Physiotherapist and Director
Jessica Capper
Jess covers the following areas: Cities of Glen Eira, Stonnington, Port Philip, Bayside, Kingston
Jess is an experienced, caring paediatric physiotherapist who is dedicated to providing excellent, individually tailored physiotherapy to children. She very much enjoys working with children and families in their own environment and believes that physiotherapy should be fun, while still meeting the needs and goals of the family and improving physical outcomes and quality of life.
Jess has experience working with a wide variety of conditions ranging from treatment of congenital conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome and neuromuscular conditions; to assistance in the development of motor skills in infants and children; to working with those children who have experienced a major life changing health event such as injury, illness or surgery. She has a particular interest in early childhood development and neurological concerns and rehabilitation. She loves to use traditional pilates mat work principals in her treatment programs.
Jess graduated from LaTrobe University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2004. After university, she worked in a major Melbourne hospital before heading off to work abroad in the UK for a number of years. She returned to Melbourne in 2010 to work with children in a hospital setting before making the move to a community setting. In April 2013, Jess started Grow Strong Children’s Physiotherapy and is so proud of how her little business has grown. She continues to work at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne on a part time basis (currently on maternity leave).
When not working, Jess can be found singing play school songs with her little boy while walking along the beach.
Physiotherapist
Tanja Spencer
Tanja covers the following areas: Cities of Knox, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Boorondara, Monash, Casey, parts of Yarra Ranges and Greater Dandenong, Cardinia Shire
Tanja is passionate about working with children and their families to provide a fun, excellent, evidence-based physiotherapy service that allows kids to participate meaningfully with their family, in the home and in the wider community.
Tanja graduated with honours from LaTrobe University in 2003. She teaches post-graduate paediatric physiotherapy content with Monash University. She recently completed a Masters researching the impact of running training on children with a neurological impairment. To further help children participate in sports, she has also become a national level classifier for para-athletics. Tanja is a director of Heads Together for ABI, a charity which provides services for children who have acquired a brain injury.
Tanja is an experienced paediatric physiotherapist who is dedicated to working with children and their families to achieve their goals. She has extensive experience working with infants, children and adolescents in a range of settings; from their own home or school through to the hospital environment. She has a particular interest in providing family-centred care that enables a child to particiate in the sports and hobbies that they enjoy.
Physiotherapist
Clare Ward
Clare covers the following areas: Cities of Nillumbik, Banyule, Whittlesea, parts of Manningham and Whitehorse
Clare is an enthusiastic paediatric physiotherapist who is determined to see children succeed and overcome challenges. She is experienced and professional in her work but loves to bring fun and games into as many sessions as possible. She enjoys working with children across their varied environments, whether it be home, school, childcare, the local sporting field, playground or pool. Her therapy skills are all evidence based and have continued to develop strongly over the last ten years working solely in private paediatrics.
Clare completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy (with Honours) in 2004 at The University of Melbourne. Clare has since worked in many acute and community settings in both Melbourne and the UK with adult and paediatric populations. Clare has a particular interest in working with children with developmental delays and those who have acquired brain injuries. She has volunteered for several years at the Heads Together For ABI family camps.
When Clare is not working she spends her time with her hubby and three young children – drinking babycinos, playing at playgrounds and walking their crazy labrador.
Physiotherapist
Brooke Adair
Brooke covers the following areas: Cities of Melbourne, Moreland, Darebin, Yarra
Brooke is an experienced paediatric physiotherapist dedicated to helping children to participate in the activities that mean the most to them and their families. She understands the importance of making therapy fun and determining achievable goals with the help of both children and families.
Brooke graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Melbourne in 2003. After her bachelor’s degree she spent a number of years working at Monash Medical Centre before specialising in paediatrics and commencing work at the Royal Children’s Hospital. In 2010, Brooke’s quest for knowledge got the better of her and she commenced a PhD, after which she continued to work in the research sector helping to manage and develop projects related to understanding and improving participation for children with disabilities. Throughout her PhD and work in the research sector Brooke has continued to work casually as a physiotherapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Brooke has extensive experience working with children with a range of conditions but specialises in the assessment and treatment of those with cerebral palsy, with particular experience in gait analysis and post-operative rehabilitation. In her spare time Brooke volunteers as a classifier for Paralympic swimming and boccia.
Physiotherapist
Ruth Sacks
Ruth covers the following areas: Cities of Glen Eira, Stonnington, Port Philip, Bayside, Kingston
Ruth is a caring and dedicated paediatric physiotherapist with close to 20 years of experience supporting and empowering children and families to reach their physical and developmental goals. Her approach is family centred, evidence-based and fun. Ruth recognises that children learn best in their natural environments, through play and repetition within their daily routines. She loves facilitating children to thrive and participate optimally in their homes, recreational settings, childcare centres, kinders and schools and genuinely rejoices in their achievements.
Ruth attained her Bachelor of Physiotherapy (with Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 2000. Since then she has worked exclusively in paediatrics across both hospital and community settings in Melbourne and the UK, including special schools, neonatal care units, outpatient clinics and early childhood intervention services (ECIS). Ruth is particularly skilled and passionate about optimising outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental/neurological difficulties and children born premature.
Through her work as an early intervention key worker, Ruth has acquired in-depth knowledge of general child development as well as the various systems and supports available to children with additional needs. She is therefore able to offer excellent support to children and families across a variety of developmental areas, facilitate communication between members of the care team, and help families access and navigate the complex support systems.
When she is not working, Ruth enjoys raising and running after her energetic 5 year old twin boys.
Physiotherapist
Laura Morel
Laura covers the following areas: Cities of Bayside and Kingston
Laura Morel is an esteemed paediatric physiotherapist with a breadth of experience treating children of all ages with a range of conditions. Her clinical experience spans across more than 15 years in acute hospital and community settings in Melbourne and the United Kingdom.
