Senior Occupational Therapist, Queensland Health
Director @ Allied Health Support Services
Founder @ Australian Allied Health Awards
After graduating from Charles Sturt University in NSW, Sarena began her career in Geelong with a brief occupational rehabilitation role for youth with brain injuries then spent several years in acute and rehabilitative rotational positions across Victorian hospitals. Shortly after she travelled to the UK and for many years, worked across London and regional areas in general acute, geriatric, cardiac rehabilitation, complex neurological rehabilitation, acquired brain injury, rapid response, intermediate care and community health / social services positions. In between, upon short visits home to Australia, she worked in transition care and community rehabilitation positions, before finally settling on the Sunshine Coast. There she has worked across in-patient rehab, out-patient rehab and leadership roles for the last twelve years. Upon returning from an extended period of maternity leave and having two beautiful and very busy children, she has enjoyed a steep learning curve in founding Allied Health Support Services in early 2016. In 2017, she successfully co-created an accessible virtual professional development platform for health professionals. In early 2018, however, her vision of creating a national event to both bring together and celebrate, allied health professionals all over the country, finally became a reality, in the Australian Allied Health Awards.
Connect with Sarena – LinkedIn
JULIE CARLILE
Occupational Therapist
Positive Action OT
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Qld in 2000, I have worked primarily in Central Qld and on the Sunshine Coast. After completing rotational hospital caseloads and acting Director roles, I sought project and team leader experience. I also consistently offered student placements, allied health assistant supervision and training, and provided professional supervision in both group and individual settings. After completing the Emerging Clinical Leaders Program I have been able to further consolidate my leadership and reflective practice skills in a variety of roles and teams, including acute adult physical, community rehabilitation, emergency and stroke/geriatrics. Shifting from full time to part time after having kids, completing a number of projects and temporary positions, and looking for a new challenge, I opened my own practice in late 2018, forming an alliance with a local successful psychology practice, to better meet the needs of community clients through a collaborative approach to care. So nearly 9 months later, I have returned to the uncomfortable role of novice, in running my own business, however am drawing on my wide range of transferable skills gained over years of public health roles, and am eagerly looking forward to 2020 and what new opportunities this massive change of direction will provide.
Connect with Julie – LinkedIn
JULIE BAJIC-SMITH
Psychologist
Aged Care Consultant, Wise Care
Dr Julie Bajic Smith is a registered psychologist who has been working with the elderly for the last decade in community and residential settings. Julie trains aged care workforce in learning how to recognise and respond to emotional changes in clients by incorporating psycho-education and trains mental health professionals in how to incorporate aged care into their private practice. Julie has extensively researched wellbeing in home care workforce and strategies to improve resilience. Julie’s post-doc examined supported decision-making in dementia and she is currently publishing in this field.
Connect with Julie – LinkedIn
JACKSON TISDELL
Podiatrist
Musculoskeletal & Sports Specialist
Jackson Tisdell is a podiatrist working exclusively in the field of musculoskeletal and sports podiatry in Melbourne and Geelong. He is passionate for the management and prevention of lower limb conditions relating to sport and exercise, with an emphasis on exercise prescription and biomechanics.
Jackson is also a Level 1 ASCA Strength and Conditioning Coach and a level 2 SMA Sports Trainer, so has experience at all stages of the injury process: from acute on field injury management, assessment and rehabilitation in the podiatry clinic, to return to play and improving performance in the gym and out in the field.
Jackson is an advocate for a pro-active approach to lower limb injury, and aims to bridge the gap between the clinical setting and the return to sport through the combination of strength and conditioning principles into this podiatry practice. Jackson is passionate about continued education and is a CPD developer for Kinetic Therapies Australia.
Connect with Jackson – LinkedIn
NATALIE JACK
Music Therapist
Clinical Supervisor, Professional Development, Speaker
Since becoming a registered music therapist in 1999, I have worked in various settings, and experienced the rollercoaster ride that seems to be an accepted part of being a health care worker. What I’ve learned so far is that reliable, empathic and knowledgable support is essential to any healthy, long term career in the health & helping professions. So, now that’s the service I offer – so you can get off the rollercoaster too.
