Cardiac Rehabilitation

Conditions · Cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehab to rebuild your strength and confidence

After a heart attack, heart surgery or a heart failure diagnosis, the right exercise is an important part of recovery. We provide supervised, monitored programs that work with your cardiologist and GP.

Book Your First Appointment → Call 0409 051 260

✓ Supervised and monitored✓ Works with your cardiologist✓ Medicare rebates with a GP plan

Supervised exercise session at Beachside EP, Mordialloc
Cardiac rehab Supervised and monitored
Why it matters

Cardiac rehab is recommended after most heart events

28%
Fewer heart attacks with exercise-based cardiac rehab in people with coronary heart disease
Fewer
Hospital admissions with exercise-based cardiac rehab
3
Checks each session: heart rate, blood pressure and how hard it feels
1
Plan, shared with your cardiologist and GP

Source: Dibben G et al. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2026 update. Figures are average effects across trials, not results from our clinic.

Important

Know the warning signs

If you have any of these, stop what you're doing. If they're severe, getting worse or last more than 10 minutes, call Triple Zero (000).

!Pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in your chest, arm, neck, jaw or back
!Shortness of breath that's unusual for you
!Dizziness, fainting, or a racing or irregular heartbeat
!Nausea or a cold sweat with any of the above
Cardiac rehabilitation

From early recovery to long-term heart health

Cardiac rehab combines exercise, education and lifestyle support. Hospital and community cardiac rehab programs are often free, so ask your cardiologist about one. We can work alongside them, or continue your care afterwards.

Early recovery

After discharge

Usually starts a few weeks after your event or procedure, once your treating team is happy for you to begin. The focus is on safely returning to exercise, understanding your condition and rebuilding confidence, with careful monitoring and gradual progression.

Long term

Ongoing heart health

Building and keeping the fitness, strength and habits that protect your heart. Programs are individual and regularly reviewed, and many people continue for years as part of looking after their heart.

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Safety and monitoring. Sessions are supervised by Accredited Exercise Physiologists. We check your heart rate, blood pressure and how hard exercise feels before, during and after each session, and work within the exercise guidance from your cardiologist.
What we do

A supervised program built around your heart

Every program is designed around your event or procedure, your heart function, your medications and your risk factors.

❤️

Graded aerobic exercise

Monitored cardio, progressed gradually from low to moderate intensity as your fitness improves.

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Strength training

Rebuilding strength for daily life, within safe limits for your heart and medications.

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Monitoring

Heart rate, blood pressure and effort checked before, during and after exercise.

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Risk factors

Exercise that helps with blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, weight and fitness.

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Education

What's safe, which symptoms to watch for, and how to judge your own effort at home.

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Back to your life

Guidance on returning to work, sport and everyday activities, in line with your cardiologist's advice.

📋

Your doctors in the loop

Written reports to your cardiologist and GP after reviews, and we'll contact them if anything changes.

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Telehealth reviews

Once you're established, reviews and education can be done by telehealth.

Who we see

A wide range of heart conditions and procedures

Not sure if your situation suits our program? Call us and we'll talk it through, and check with your cardiologist.

After a heart attackAfter bypass surgeryAfter a stentHeart failureValve repair or replacementAtrial fibrillationStable anginaPacemaker or ICDPeripheral arterial diseaseHigh blood pressure
Your program

What to expect from start to finish

1

Clearance and assessment

We confirm clearance with your cardiologist or GP, then review your history, medications and fitness. Bring your discharge summary and any cardiologist letters.

2

Program within your limits

A program within the heart rate and intensity guidance from your cardiologist, with clear advice on exercising safely at home.

3

Supervised, monitored sessions

Checks before, during and after each session, with intensity adjusted to how you respond.

4

Reviews and reports

Reports to your cardiologist and GP after reviews. We'll contact them promptly if anything changes.

Funding

Ways to fund your cardiac rehab

We'll confirm your out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment, so there are no surprises.

Medicare

GP chronic condition plan

If your GP is managing your heart condition under a chronic condition plan and refers you, Medicare subsidises up to 5 allied health sessions a year.

How Medicare works →
Private health

Extras cover

Many extras policies include Exercise Physiology. Check your limits and rebate.

How private health works →
DVA

Veteran Card holders

Gold Card holders are covered for clinically necessary treatment, and White Card holders for accepted conditions. A GP referral is needed.

How DVA works →
My Aged Care

Support at Home and CHSP

Can fund Exercise Physiology when it's in your care plan. No participant contribution for allied health under Support at Home.

How aged care works →
Public programs

Hospital cardiac rehab

Many hospitals and community health services run cardiac rehab programs, often at no cost. Ask your cardiologist or GP for a referral. We can work alongside them.

Private

Book directly

Book online and pay our standard fees. We'll still need clearance from your doctor before exercise starts.

See our fees →
Common questions

Cardiac rehab FAQs

Is exercise safe after a heart attack or heart surgery?
For most people, yes, once your cardiologist or GP has cleared you and with a program matched to your condition. Cardiac rehab is recommended after most heart events. Feeling nervous about exercise is completely normal, and rebuilding confidence is part of what we do.
How soon can I start?
It depends on your event, procedure and your cardiologist's advice. Many people start a few weeks after leaving hospital. We won't start supervised exercise until we've confirmed your clearance and exercise guidance with your treating team.
Do I need a referral from my cardiologist?
You can contact us directly, and we also accept referrals from GPs, cardiologists and hospitals. Either way, we need your cardiac history and clearance before supervised exercise starts. If you contact us directly, we'll get this from your cardiologist or GP with your consent. For Medicare, you need a GP chronic condition management plan and referral.
I'm on heart medications like beta-blockers. Does that matter?
Yes. Some medications change how your heart rate responds to exercise, so standard heart rate targets may not apply. We use how hard exercise feels alongside heart rate, and work within your cardiologist's guidance. Keep taking your medications as prescribed.
Can I do cardiac rehab by telehealth?
Early supervised exercise is done in person so we can monitor you. Once you're established, reviews, education and program updates can be done by telehealth.
Get started

Ready to rebuild your heart health?

Book your first appointment or call us to talk through your situation. We'll liaise with your cardiologist.

Book Your First Appointment → Call 0409 051 260
✓ We'll tell you honestly if we can't help ✓ We work with your cardiologist ✓ Start with one session, no lock-in

The information on this page is general and doesn't replace advice from your cardiologist or GP. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000). Results vary from person to person.

Call Book Your First Appointment
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