Prosthetics in Adelaide: Your Complete Guide to Prosthetic Limbs

If you or someone you love has lost a limb, or is preparing for an amputation, finding the right prosthetist is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. At NovitaTech, our prosthetics service in Adelaide assesses, designs, manufactures, fits and maintains prosthetic limbs locally, with ongoing care across metropolitan and regional South Australia.

This guide explains what a prosthesis is, the types of prosthetic limbs available, what to expect from your first appointment to your final fitting, funding options, and how to book with our team.

What is a prosthesis?

A prosthesis (or prosthetic limb) is a custom-made artificial device that replaces a missing body part. It’s designed around your body, your goals and your lifestyle, whether that’s walking around the house, returning to work, or getting back to sport.

A prosthesis usually has several parts working together:

• The socket, custom-made to fit your residual limb. A comfortable, secure socket is the most important part of any prosthesis.
• The liner and suspension, which cushion your limb and hold the prosthesis on.
• The components, such as the knee, pylon, foot, elbow or hand, chosen to suit how you want to move.

Types of prosthetic limbs we provide

Our prosthetists work with people of all ages, from children to older adults, and provide:

Lower limb prosthetics

• Below-knee (transtibial) prostheses
• Above-knee (transfemoral) prostheses
• Knee and hip prostheses
• Partial foot and toe prostheses

Upper limb prosthetics

• Below-elbow and above-elbow arm prostheses
• Hand and finger prostheses

Not sure which type is right for you? That’s exactly what your first assessment is for.

Who is a prosthesis for?

People need prosthetic limbs for many reasons, including:

• Amputation due to diabetes or vascular disease
• Trauma, such as a workplace or road accident
• Cancer or infection
• A limb difference present from birth

Whether you’ve recently had surgery, have worn a prosthesis for years and need a new one, or aren’t happy with the fit of your current limb, our team can help.

Your prosthetic journey with NovitaTech

Getting a new prosthesis is a process, not a single appointment. Here’s what to expect.

1. Initial assessment

Your prosthetist gets to know you: your health, your residual limb, how you move, and most importantly, what you want to be able to do. Together, you’ll set goals and discuss the options that suit you.

2. Prescription and design

Our prosthetists have full prescribing authority. That means the same clinician who assesses you also prescribes your prosthesis, oversees how it’s made and cares for you afterwards. You’re not passed between a prescriber and a separate supplier.

3. Casting or scanning

We take a precise shape of your residual limb by casting or scanning. This forms the basis of your custom socket.

4. Test socket fitting

Before we make your final socket, you’ll try a test socket so we can check the fit and make adjustments. Getting this step right is key to long-term comfort.

5. Manufacture

Your prosthesis is made by our trade-qualified production team at our Croydon Park workshop in Adelaide, including carbon fibre lamination for strong, lightweight sockets.

6. Fitting, alignment and training

We fit and align your new prosthesis and teach you how to put it on, take it off and care for it. We work closely with your physiotherapist and family to help you build confidence as you learn to use it.

7. Ongoing care

Your body changes over time, and so will your prosthesis. We provide reviews, adjustments, repairs, socket replacements and new liners for as long as you need us.

Why choose NovitaTech for prosthetics in Adelaide?

Qualified, registered prosthetists

Our team are registered with the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and have full prescribing authority, so one team looks after you from assessment through to lifelong care.

Made here in South Australia

We manufacture prostheses locally at our Croydon Park workshop in Adelaide. Having design, production and clinical care under one roof helps us make adjustments and repairs without long delays.

Backed by our own Test Lab

NovitaTech is home to a NATA-accredited assistive technology Test Lab, operating since 1989 and experienced in testing lower limb prostheses. Our prosthetics and Test Lab teams have carried out structural testing on our own carbon fibre sockets, running them through 3 million loading cycles in each test condition with no failure.

More than 85 years of supporting South Australians

NovitaTech is part of Novita, which has supported South Australians with disability since 1939. Our orthotics service has operated since the 1970s, and we’ve brought that experience to prosthetics.

Care for all ages

We see children, teenagers, adults and older people, and we work with families, physiotherapists and your wider care team.

Prosthetic services across South Australia

You don’t need to live in the city to get quality prosthetic care. As well as our Adelaide service, our prosthetists provide care across regional South Australia and Broken Hill, reducing how far you need to travel for appointments, adjustments and maintenance. Locations we service include:

• Adelaide and metropolitan suburbs
• Murray Bridge
• Berri and the Riverland
• Kadina and the Yorke Peninsula
• Port Pirie
• Whyalla
• Port Lincoln and the Eyre Peninsula
• Broken Hill

How is a prosthesis funded?

The cost of a prosthesis depends on the type of limb, the components you need and your goals. Depending on your circumstances, your prosthesis may be funded through:

• The NDIS, where it relates to your goals and is considered reasonable and necessary
• Injury and compensation schemes, such as workplace or motor vehicle accident schemes
• Private payment

Our team can help you understand your options and prepare the quotes and information your funder needs. Visit our funding options page for more information.

Book a prosthetics appointment in Adelaide

Ready to talk to a prosthetist? Call our friendly team on (08) 8424 6160 or send us an enquiry. You can contact us directly, or ask your GP, surgeon, physiotherapist or support coordinator to refer you.

NovitaTech Prosthetics
169 Regency Road, Croydon Park SA 5008
Phone: (08) 8424 6160
Email: [email protected]

Learn more about our prosthetics service and our orthotics service.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral to see a prosthetist?

You can contact NovitaTech directly. Some funding bodies need a referral or prescription, so we’ll let you know what’s required for your situation.

How long does it take to get a prosthesis?

It depends on your healing, the type of prosthesis and your funding approval. Most people have several appointments over a number of weeks, including assessment, casting, test socket fitting and final fitting.

How long does a prosthesis last?

Many prostheses are expected to last around three years or more, but it varies with how active you are and changes to your body. Sockets and liners often need replacing sooner as your residual limb changes, especially in the first year or two after amputation.

Can children have prosthetic limbs?

Yes. We work with children and their families, and plan for regular adjustments and new prostheses as they grow.

Can you repair or adjust a prosthesis made somewhere else?

In many cases, yes. Contact us to book a review and we’ll assess your current prosthesis.

Do you see clients outside Adelaide?

Yes. We provide prosthetic services across regional South Australia and in Broken Hill.

Will the NDIS fund my prosthesis?

The NDIS may fund a prosthesis that relates to your goals and is reasonable and necessary. Our team can help you prepare the information your plan needs.