- Master of Mental Health Science – Monash University
- Post Grad Diploma of Music Therapy – University of Qld
- Bachelor of Music – Queensland Conservatorium of Music
- Diploma of Business – Swinburne University
- Diploma of Counselling (in progress) – AIPC
- Advanced Certificate in Supervision – The Supervision Centre UK
- Policy & Projects Officer & Supervision Working Group member – Australian Music Therapy Association
- Management Committee Member – Australian Clinical Supervision Association
- Speaker and guest lecturer at Australian and international conferences, workshops and universities
Connect with Natalie – LinkedIn
TALYSHA REEVE
Podiatrist
Mentor, CPD Developer
Talysha has been a practicing podiatrist in Australia for 12 years, and has been working exclusively in the field of musculoskeletal and sports podiatry for 8 of those years. In addition to her B.App.Sc.(Podiatry) she has completed post graduate studies through Flinders University in clinical rehabilitation and is a level 2 personal trainer.
In 2012 she opened a 100% sports & biomechanics focused clinic on the NSW Mid-North Coast that went on to become the exclusive lower limb injury management provider for a number of sporting clubs & regional sporting associations.
Having mentored a number of podiatrists over the years her passion for helping her colleagues develop their knowledge, skill and confidence in treating musculoskeltal conditions continued to grow and sparked the start of the next phase of her career.
In 2018 Talysha sold her podiatry clinic to focus on her next project, provision of CPD for podiatrists & other allied health professionals through her new business Kinetic Therapies. In the short time of operation Kinetic Therapies has gained traction and 2020 will see Talysha delivering more CPD content both home & abroad through a number of platforms.
Connect with Talysha – LinkedIn
MARGA GREY
Occupational Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Marga has served as a paediatric occupational therapist for over 40 years with a specialization in sensory integration. She has worked in both private and public settings, including service as a Clinical Educator at Queensland University. To make sure she is giving the best advice possible she collaborates regularly with the team members and with medical doctors, paediatricians, psychiatrists, teachers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and behavioural optometrists to find the best options for intervention for her clients and for the clients of her team members.
Marga developed the occupational therapy department for Tyack Health (the largest multi-disciplinary practice in Australia), where she currently serves as the Leader of the paediatric team. The department, which focuses on paediatric patients, addresses sensory processing and motor skill development. Also, Marga founded the Bayside SPD Professional Interest Group, which educates and raises awareness for Sensory Processing Disorder.
As a way to give back to her community, Marga also developed a franchise of day care centres in South Africa to encourage optimal development in young children. This included writing the training manuals, training of franchisees and developing the business, marketing and operational manuals. “Better Babies” was approved by the Franchise Association of South Africa. In addition to being a published author of two books, Marga regularly provides seminars, workshops and training for therapists and teachers, online and in person.
Connect with Marga – LinkedIn
JO MUIRHEAD
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Principal at Purple Co, Author of “The Entrapreneural Clinician”
Jo is all about connecting people to purpose through inspiration and innovation. Author of The Entrepreneurial Clinician, she is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of PurpleCo – a team of specialist allied health consultants dedicated to helping people who experience injury illness and trauma reclaim their lives through work.
Jo graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Health Science, Rehabilitation Counselling in 1994.
Jo is passionate about the health benefits of work and truly believes that everyone has the right to meaningful and rewarding employment.
PurpleCo grew out of this belief as a truncated form of PURpose for peoPLE.
Connect with Jo – LinkedIn
SARAVANA KUMAR
Physiotherapist
Associate Professor, University of South Australia
As a leader in the field of evidence-based practice, I am responsible for the delivery of a suite of evidence-based practice courses at the School of Health Sciences. This is a deliberate strategy as my research interest directly align with my teaching interests which underscores my commitment to the teaching-research nexus. I am at the forefront of development and implementation of novel curriculum and digital technologies (such as audio feedback) for the courses that I teach. These have resulted in sustained positive student satisfaction and improvements in student performance and retention. As an enthusiastic and committed educator, I strive to provide a positive and supportive environment for UniSA students through making their experience an enjoyable, relevant and meaningful opportunity for learning. My teaching influences students from several different professional backgrounds including but not limited to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, medical radiations, health science, clinical exercise physiology, human movement.
