Medical practices commonly engage independent medical practitioners through service agreements, where doctors provide services to their patients and the practice supplies rooms, reception, billing infrastructure and administrative support. These structures are widely used across general practice and specialist settings.

As the landscape of medical practice management continues to evolve, practice owners and managers must navigate the complexities of staffing - one of the highest areas of cost and legal risk. Among the most important decisions you’ll face is whether to engage doctors as employees or independent practitioners. While the flexibility of independent practitioners may seem attractive, misclassifying staff can lead to significant legal, financial, and reputational consequences.

Across Australia, allied health clinics are expanding. Physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians and podiatrists are increasingly being integrated into general practice settings, multi-disciplinary clinics and specialist health hubs. For many clinic owners, whether operating one or multiple clinics, this expansion is deliberate and a strategic choice.

Across General Practice, allied health and multi-disciplinary clinics, we are seeing a steady rise in the same enquiry.
A practice owner decides to engage a physiotherapist, psychologist, dietitian or speech pathologist.  A consulting room is available, the practitioner will pay a fee and they will operate as an independent practitioner.  On the surface, the arrangement appears simple.
Following this meeting of the minds, the question we receive typically reads something like this;

In 2026, a medical practice’s website is no longer a passive source of information. It is a regulated digital environment that interacts with patients, collects sensitive health information, enables bookings and payments, and promotes regulated health services. Every one of those functions carries legal and professional risk.