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About Us

Our Team

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Meet Active Health Clinic

All of our team members have a special interest, training and experience working with people who live with:

Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS)

Chronic Pain (FMS, CRPS etc)

Dysautonomia (OI, POTS etc)

Connective Tissue Disorders (HSD, EDS etc)

Post-Viral Conditions & Long-Covid

Sleep Disorders

Other associated conditions

Our Exercise Physiology Team

Assoc. Prof Nathan Butler 

Blackburn

He / Him

Director & Accredited EP

Browse Bio

Nathan has over 20 years of experience working as the coordinator of specialist inpatient and outpatient programs at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne and at the Royal Free Hospital in London in the area of chronic fatigue syndrome as well as in cardiac, respiratory and orthopaedic rehabilitation. 

 

In 2008, Nathan established Active Health Clinic based on his values of long-term self-management through knowledge, compassion and trust. Through his dedication and experience, Active Health Clinic is now a leader in its field. Nathan also lectures Master's students at La Trobe University and Victoria University. 

 

Being able to change a person's life might sound cliché but this is what Nathan enjoys most. He believes that there is always something to learn, everyday there is something new to understand to help people even more. Having an autoimmune condition has given Nathan some insights to the struggles that invisible illnesses can have. Nathan has an interest in everything invisible illnesses! Fatigue, OI & POTS, central sleep disorders and pain. 

 

When he is not advocating to make invisible illnesses visible, Nathan enjoys chasing his two daughters Siena and Ella and spending time with his wife Lori. He is an avid Geelong supporter, with a passion for traveling and whisky. He also enjoys riding but not in lycra! Nathan recharges with random sport, relaxed cooking, cards, time with friends and mindfully enjoying whisky.

Ailisha Rose

Frankston & Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Ailisha is one of our Exercise Physiologists based in Blackburn and Frankston. Growing up in South Africa, she was always very active and knew she wanted to work in the health industry.

 

Her interest in invisible illnesses developed during her masters studies when she began recognising that some of her own symptoms of dysautonomia were not typical. This also led her to better understand her experiences with hypermobility, where being bendy had come with more challenges than she previously realised.

 

Since then, Ailisha has worked with a wide range of patients including veterans, young children, neurodiverse individuals, and people living with complex and chronic health conditions.

 

She now enjoys working at Active Health Clinic and helping patients make sense of their health in ways they may not have been able to before. Drawing on her own lived experience of invisible illness and neurodiversity, she provides a compassionate and validating space for patients, with a particular interest in Orthostatic Intolerance and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

 

Outside of work, Ailisha loves spending time with her husband and her dog, doing creative projects, baking, and enjoying quality time with family and friends. She also loves relaxing with a good Netflix show, including the occasional trashy reality TV series.

Emily Cochrane

Telehealth only

She / Her

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Emily is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Clinical Research Consultant at Active Health Clinic with a special interest in PoTS, hEDS, MCAS, Long COVID, chronic pain, fatigue, Autism, and ADHD. Based in New South Wales, she supports individuals across Australia through Telehealth services and is passionate about improving access to evidence-informed care for people living with complex health conditions.

 

Emily completed both her Degree in Exercise & Sport Science and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology at Deakin University. Prior to moving into clinical care and research, she worked within the Australian Football League and with the Essendon Football Club in strength and conditioning, high-performance management, and data analysis roles.

 

Her clinical and research interests are deeply shaped by her own lived experience with PoTS, ME/CFS, Endometriosis, and neurodivergence. After living in the UK for several years, Emily recognised the gap in Clinical Exercise Physiology services within this healthcare system, and went on to establish her own UK-based physiology clinic.

 

Emily is currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Health at the University of Bath, where her research focuses on fatigue management for people living with PoTS. She is involved in collaborative research projects across Australia, the UK, and the US, and has contributed to successful NHMRC and MRFF funding applications aimed at improving education, energy management, and healthcare access for individuals affected by conditions such as PoTS, EDS, MCAS, Long COVID, pain, and fatigue.

 

She is also involved in translating research into patient-facing resources for PoTS UK, as well as supporting practitioner education and international research initiatives relating to pain and fatigue in EDS with The Ehlers-Danlos Society.

 

Outside of work, Emily enjoys reading, research, video games, anime, K-dramas, and classic 1950s films. She also loves spending time with her dog Kai and appreciates the value of a good nap.

Meet Emily on LinkedIn

Kai Cochrane

Telehealth only

She / Her

Fully Qualified Dogter

Browse Bio

Kai is a fully fledged Dogtor with specialist skills in administering kisses and cuddles to people living with complex chronic health conditions.


Kai's special interests include walkies, treats, playing fetch, and rummaging through bins. She has a strong dislike for bicycles.

