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My Story
I am a Titled APA Pelvic Health and Musculoskeletal physiotherapist and I have worked as a physiotherapist for 25 years. I specialise in pelvic floor and musculoskeletal issues.
My journey in pelvic health physiotherapy began after having my first child in 2008. Since then I have become passionate about all areas of pelvic health physiotherapy, including helping women in all stages of life, such as those with issues post menopause, after having had cancer, women with pelvic pain, pregnant women and postpartum women.
My interests in musculoskeletal conditions include the treatment of low back pain and pelvic girdle pain, pregnancy related and postnatal musculoskeletal problems, and exercise prescription.
I am passionate about educating health care professionals about pelvic health physiotherapy and have given many talks to doctors, midwives and antenatal educators talking about pelvic floor issues. I also currently teach pelvic health physiotherapists through the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and am a supervisor for postgraduate Curtin University pelvic health physiotherapy students for their clinical placements.
I am a current committee member of the APA Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health group as I believe in advocacy for the profession.
My personal interests include running and hiking, playing soccer, doing yoga and returning people to their optimal health! I am a Mum of two teenage boys who keep me busy outside of work.
What Makes Me Different
I have two post graduate Master qualifications both in Pelvic Health and Musculoskeletal physiotherapy, as I appreciate and understand the benefit of competency based training and critical thinking to help my clinical reasoning skills. Working for many years as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist as well as a pelvic health physiotherapist enables me to understand pelvic health issues from a unique perspective, looking at more than just the pelvis. I am one of the few Titled Pelvic Health Physiotherapists working in the St George and Sutherland Shire region.
I work directly with Associate Professor Emmanuel Karantanis and Dr. Kate Kavanagh-Patel which means I can consult with them directly and give a multidisciplinary holistic approach to your care. I am also the part-time Senior Women’s Health Physiotherapist at the Pelvic Floor Unit at St George Hospital working with urogynaecologists Dr. Zhouran Chen and Associate Professor Karantanis which means I understand the value of coordinated and multidisciplinary care. I have run antenatal classes at St George and Sutherland Hospital since 2014.
In 2018 I was fortunate enough to train under Professor Peter O’Sullivan and Dr. JP Caneiro in Cognitive Functional Therapy for over 80 hours and was involved in the RESTORE back pain trial as a treating physiotherapist. I use these skills to help people with chronic pain in many different areas of the body. This has also taught me to broaden my perspective and see all aspects of you, which will help me tailor treatment to your unique circumstances to help understand your individual needs and goals.
My Qualifications
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) with Distinction at Sydney University (2000)
- Master of Manual Therapy at University of Western Australia (2008)
- Master of Clinical Physiotherapy with Distinction (Major in Continence and Pelvic Health) at Curtin University (2023)
- WHTA Advanced courses (Stress incontinence, Prolapse and Pessary fitting, Overactive Bladder, Pelvic Pain, Bowel, Exercise and Sport) and Research Updates
- Transperineal Ultrasound courses by Prof. Peter Dietz and Dr. Clara Shek, and Dr. Irmina Nahon