25 May 2026
You Don't Need a GP Referral to See a Physio in Australia
One of the most common myths in Australian healthcare is that you need a GP referral to see a physio. You don't — and here is what that actually means for you.
Read moreCondition guide
Dizziness & Balance — Do You Need a Physio, GP, or Something More Urgent?
The right answer depends on your specific symptoms. Triagr will tell you in 2 minutes — free.
Triage my dizziness or balance problems now →
Free · No account required · Built by a registered physiotherapist
Why it's not always obvious
Dizziness and balance problems are among the most misunderstood conditions in healthcare. The same symptom — feeling dizzy — can have a wide range of causes, from a common and very treatable inner ear condition to something that needs urgent medical assessment today.
Physiotherapists treat many causes of dizziness very effectively — often in just one or two sessions. But some patterns of dizziness need to be assessed urgently, and knowing the difference matters.
How your dizziness feels, when it comes on, how long it lasts, and whether other symptoms accompany it all determine the right next step. Getting this right quickly is important.
The right next step depends on a few key questions about your specific situation.
If it started suddenly
How your dizziness or balance problem started makes a significant difference to what you should do next. Sudden onset after an injury or incident often needs a different approach to pain that has come on gradually.
If it has been going on for a while
How long you have had dizziness or balance problem matters. A problem that has been there for weeks or months is managed differently to something that started recently — and the right next step depends on more than just how long it has been.
If your symptoms are severe
The severity of your dizziness or balance problem is one factor — but severity alone does not determine where you should go. Some severe presentations are best seen by a physiotherapist directly. Others need a different first step. The combination of your symptoms is what matters.
How Triagr works out the right answer for you
Triagr asks you a series of plain-language questions about your dizziness or balance problem — how it started, how long it has been going on, how severe it is, and a few other key details. Based on your specific answers, it gives you a clear recommendation: emergency department, GP, physiotherapist, or self-manage at home. It takes 2 minutes and it's completely free.
Start your free triage →Built by a registered physiotherapist
Plain language — no medical jargon
General health information only — not clinical advice