About Me

Hi, I'm James Steggell, Australia's first blind Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) and Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES). I graduated in 2022 from QUT with a Bachelors of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours), achieving one of the highest GPAs in my entire cohort of 150+ students.

I started Cane and Able Exercise Physiology because I wanted to make a real difference. Living with disabilities and blindness from birth, I've experienced the difficulties first hand of accessing various health services. Most are inaccessible, extraordinarily expensive, and often lack the understanding or empathy to see the person in front of them as anything but a patient. 

I decided I wanted to make a change, to support those living with a disability like me, and the broader community, in a meaningful and accountable way. Not through hollow words, but through actions. I'm doing things differently in the following ways.

1. Bulk-billing as Standard

For those covered under the Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA), or referred by a GP under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan or other relevant Medicare care plan, I bulk-bill all referral sessions, Not only that, I also offer a free additional session after the completion of every care plan, AND further discounted private sessions too.

You can learn more about my Medicare services here.

2. Drastically Lower Fees

Covered under the NDIS or private health? My fees are up to 25% lower than the the vast majority of Exercise Physiologists in Brisbane. This may sound absurd, but helping others access exercise therapy means a lot to me, and I want to make it both accessible and affordable. This allows you to get much more out of your funding or health cover, so working towards your health goals is much less stressful, for both you and your hip pocket.

You can find more details about my NDIS services here, or my private health / general services here.

3. No Extra or Hidden Fees

Nope, none. No extra fees for writing reports, communicating with your GP or healthcare team, for early-morning or late-evening appointments, initial or review assessments, or anything that other providers typically charge extra for. I believe these should come as standard in my service to you, and all these and more are included in my already ultra-low fees. 

4. Flexible Hours and Appointments

I know it can be hard to find the time to schedule exercise, especially during a busy week. So I've committed to extended opening hours to give you more options and control. Whether it's early in the morning, late in the evening, or on weekends, I've got you covered. 

Full details of Opening Hours can be found here. 

Please note, times outside of my standard hours can be made available on request (at no additional fee too!).

5. Client Empowerment and Ongoing Support

I deeply believe in the importance of evidence-based exercise as medicine and empowering my clients. Along with comprehensive assessment, exercise prescription, session delivery, and all the benefits listed above, my service also includes ongoing education and support. I want to make my clients as independent as possible. by teaching them the "why" behind each exercise, not just the "how". 

My goal is to equip my clients with all the skills and knowledge they need to exercise confidently and independently long term, so they don't need me anymore.