Connect with Saravana – LinkedIn
JADE SCOTT
Osteopath
Director, Western Region Health
Founder, GrowthRx
Jade Scott is a leading identity within Australia’s allied health community who has mentors practitioners at every stage of their career. Having successfully established a number of osteopathy clinics in Victoria, known collectively as Western Region Health, Jade recognised an opportunity to create meaningful change and innovation within the Allied Health Industry.
Jade championed a reinvention of the traditional ‘fee for service’ model that currently supports the income 35 staff an a payroll of over 1.3 million. With this in mind, she has been at the forefront of the corona virus threat. Her knowledge extends across all remuneration platforms from employment, contractors, rental agreements and sole traders and HR implications that may affect most.
Jade’s expertise lies in business consulting and strategic implementation. She specialises in cultural change and has supported over 135 Private Practices and another 500+ Osteopaths through her post-graduate education and courses. She was also a lecturer at Victoria University for 8 years, consults to the Osteopathic designated advisory team at Employsure and will soon help to facilitate a business focus group for Osteopathy Australia. Her personal mission is to connects allied health professionals through world-class leadership and education.
Jade recently completed her prestigious Authentic Leadership Development program at Harvard University and is finishing her research in Clinical Leadership at Melbourne University. She believes there is no greater time for us all to lead than now!
With a passion for helping others and vast knowledge Jade is a respected industry leader. Her strategies and pro-active measures, ‘A 5 Stage Strategy to Survive and Thrive’ has been implemented as valuable resource for small businesses during these testing times.
Connect with Jade – LinkedIn
NATASHA ACE
Private Practice Business Coach
Founder, Private Practice Alliance
At the age of 21, after being mentored by a Clinical Psychologist, I started my own consulting firm. This firm opened nine private practices include a psychiatric clinic. At the age of 23, I started my own private practice. This practice provided internships to pre and postdoctoral level psychology interns. At 27, I moved to Australia and started to learn the ropes and cultural differences. I have worked 15 years opening private practices and have worked internationally with 1,000’s of psychologists.
My experience spans 15 years of establishing practitioners in private practice. I help guide you to develop your dream practice. My knowledge and your dreams are designed around strategy, administration, contractor and client engagement. ”
Connect with Tash – LinkedIn
CAROLYNE THOMPSON
Psychologist
Carolyne completed her qualifications in psychology at RMIT University, Victoria, and is currently completing her Masters of Human Rights Law at Monash University, Melbourne. While completing her undergraduate and post-grad studies, she worked in direct care with children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Carolyne continued working in the field of disability after registering as psychologist in 1995 before transitioning into educational psychology in 1997. In 2002, she made a further transition into forensic psychology where she remained working in Victorian correctional facilities across several roles until 2012. Carolyne’s PhD focused on the efficacy of risk assessment within the Victorian correctional system and the recommendations stemming from this were subsequently used in part of the ‘Review of the Victorian Adult Parole System’ published in 2013. On the side, she runs a private practice and recently decided to downsize to a part-time psychology position in a private hospital.
Connect with Carolyne – LinkedIn
ANNETTE TONKIN
Physiotherapist, Consultant
Founder, Thinking Physio
- Physio degree 1979 and Grad Dip Ad Manip Therapy, worked 30 years in private practice as a sports physiotherapist
- Tutored on the undergraduate course at Uni SA for second and third years in the late 1980s and 1990s
- Awarded the Keys to the City of Adelaide for contribution to women’s sport as part of the 1996 Adelaide Lightening Team
- Successfully run a number of private practices in Adelaide and one failed practice that taught my more than running the successful ones
- Physio for the Australian Women’s Basketball (2001-2004) and Cricket Teams (1986-1988)
- Athens Olympics 2004, World Championships Cricket 1987 and Basketball 2002
- Finished physiotherapy career due to arthritis in my hands in 2009
- Completed a Grad Cert in Neurolinguistic Programming 2010. Training in Clean Language, Motivational Interviewing, Accredited Coaching Certification and Process Communication Model Accreditation
- Presented numerous inservice workshops across Australia and presentations at multiple National conferences
- Run 1-2 day courses over the last 6 years in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on topics that help the attendees better manage the more challenging patients seen by both physiotherapists and podiatrists
Connect with Annette – LinkedIn