Kester Corby

Blackburn

He / Him

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Kester is one of our EP's based in Blackburn. His passion for movement and sport led him to a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Through his placement experience, he discovered what truly made him tick was connecting with people and using movement as a vessel to improve wellbeing.

 

Kester was an audience member in one of Nathan’s University visits and was intrigued by invisible illnesses and the work of Active Health Clinic. He organised to visit the clinic and quickly developed a passion for the field and identified with the clinic’s values and beliefs. He values the power of holistic treatment and believes compassion and empowerment are key to continued health.

 

While Kester has a passion for all things invisible illness, he is especially interested in the role of mental health and influence of mindfulness in the management of these conditions. Kester has experienced the ebbs and flows of his own mental health and engages in introspection and exploration of mindfulness techniques to improve his headspace.

 

Kester enjoys going to the gym, social sport when his body permits it, music events, and spending time with friends, family, and furry pets.
 

Leanne Popov

Essendon & Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Leanne is one of our EP's based in Blackburn and Essendon. She loves working with people and helping them to improve their health and wellbeing. Leanne's favourite part of work is being able to support people in progressing towards their goals, and empowering them to understand and manage their invisible symptoms.
 

While Leanne enjoys working with all invisible illnesses, she particularly enjoys working with people who have fatigue syndromes, pain sensitisation and fibromyalgia, orthostatic intolerances and women's health issues and has an interest and background in working with neurological conditions.
 

Outside of work, you'll find Leanne outdoors and exploring new places, going for walks with her dog. spending time with friends and family, enjoying good coffee or reading a good book.
 

Leanne recharges by having a cup of tea, cuddling her dog, listening to music, mindful movement and sitting outside to get some sun and fresh air.

Nakshu Senthilkumaran

Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Nakshu is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who brings warmth, curiosity and a deep respect for the power of movement into every session.


Growing up in India, exercise and movement were often considered "unnecessary for women" rather than something valuable. That experience sparked something in Nakshu. She became passionate about helping others understand that movement isn’t a luxury, it can be a powerful tool for wellbeing, confidence and self-understanding. She moved to Australia to study Sport and Exercise Science and quickly fell in love with Exercise Physiology and its ability to create meaningful, sustainable change in people’s lives.


Nakshu has been working as an EP for the past year and is especially passionate about supporting people living with invisible illnesses. She has a strong interest in mental health and feels deeply connected to supporting patients who may have previously felt unheard or misunderstood. She believes education is empowering, and she loves helping patients build knowledge about their bodies so they can feel more confident navigating their health journey.


Being able to combine her interest in mental health with the complexity of invisible illness care is something Nakshu finds incredibly meaningful. She is committed to providing safe, compassionate, and individualised support that meets each patient where they are.


Outside of the clinic, Nakshu is a trained classical dancer and loves expressing herself through movement. She enjoys going to the gym, hiking in the mountains, and long walks outdoors. She recharges by spending time with family, listening to music, and cooking, especially experimenting with new recipes and flavours.


Nakshu looks forward to walking alongside you on your health journey and helping you discover what movement can mean for you.

Raeya Bognar

Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Raeya is one of our EP's based in Blackburn. She has a background in Pilates, Yoga, Meditation & Health Coaching and uses these skills with her holistic treatment approach. 

 

Raeya comes with personal experience of complex invisible illnesses from her teens and early adulthood that drove her goals and passions towards helping others.
 

She knows what it's like to have these illnesses, and how much the right help and right team can make such a difference. Raeya enjoys working with paediatrics and neurodiversity most, and has a special interest in chronic fatigue syndromes, dysautonomia and hypermobility spectrum disorders.
 

Raeya enjoys outside time, exercising, reading and audiobooks, and socialising with loved ones, oh, and dogs too. To recharge, Raeya likes to have quiet time to herself, sometimes exercising, sometimes reading, sometimes outside time. She's also now kept on her toes with her little girl who generally keeps her busy but smiling.

Sam McKenzie

Blackburn

He / Him

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Browse Bio

Sam is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a passion for supporting those who often “fall through the cracks” in the healthcare system. He holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science (double degree with Business) and a Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, along with a Certificate III/IV in Fitness. With a focus on providing healthcare to under-researched and disadvantaged groups, Sam is dedicated to helping those impacted by chronic conditions like ME/CFS, Long Covid, POTS, and Fibromyalgia.


Beyond his clinical expertise, Sam brings a compassionate, patient-centered approach to his work, driven by his commitment to tackling the challenges faced by individuals often dismissed or gaslit by traditional healthcare.


