Orthopaedic surgery

Whether it's for knees, hips, hands, arms, legs or back, our orthopaedic services provide care from pre-surgery through to rehabilitation to get you moving.

Caregiver assisting an elderly patient by holding their arm whilst they walk using the parallel bars for assistance in a rehabilitation room.

Orthopaedic surgery treats conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system: bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

You may need care to get you moving after sporting injuries such as broken bones or ligament repair, or to reduce pain in your joints caused by wear and tear over time such as hip and knee replacements.

Orthopaedic care includes services for:

  • knee and hip disorders and ligament reconstructions
  • shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand problems
  • joint replacements and reconstructions for hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, foot and ankle
  • foot and ankle disorders
  • sports-related injury management
  • spinal injuries
  • paediatric orthopaedics.

Our highly skilled surgeons and caregivers use the latest techniques and equipment to improve your movement and ability to participate in activities you enjoy.

We provide care from evaluation and management, through to surgery and rehabilitation to help you return to your daily activities as quickly as possible.

Benefits of our orthopaedic surgery services

Advantages of our orthopaedic surgery services:

  • all your orthopaedic care needs from evaluation to rehabilitation
  • access to a multidisciplinary team, including leading orthopaedic surgeons
  • efficient and up-to-date theatres
  • forward thinking orthopaedic developments in research, and development.

These benefits depend on your particular circumstances and require you to fully participate in necessary before and after care and management. You should consult a specialist in this area before deciding whether surgery is suitable for you.

Orthopaedics at St John of God Ballarat Hospital


Our orthopaedic surgeons at St John of God Ballarat Hospital offer care for a range of orthopaedic conditions, including those affecting knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, feet and ankles. 

The majority of our orthopaedic surgeons live and work in Ballarat, and provide care locally so you don’t have to travel.

Browse our orthopaedic surgeons through our Find a specialist search.

St John of God Ballarat Hospital is located in the heart of Ballarat, close to a range of medical facilities and universities. Our facility offers a caring and therapeutic environment, with access to the latest equipment and rehabilitation to aid your recovery.

Our rapid recovery techniques used by our clinicians and caregivers help you recover quickly and get you back home.

Our comprehensive rehabilitation services mean you don’t have to travel for your surgery or your ongoing care after surgery – you can get everything you need to get you moving again right here in Ballarat.

Whether you have had a procedure in hospital before or if your upcoming orthopaedic surgery will be your first hospital admission, it can be helpful to know what to expect along the way.

Find out more about what to expect when you come to hospital:

Our comprehensive rehabilitation care at St John of God Ballarat Hospital helps you get moving again after surgery.

You have access to our well-equipped rehabilitation gym and hydrotherapy onsite at St John of God Ballarat Hospital.

While our expert multidisciplinary team, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, dietitians and exercise physiologists, work together to improve your range of movement and manage your pain.

Our rehabilitation is available while you are an inpatient with us and as an outpatient once you have left hospital.

Our home visiting nurses give you access to hospital-style nursing care in the comfort of your own home, helping you as you recover after surgery.

Our nurses can provide care to help you recover with support in the comfort of your own home. Depending on your needs, their care can include wound dressing and administration of medications including IV antibiotics and anticoagulant therapies.

Costs and fee payment options

If you have private health insurance, the costs for your hospital stay and specialist fees may be covered by your health fund, based on your level of cover.

If you don’t have private health insurance, you can access treatment at a St John of God Health Care hospital through our self-funded care option.

When you use your private health insurance, you get benefits that include access to St John of God Health Care private hospital facilities, your choice of specialist, minimal wait times, and with an eligible policy most of your hospital costs can be covered by your private health insurance fund.

You should contact your health insurer to understand your level of cover, and whether your policy is subject to additional fees such as a hospital excess or other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses. Your health insurer will also be able to assist in understanding if you will have doctor, radiology and pathology out-of-pocket costs.

Patients who don’t have private health insurance can choose to access St John of God Health Care private hospital services and treatments by paying fees themselves.

By accessing our self-funded care option, you’ll be able to avoid wait times and have your surgery or treatment with your choice of specialist at a St John of God Health Care private hospital.

If you have received an invoice for an expense associated with treatment from a St John of God Health Care service you can pay your bill online.