NEW ADDRESS
Chermside Chiropractic, 262 Rode Road, Wavell Heights
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NEW PATIENTS
Dr Susan is now taking New Patients for 2024
please phone us 9am-4:30pm weekdays to book in
Welcome to Align&SHINE
We are currently located at Chermside Chiropractic Clinic in Wavell Heights on the northside of Brisbane, Queensland. Our Chiropractic techniques follow best practice guidelines and are effective and efficient in resolving a great number of structural and functional health problems. We use manual adjusting, drop piece, functional muscle testing, Applied Kinesiology and Retained Neonatal Reflexes technique.
Our principal Chiropractor, Dr Susan Walker, is renowned for being the first Australian female to obtain the position of Diplomate of the International College of Applied Kinesiology (DIBAK), for her work advancing Retained Neonatal Reflexes™ (RNR®) Technique founded by Dr Keith Keen (Osteopath and Chiropractor) and for enhancing the lives of children with learning difficulty and developmental concerns.
Shine
- to give out a bright light
- be very talented or perform very well
The human body is regulated by an electrical-based system called the nervous system. Chiropractors are skilled to work with problems in the nervous system. You may be familiar with terms like nerve pain, back pain, carpal tunnel, impingement, restless leg, tics, and headaches and all of these can be signs of dysfunction in the nervous system. Like how dimmers on a light switch can turn down the brightness or ramp up the light you see, Chiropractors work to shine light (or nerve conducted information) to areas that aren’t receiving the appropriate amount of brilliance. By enhancing how the nervous system functions, patients can experience improved body control and a greater sense of vitality, just like turning the dimmer back up for more brightness. Patients often report feeling brighter in both mood and mental function, and their body can feel lighter as muscle activation and co-ordination improves.
Chiropractors have been described as “neurosurgeons without a scalpel”. We are not medical specialists and we have no license to break the skin, but we are required to do a tremendous amount of Neurology, Anatomy, Biomechanics, Diagnostics, Pharmacocology, Radiology and Osteology study in our 5 years at University to obtain our degree and/or masters of Chiropractic. When this theoretical study is combined with years of fine-tuning our psychomotor skills of palpation and adjusting (rather than learning surgical skills), Chiropractic can be a sensible place to start when you experience body pain or dysfunction. Your Chiropractor will be able to determine if your pain or health concerns are likely to respond to our hands-on care and may recommend a trial course of treatments.
Meet Dr Susan Walker (Chiropractor)
During the last year of her Masters, Susan took on an additional night course taught by ICAK Diplomate Dr Keith Keen (Chiropractor) and upon her graduation he asked her to join his clinic on Macquarie Street, Sydney. By taking on Dr Keith’s life’s learnings, it placed Susan quickly amongst the sought after practitioners in Sydney for child care. Susan has contributed to Applied Kinesiology and Retained Neonatal Reflexes™ (RNR®) development for more than a decade and teaches both techniques locally and internationally. She has been a teaching Diplomate for the International College of Applied Kinesiology since 2008 and one of three qualified Retained Neonatal Reflexes™ teachers in the world. She founded Your Body Works, a busy child focused Chiropractic clinic in north Brisbane where she worked for 12 years, then created Brilliance Chiropractic based in Redcliffe Peninsula, and moved back into North Brisbane with Align&SHINE in 2018.
Bachelor of Science (Anatomy) – University of Queensland
Master of Chiropractic – Macquarie University
Diplomate of International Board of Applied Kinesiology (Antwerp, Belgium).
Since age eleven Susan knew she was destined to become a Chiropractor. Observing the treatment of her sister after an injury, it immediately made sense to Susan to put your hands on a body (often a missing step in modern day healthcare) and try to work out the problem before resorting to medication and other more costly, risky, and often preventable intervention.
At Uni she found she had a fascination with bones. She was able to easily convert all those facets that articulate with neighboring bones into the mechanical function of the human frame. Due to her high results in Osteology, Susan was invited to study Forensic Osteology where she did projects on skeletal remains found in unmarked burials and sorted bags of tiny human hand and foot bones from small bones of other animals. She graduated from University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Science and completed her Master of Chiropractic in 2002 at Macquarie University in Sydney Australia.
While Susan works with bodies of all ages with a wide range of presenting concerns, she is in her element when treating children during their rapid years of development and milestones.
Along with the late Dr Keith Keen (Chiropractor), Susan has received worldwide interest in the RNR methods, a strong professional following, and a long list of happily developing little patients.
These days Susan is joined in clinic by her docile and happy Cavoodle puppy named Max. He is currently training to becoming a therapy dog.
Our Clinic
Phone Us
Our Chiropractic Assistants (CA) are on the phones 9am-4:30pm weekdays and are able to help you out with any questions you may have.
Give us a call – 0435 553 100.
Accounts
Cash, EFTPOS, ApplePAY and Credit Card payments are accepted. Sorry we do not run accounts and will not accept payment from third party payers (eg insurance companies, Workcover, Medicare, DVA).
We are not equipped with HICAPS however if your private health covers you for Chiropractic care you can submit your invoice to your fund via their app to collect your rebate.
Online Bookings
At your convenience book-in your next appointment any hour of the day, even when our clinic is closed. Click here to see how easy it is.
For First Appointments please call 0435 553 100.