In his downtime, Sam is an avid volleyball player and coach, having led an under-15 girls’ team in the past. He also enjoys gaming - especially PC and RPG titles-and has a deep love for music, exploring sounds from across the globe. When it’s time to recharge, you’ll find Sam unwinding with a cup of tea, spending time with dogs, or going for nature walks.
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Our Dietetics Team

Mel Grande

Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Practicing Dietitian

Browse Bio

Mel is one of our Dietitian's based in Blackburn. She is passionate about using food as a tool to improve people’s quality of life and understands the emotional and physiological impact that food can have, especially while living with invisible illness.
 

She believes in making food easier and more enjoyable for everyone, especially those who find food challenging for any reason.
Mel has a special interest in dysautonomia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, gastrointestinal conditions as well as eating disorders/disordered eating. She practices with a nondiet, HAES approach and particularly enjoy healing people’s relationship with food (eg: food fears, food and body trauma and history of dieting).

 

Mel enjoys cooking and sharing good meals and sweets with others and has a love for live music, travel, drawing, being outdoors and spending quality time with the important people and animals in her life.

 

To recharge, Mel likes to have some relaxing quiet time inside watching Netflix or outside soaking up the sun. Mel is also known to enjoy reading, drawing or just sitting with a good cup of tea.

 

Sakina Hashmi

Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Practising Dietitian

Browse Bio

Sakina is one of our Dietitians based in Blackburn. She is passionate about the power of food, not only for physical health, but also for emotional well-being, connection, and overall quality of life. She believes in offering compassionate, individual-centred care that acknowledges each person’s unique story and experience, especially when living with invisible illness.


She has a strong interest in gut health (including IBS, bloating, reflux, and broader gut-related symptoms), eating disorders and disordered eating, supporting people to repair their relationship with food and working with the invisible illness population. Sakina also values creating a weight-neutral, non-judgmental space for clients, particularly for those who have experienced food or body-related trauma and overall practices with a Health At Every Size (HAES) approach.


Outside of her work, Sakina enjoys baking, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring new cafés and brunch spots. She also loves listening to music from the 80s and 90s and building magnetic block castles with her young nephew.


To recharge, Sakina likes to unwind with a good action comedy or suspense thriller, sketch classic animated cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Popeye, and spend time with friends and family in calm, joyful spaces. She also finds folding clothes into perfectly symmetrical piles surprisingly soothing.

Sophie Begg

Blackburn

She / Her

Accredited Practicing Dietitian

Browse Bio

Sophie is one of our Dietitians at Active Health Clinic. She has always been interested in the ways nutrients can benefit the body on a micro level, but her passion has grown into how nutrition can improve wellbeing and quality of life overall. Sophie’s ethos around food and nutrition is not about eating perfectly, it’s about finding an approach that works best for each individual. She believes food is not just fuel but also a source of connection and joy, and she loves supporting patients to achieve their goals and rediscover the pleasure of eating and cooking.


Sophie has a special interest in disordered eating, non-diet approaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), invisible illnesses more broadly, supporting neurodivergent individuals, and helping people heal their relationship with food.


Outside of work, Sophie enjoys exploring new cafes, beach walks with her dog, listening to podcasts, and the occasional at-home yoga session.
To recharge, Sophie loves curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and watching reality TV, spending time with friends and family, or soaking up the sun with a good book.

 
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Our Occupational Therapy Team

Rachel Graham

Blackburn

She / Her

Occupational Therapist

Browse Bio

Rachel graduated from Monash University in 2017 and has gained diverse experience in clinical settings, including allied health clinics, child development settings, medical practices, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, aged care facilities, and internationally in New Zealand and Bangladesh.

 

Passionate about learning, Rach has completed training with Occupational Therapists such as Kim Barthel, Kelly Mahler, and Kathy Clarkson. With experience working with Neurodivergent populations, she is excited to continue her journey of learning and growth supporting others to manage challenges and navigate daily life. Rach adopts a person-centered, strengths-based approach, endeavoring to meet people where they are and honouring their authentic selves.

 

Outside of work, Rach enjoys reading, the gym, journaling, weekend getaways, spending time with loved ones, watching footy, caring for her plants, exploring cafes and restaurants, and cuddling other people’s pets.
Title

Our Administration Team

Angelina

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Angelina has found a passion for what she does as part of our team through being a genuine support for people that are facing challenging situations and health journeys.

 

She loves a chat; so she enjoys talking to and helping our patients whether it be in person or over the phone.
In her free time, Angelina likes going on road trips to the beach, taking herself out for a coffee and spending time with friends and family.

 

To recharge, Angelina goes on long walks, bake delicious treats (and eats them!) and spends time in the sunshine.

Bridgette

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Bridgette has a passion for building genuine connections and creating a warm, welcoming experience for everyone who walks into the clinic.
 
