upfront lump sum, at which time you’ll need to include your credit card information for our secure online payment system to process the charge. If you choose to pay monthly, you’ll be charged the first monthly payment on the date you sign up, and every month following that, for 2 additional months. In total, the program will be split across 3 monthly charges, no matter the length of your program. If you choose to pay everything upfront, you’ll be charged the total amount upon signup. As a program member, you can find invoices in your Health Connection Client Portal and download them as PDFs for your records. Each monthly program fee is designed to cover the total cost of a set number of allotted appointments depending on your program, as well as broader access to our online and testing services, your care team, and Health Connection portal.

With your GP’s support, we’re happy for you to complete testing through your GP or primary medical doctor. Your Health Connection holistic practitioner may recommend a few “non-routine” markers that your GP may not wish to order for you, but we can always adjust the recommendations to something your doctor is comfortable with, and then order the remaining tests through labs that the Health Connection is directly connected with. As a Health Connection client, you have direct access to pathology testing through your Clinical Nutritionists and thus, to a range of laboratory services all in one place, with many test kits able to be sent conveniently to your home. The exception to this are tests requiring blood draws, however these are often general health tests that you may be referred for by your GP if the test is clinically indicated, or that your Clinical Nutritionist can refer you for, again, if clinically appropriate.

Health Connection clients are connected to an array of advanced specialty tests through their holistic health practitioner. Depending on your unique circumstances and health history, we may offer blood, saliva, breath, urine and stool tests that assess for allergies and food sensitivities, cortisol and other hormones, microbiome and gut health, toxic metal levels, and so on. The majority of functional tests are billed directly to you as an individual client. However, many basic tests, such as blood draws, can be bulk-billed or reimbursable through insurance when ordered through your GP. As the Health Connection offers private wellness consultations and our practitioners are not medical doctors or Medicare providers, testing cannot be bulk-billed or go through insurance when ordered directly with us. Your Health Connection care team can provide you with the upfront costs and guide you as to which tests may be ordered with the support of your GP. Functional tests are optional and generally not covered by insurance. Prices range between $50 and $500. If these don’t fit your budget, don’t worry. Your care team will work with you to customise your Health Connection plan based on your needs. Their recommendations are always rooted in what’s best for your entire health - physically, mentally and financially. If a test kit is sent from the Health Connection, a shipping cost between $14.50 and $24 may be added to invoices depending on the postage and handling fee of the laboratory partner.

As holistic health practitioners, our consultations are private wellness consultations, and are thus not reimbursable by Medicare or private health insurance providers. All services at this time are on a self-pay basis. Medicare rebates, insurance claims and bulk-billing are not applicable. When ordering laboratory tests, we advise our clients to consult with their GP or Primary Care Doctor, so that tests we recommend may be bulk billed, covered by Medicare, or reimbursed by your insurance provider where possible. Please keep in mind that even when ordering lab tests through your GP or Primary Care Doctor, there may be tests that are not covered under Medicare or your individual insurance policy or plan. Alternatively, clients are always welcome to order any labs directly through their Health Connection Practitioner. Our practitioners are not Medicare providers or doctors, and therefore, reimbursement of our services, including billing for laboratory tests, cannot be provided by Medicare or Private Health Insurance at this stage.

Yes, we actively encourage additional family members to join. Although we are currently only seeing adults, we offer a discount for each adult immediate family member that joins the program. Please speak with your care team to help arrange an appointment.

If you are unable to make it to your appointment, please notify your care team by messaging or emailing us, or rescheduling your session online in your Health Connection portal. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy for all appointments with a Health Connection practitioner. Cancelling with less than 24 hours notice will result in a $50 charge to the credit card on file. You will still be able to reschedule your appointment if it is part of a prepaid program. If you do not show up at all for your video visit without notifying your care team or practitioner that you needed to cancel or reschedule (in writing via email), you will be charged in full for the appointment. However, for your first missed visit that is part of a prepaid program, you will still be able to reschedule it. In other words, the first missed visit without notice won’t be forfeited. After that, the 24-hour cancellation policy will apply, and all missed visits without notice will be charged in full and forfeited.

Health Connection programs are set up as plans with the option to pay in monthly instalments, or in a single upfront payment. Clients can request to cancel their program at any time. Cancellations must be requested in writing and sent to care@thehealthconnection.com.au If you make monthly payments on your program, and cancel your program at least 2 business days prior to the next billing cycle, we will not process any further payments, and you will have access to Health Connection services until the end of your current billing period. If you cancel your program within 2 business days of your next billing date, we will process one final monthly instalment fee per your billing cycle after requesting cancellation. You will have access to Health Connection services through to the end of that billing period. For example, if your next billing cycle begins on a Wednesday, please request to cancel your program by at least the Monday prior to avoid further charges. Any written requests on the Tuesday prior, or the Wednesday itself, will result in one final billing charge as scheduled on the Wednesday. If you paid for your program upfront, you will not be charged a final fee to cancel. You will have access to Health Connection services and member portal resources through to your cancellation date. We do not offer refunds on our upfront or monthly program plans. If you have any questions or are looking to cancel your program, please get in touch at care@thehealthconnection.com.au

Whilst we are sure that you’re going to love and feel cared for throughout your Health Connection experience, we understand that it might not be a good fit for everyone. Therefore, we offer all new patients a free 15 minute discovery call to get to know each other better before working together. We also offer our Initial Consultation separate from the 12 session package so that you don’t need to sign onto a program before starting to work with us throughout a longer program journey. If you have signed up for a program and wish to cancel your upcoming program payments, you can do so within your Health Connection portal or by emailing us at care@thehealthconnection.com.au We do not offer refunds on our upfront or monthly program plans. Programs and sessions are non-transferrable to other individuals or people.

Within your Health Connection Client Portal, you can manage any upcoming monthly payments, cancel your program, monitor your payment method, and update your contact information.

Within your Health Connection Client Portal, you can monitor or change your saved payment method, and update your contact information.

Health Connection reserves the right to cancel the clients Program at any time. Reasons for this include, but are not limited to, failure to pay for the program in a timely manner, failure to schedule any/all sessions included in the program within 8 months of purchasing the program, violation of our terms and conditions, and so on. Reasonable attempts to correspond with the client will be made before cancelling the client’s program.