Location
NOTE NEW LOCATION (MAY 2023)
CHERMSIDE CHIROPRACTIC
262 RODE ROAD, WAVELL HEIGHTS
Use this link to find your way: https://goo.gl/maps/6TbijNnq8BP3KBSu7
Stroller Friendly & Disabled Access
Easy on-street parking and ground level access. Onsite toilet for your convenience.
CHIRO 101
Muscle Fatigue & Gained Strength
Chiropractic Can Positively Affect Brain Function
Your Brain’s Reaction Time
Learn How Even Mild Spinal Dysfunction Can Cause Problems
What is That POP?
FAQ
What will it cost?
Fee increase 1 January 2024.
Initial Consultation $210 allow 50-60 minutes
Standard Return $90 allow 15-20 minutes
Long Return $160 allow 30-40 minutes
10 Prepaid/Family 3+ $85 allow 15-20 minutes
Current fee
Initial consultation $180 allow 50-60 minutes
Standard return consultation $85 allow 15-20 minutes
Long return consultation $140 allow 30-40 minutes
Team Care Arrangement Plans via referral from a GP incur a $50 report writing fee at the first and last appointment on the plan. See more on this topic under Are your Services covered by Medicare? lower down in the FAQ section.
Prepay 10 standard return sessions – $850 ($85 per session and can be used by anyone in your family). Your first two appointments will be booked 1 week apart at the time of booking your initial appointment. For most patient’s concerns, a trial course of 6 weekly appointments are recommended. You’ll be able to book follow-up return appointments online or by phone at your convenience.
What are your operating hours?
Please phone 0435 553 100 for operating hours as these may change due to professional obligations.
I am not well today, and I might be contagious. Can I still come to my appointment?
While we are taught it’s kind to share, reschedule your appointment for when you are well. Colds, flu, diarrhoea, vomiting, head lice, conjunctivitis, scarlet fever, chicken pox and any other infectious bug is best handled by keeping yourself isolated and contacting your GP via Telehealth or attending face-2-face where possible.
Our practitioner’s work by touching our patients to deliver our therapy. There is no way to remain socially distant when under treatment, so if you’re sick, rest up and get well, and then you’re most welcome to come on in!
How can I explain the first appointment to my Child?
“Your Chiropractor will test a whole bunch of your muscles to see how strong they are. They will be able to tell from your muscle strength how much information is getting from your brain and down your arm or leg to tell that muscle what to do. If the muscle is strong we know that the brain is getting the messages to that muscle, however if the muscle is weak, your Chiropractor will have to find where the blockage or problem is that is stopping the brain from telling it what to do.”
Our goal is to enhance the speed and function of each body. By doing so, movement becomes better co-ordinated and more efficient. Simply put, doing things gets easier. For kids, a more brilliant body translates to them having more fun with fewer frustrations.
What is Applied Kinesiology?
Is Applied Kinesiology Chiropractic safe for Children?
Yes. Our practitioners have treated babies from one day old. About 50% of our clientel are children from 3-8 years of age. Each of our Chiropractors see around 250 new patients each year. Adverse reactions are extremely rare. Our treatments on Children are gentle and effective.
Refer to the videos above for more on Chiropractic Safety, Children and Babies.
Do I need a referral?
What is your cancellation policy?
At Align&SHINE we strive to keep everybody happy. We ask from you the courtesy of at least 4 hours notice for appointment rescheduling to enable us to appoint that time to someone else in need. Just about every day we have people on the waiting list eager for an appointment should a spot open up.
1st Missed Appointment – We Understand
2nd Missed Appointment – Please Bring Flowers, Wine or Chocolates
3rd Missed Appointment – Full Standard Consultation Fee Will Be Charged
4th Missed Appointment – No Further Appointments Will Be Made.
All new patients tick a box to agree to the terms of this cancellation policy when completing new patient history forms.
Are your services covered by our private health fund?
Chiropractic care is covered by most private health fund policies (MBF, NIB, Medibank, Bupa). The amount you can claim depends on the fund and the type of cover you have. Please check your policy for further information.
At Align&SHINE we do NOT provide HICAPS for on the spot claiming. An electronic receipt will be issued to you to make online claiming that bit easier.
Are your services covered by Medicare?
The simple answer is ‘No’.
However, if you or your child has been approved by your GP for a Team Care Arrangement plan such as the ‘Enhanced Primary Care (EPC)’ or ‘Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM)’ then you are able to be reimbursed a portion of our treatment fee through Medicare for up to five sessions per calendar year. In this case you will pay for the consultation in full and then be reimbursed through Medicare upon submission of your invoice through your my.gov.au portal. A $50 report writing fee is will be charged at the first and last appointment on the plan. The reports are stipulated by Medicare to participate in the plan.
Do you accept DVA, WorkCover or any other Third Party Payer?
Align&SHINE is a privately funded clinic. We are not part of any national medical scheme. As a patient at this clinic you agree to pay for consultations in full at the time of your appointments. We do not run accounts nor accept payments from third party payers on your behalf. Align&SHINE does not accept Medicare Cards, WorkCover, Seniors Cards, DVA, Concession Cards, Private Health Fund Cards or any other card which may entitle you to reduced medical fees in government subsidised establishments.
Will I need X-Rays?
Depending on what your patient history reveals, you may or may not require x-rays. If your practitioner recommends an x-ray, you can be referred to the radiology centre of your choice. Provided you have a current Medicare card (ie you are an Australian citizen), your spinal x-rays can be bulk-billed. Peripheral x-rays (eg., knees, wrists) if referred by a Chiropractor can not be bulk-billed in full and will usually cost you around $20-$50 per region.