She takes pride in helping patients feel comfortable, seen, and understood, and value being part of a supportive and compassionate team. She enjoys working closely with people and assisting individuals to access the support they need and deserve to get the most out of their lives.

In her free time, Bridgette loves running, dancing, drinking coffee, and travelling to new places.

To recharge, Bridgette likes to go for phone-free walks along the beach, spend quality time with friends and family, or simply soak up the sunshine.

 

Anthony

Blackburn

He / Him

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Anthony brings a personal connection to his work, with his lived experience of hypermobility shaping his passion for supporting others with chronic conditions.
 

He enjoys keeping active, whether that’s at the gym or out hiking in nature. Outside of that, Anthony likes to unwind in the sun and spend time with friends.
 

To recharge, Anthony enjoys reading, listening to music, and heading off on road trips to discover new places.

Charlotte

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Charlotte became passionate about working with our team after experiencing the benefit of the AHC program herself as a teen with CFS and POTS.
 

Charlotte was inspired by her experience and recovery thanks to those at Active Health Clinic and quickly decided she wanted to help others like her in whatever capacity she could.
 

She is currently studying her Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University and hopes to later become an Exercise Physiologist and work with patients with invisible illnesses.

 

In her free time Charlotte enjoys playing piano, playing netball, taking a nice drive along country roads, and reading.

 

To recharge she likes to re-read her favourite books, listen to music, and stare at the garden on a rainy day.

 

Jamie

Blackburn

He / Him

Shop Team

Browse Bio

Jamie decided to join the AHC family as a receptionist to pay forward all of the support and guidance that the team at AHC provided him in his time as a patient. He was always greeted with kindness and empathy when he would visit or phone the clinic as a patient and was inspired to deliver that same sincere professionalism to clients as a receptionist.


Jamie enjoys exercising and taking nice scenic walks most days. If Jamie is not partaking in those activities, then he is likely working on some creative writing and poetry, or having a cuppa with friends. Jamie’s favourite recharge activity is listening to music or laying someplace outdoors near a stream or river to relax with the sound and sight of flowing water.

 

Jodie

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Jodie is a dedicated advocate for wellness, driven by her daughter's battle with chronic illness. This personal experience ignited her passion to support others on their own health journeys. Jodie offers guidance and a comforting presence to those facing similar challenges.
 

Jodie finds serenity in her country retreat by the lake, where she enjoys precious moments with her family and their two Rottweilers, Frankie and Murphy. This tranquil space allows her to recharge and reconnect, reminding her of the importance of self -care.

 

Lachie

Blackburn

He / Him

Shop Manager

Browse Bio

Lachie experienced Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) firsthand, inspiring him to help those with similar hidden chronic conditions. He spreads awareness and advocates for support, driven by
empathy and understanding.


Besides his advocacy, Lachie loves playing guitar, enjoying music, and playing tennis or soccer. He's an adventurous cook, constantly trying new recipes. To recharge, he strums his guitar or watches favorite TV shows in a cool, calm environment.

 

Lachie's journey showcases resilience, care, and a zest for life. His story encourages others to tackle challenges with strength and positivity.
 

Ginny

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration & Reception

Browse Bio

Ginny loves supporting the team at Active Health and getting to know the people she talks to every day. She knows several people who have suffered from the debilitation of chronic invisible illnesses and has found the assistance of the clinic to be invaluable with her own long covid symptoms.
 

Seeing the benefits of how a holistic approach to wellness can help people is something that brings her great personal joy and fulfilment.

 

To recharge, Ginny loves to play console games, sweat through a boxing session, listen to podcasts and get in touch with nature by camping with her family.

 

Ginny will make your time visiting Active Health memorable with her friendly nature and her ability to make everyone smile and be seen.

 

Laura

Blackburn

She / Her

Practice Manager

Browse Bio

Laura leads our administration team in her role as Practice Manager. Laura's all about helping individuals access the support they need to get the most out of life which is why she loves working at Active Health Clinic.
 

When Laura's not at work, she enjoys going to see live music and soaking up the sun at the beach. She's a fan of Pilates and has quite the green thumb with her indoor plants and veggie garden.

 

To recharge, Laura loves leisurely walks in nature, her favourite tunes, road trips to new places, and gardening.

 

Hannah

Blackburn

She / Her

Administration Support

Browse Bio

Prior to joining Active Health Clinic, Hannah didn’t have much experience with Invisible Illnesses and has learned a lot in the time she has worked with the clinic. She is now grateful to be supporting our team and our patients in their health journeys.
 

Hannah enjoys watching Korean Drama, hiking and traveling with family and friends.

 

To recharge Hannah likes visiting the beach or just simply going to a coffee shop with anyone and talking about anything.

 

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