Understanding Service Providers at Spencer Health
Service Providers
At Spencer Health, we are committed to providing safe, ethical and high-quality healthcare in a welcoming and professional environment.
Our clinical community includes both employed clinicians and Service Providers operating under Facilities Agreements. While these practitioners work under different engagement models, our commitment to our clients remains the same: to provide compassionate, evidence-informed care delivered by highly qualified professionals.
We believe it is important that our clients understand how Service Providers work within Spencer Health, what they can expect from them, and how their professional relationship with Spencer Health differs from that of an employed team member.
What is a Service Provider?
A Service Provider is an independent healthcare practitioner who operates their own professional practice while consulting from Spencer Health.
Rather than being employed by Spencer Health, Service Providers operate their own businesses under their own Australian Business Number (ABN) and provide services from Spencer Health consulting rooms under a Facilities Agreement.
This model is common throughout Australian healthcare and allows experienced practitioners to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment while maintaining professional independence.
Professional independence means that Service Providers remain responsible for their own clinical judgement, treatment decisions and professional obligations.
Why does Spencer Health work with Service Providers?
Working with Service Providers allows Spencer Health to offer clients access to a broader range of highly experienced clinicians with diverse areas of expertise and special interests.
Many of our Service Providers have extensive experience within their respective professions and bring valuable knowledge that complements our employed clinical team.
Although they operate independent practices, Service Providers are carefully selected because they share Spencer Health's commitment to:
- providing evidence-informed healthcare;
- treating clients with dignity, compassion and respect;
- maintaining high ethical and professional standards;
- creating a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment; and
- working collaboratively with clients, families and other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
Our aim is that every client experiences the same professionalism, warmth and quality of care regardless of their clinician's engagement with Spencer Health.
How are Service Providers selected?
Spencer Health has a comprehensive credentialling and onboarding process for all Service Providers before they commence consulting from our clinics.
This process helps ensure that practitioners are appropriately qualified, experienced and suitable to provide services within the Spencer Health practice environment.
As part of our credentialling process, Spencer Health verifies, where applicable:
- Current professional registration with the relevant registration authority (including AHPRA where applicable).
- Qualifications and professional credentials.
- Clinical experience and areas of expertise.
- Current Working With Children Check.
- Professional indemnity insurance.
- Public liability insurance (where applicable).
- Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Medicare provider registration and other relevant provider eligibility (where applicable).
- Identity verification and eligibility to practise in Australia.
- Professional references and referee checks where required.
Before commencing practice, Service Providers also complete Spencer Health's onboarding process and are introduced to our practice systems, facilities and operational procedures.
This includes orientation to:
- our client-centred approach to care;
- reception and administrative processes;
- privacy and information security procedures;
- workplace health and safety requirements;
- emergency procedures;
- practice management systems;
- communication pathways; and
- the expectations associated with working collaboratively within the Spencer Health practice environment.
While Service Providers remain independent practitioners responsible for their own professional practice and clinical decision-making, Spencer Health expects all practitioners consulting from our clinics to demonstrate the same high standards of professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct and client care that our clients have come to expect.
What can I expect as a client?
Whether your clinician is employed by Spencer Health or operates as a Service Provider, you should expect:
- professional, respectful and ethical healthcare;
- services delivered by appropriately qualified and experienced clinicians;
- evidence-informed assessment and treatment;
- clear communication regarding appointments, fees and services;
- privacy and confidentiality in accordance with applicable legislation and professional standards;
- a welcoming and inclusive practice environment;
- respectful collaboration with other healthcare professionals where appropriate; and
- support from Spencer Health's reception and administration team.
Our goal is for every client to receive an excellent experience throughout their journey with Spencer Health.
Professional Independence
Professional independence is an important principle of Australian healthcare.
Service Providers are responsible for exercising their own professional judgement and making clinical decisions based on what they believe is in the best interests of their clients.
Accordingly, Service Providers are responsible for matters including:
- clinical assessment;
- diagnosis (where applicable);
- treatment planning;
- therapeutic interventions;
- professional opinions;
- reports and correspondence;
- clinical record keeping;
- referrals;
- professional registration obligations;
- continuing professional development; and
- compliance with the ethical and legal standards of their profession.
Spencer Health respects this professional independence and does not direct, supervise or control the clinical decisions made by independent Service Providers.
What support does Spencer Health provide?
Although Service Providers operate independent practices, Spencer Health provides a range of facilities and administrative support to assist them in delivering services to clients.
This includes:
- modern consulting rooms;
- reception services;
- appointment scheduling;
- administrative support;
- practice software and systems;
- billing support (where applicable);
- shared facilities; and
- a collaborative multidisciplinary practice environment.
These services allow practitioners to focus on providing high-quality healthcare while ensuring clients enjoy the convenience of a well-supported practice.
Understanding Our Role
Because Service Providers operate independent healthcare businesses, there are important distinctions between Spencer Health's responsibilities and those of the individual practitioner.
Spencer Health provides the facilities, administrative support and practice environment in which Service Providers consult.
The individual Service Provider remains responsible for their own:
- clinical judgement;
- treatment recommendations;
- professional opinions;
- reports;
- correspondence;
- clinical records;
- professional registration obligations;
- insurance requirements; and
- business policies and procedures.
This distinction is important because professional independence allows clinicians to exercise their own expertise and make decisions solely in the best interests of their clients.
Questions, Feedback and Concerns
If you have questions regarding appointments, accounts, reception services or other administrative matters, our Spencer Health administration team will be pleased to assist.
If your enquiry relates to your clinical care, your treating clinician is generally the most appropriate person to discuss this with.
If you have concerns regarding the professional services provided by a Service Provider, we encourage you to first discuss these directly with your clinician.
If you are unsure how to proceed, Spencer Health will happily provide information about the appropriate process, assist you in directing your enquiry to the relevant practitioner and provide information regarding the appropriate external complaints bodies where required.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
All clinicians consulting from Spencer Health have been through our credentialling and onboarding process. We expect every practitioner consulting from our clinics to provide professional, ethical and high-quality healthcare in a respectful and client-centred manner.
No.
Service Providers are independent health practitioners and are responsible for making their own professional and clinical decisions. Spencer Health does not direct or control the clinical judgement of independent practitioners.
Your treating clinician is responsible for all clinical decisions relating to your care, including assessment, treatment recommendations, reports, referrals and record keeping.
No.
Professional independence means that Spencer Health cannot require a Service Provider to change their diagnosis, treatment recommendations or professional opinion.
Clinicians who practise independently are identified on our Team page as Service Providers operating under Facilities Agreements.
If you are unsure about your clinician's engagement with Spencer Health, our administration team will be happy to explain.
Our Commitment
Regardless of whether your care is provided by an employed clinician or a Service Provider, Spencer Health is committed to creating a professional, welcoming and collaborative healthcare environment where clients feel safe, respected and supported.
We believe transparency helps build trust. By explaining how Service Providers practise within Spencer Health, we hope clients feel confident in understanding our practice model and reassured that every practitioner consulting from our clinics has been carefully selected to contribute to the high standard of care that defines Spencer Health.
This page was last reviewed: August 2026
If you require this information in an alternative format or need assistance to raise a concern, please contact our team and we will be happy to assist.