Laura graduated from La Trobe University in 2005. During her studies, she was selected to participate in a 3 month specialist paediatric neurological physiotherapy program at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden which further fuelled her love of paediatric neurological physiotherapy. In 2013 Laura completed post graduate studies achieving the Specialist Certificate in Paediatric Orthopaedic Physiotherapy through the University of Melbourne, enabling her participation as an Advanced Practice Clinician in Orthopaedic Physiotherapy. In addition, Laura worked many years with Monash University developing content and teaching material and then tutoring for paediatric post graduate physiotherapy courses.
Laura is a mum of 4 young children. Her passion and commitment to support children and families grew further once becoming a Mum herself and experiencing the highs, challenges and juggles parenting presents. Laura loves partnering with families to achieve a child’s goals and full potential in their own home environment. Laura has a particular interest in supporting premature and vulnerable infants, working with children with developmental delay and supporting the early diagnosis and service set up for children with neurological conditions.
Laura works as a Senior Physiotherapist at Monash Children’s Hospital. When not working, Laura enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends.
Physiotherapist
Jess Underwood
Jess covers the following areas: Cities of Maroondah, Knox, and parts of Monash and Whitehorse, Shire of Lilydale
Jess is a playful and evidence based therapist, who easily builds rapport with children of all ages. Jess loves children's physiotherapy because it allows her to combine her passions for human biomechanics and neuroscience with silly songs and physical challenges - so much fun!!!
Jess completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Monash University in 2008. She worked for a number of years in the public hospital system, across a broad range of inpatient and outpatient areas, including orthopaedics, intensive care and the emergency department. Jess specialised in adult neurosciences before transitioning into Paediatrics in 2015.
Jess has provided physiotherapy to children with a range of neurological, developmental and orthopaedic conditions through her work in hospital, community and special school settings. Jess teaches paediatric course content to undergraduate Masters of Physiotherapy students at Swinburne University.
Jess believes that therapy is most effective when the child, carer and physio work as a team to achieve the goals that are important to the family, most importantly, to the child. Whatever your child is passionate about, Jess can incorporate it into therapy!
Jess believes that even the tiniest of baby is deserving of respect and should be an active partner in the therapy process. She has a particular heart for children who have experienced medical trauma and seeks to make therapy a safe and playful space for them.
Jess understands the therapy journey from both a clinician and parent perspective, having managed her own daughter's severe hip dysplasia, hypermobility and Gross motor delay, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
When not providing physiotherapy services, Jess works as an all-singing-all-dancing, chef/personal assistant for her two small children.
Get in Touch
For more information, or to book an appointment, you can reach us on the following details:
Phone: 0413 800 847
Fax: 03 9824 4444
E-mail: [email protected]
Post:
PO Box 106, Elsternwick, Victoria 3185
Physiotherapist
Zoe Hare
Zoe covers the following areas: Cities of Kingston, Bayside, Glen Eira and parts of Frankston
Zoe is a caring and enthusiastic physiotherapist who is dedicated to providing holistic, family centered and evidence based physiotherapy services for infants and children.
Physiotherapist
Mahek Dudhwala
Mahek covers the following areas: Cities of Glen Eira, Stonnington, parts of Melbourne
CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE FROM JUNE 2023
Mahek is an enthusiastic physiotherapist, experienced in working with infants, children and adolescents. She is dedicated to providing evidence-based physiotherapy in a fun and engaging environment. Through her background in early childhood intervention, she is experienced in utilising play based therapy and augmentative and alternative communication strategies when working with children.
Mahek completed her Physiotherapy degree at La Trobe University and has gone on to complete her Masters of Physiotherapy (specialising in paediatrics) and the Specialist Certificate in Paediatric Orthopaedic Physiotherapy from the University of Melbourne.
She currently works part time as a senior physiotherapist in paediatric orthopaedics at Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH). Her past clinical experience includes working in the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service at Monash Children’s hospital and within the cerebral palsy orthopaedic service at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Mahek endeavours to support children achieve meaningful home, school, and community activity goals. She is dedicated to supporting children achieve their sport and physical activity participation goals and has a special interest in dance-based participation.
Physiotherapist
Jordan Maher
Jordan covers the following areas: Greater Geelong and surrounding areas
Jordan completed her a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University and has gone on to complete her Post Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Physiotherapy from the University of Melbourne.
Jordan is passionate about providing physiotherapy services to children and adolescents in a way that is both fun and engaging while being effective and evidence based. She is dedicated to supporting children achieve their sport and physical activity participation goals. Jordan has also previously worked as both a swimming instructor and netball coach for many years and is passionate about improving disability inclusion in sport.
She currently works part time as a senior physiotherapist in neurosciences at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Her past clinical experience includes working as a rotational physiotherapist in several different specialties across the Royal Children’s Hospital including orthopaedics, brachial plexus clinic, plagiocephaly clinic, respiratory, developmental clinics and neurological conditions. Jordan endeavours to support children achieve meaningful home, school, and community activity goals.
Jordan enjoys being active and fit and playing with her dog Fergus.
Physiotherapist
Annie Bourke
Annie covers the following areas: Cities of Melbourne, Moreland, Darebin, Yarra, Brimbank, Port Philip
Annie graduated from Charles Sturt University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. In addition, she has completed a specialist certificate in rural and remote paediatrics which led her to work in the Northern Territory in community paediatrics for 4 years. She has recently completed her Masters in Paediatric Physiotherapy with Monash University in 2023. She currently works part time at Monash Children’s Hospital as a senior neurodevelopmental physiotherapist within the newborn team.
Annie has a special interest and skill set working with premature infants, children with developmental delays and supporting the early diagnosis of neurological conditions. She is proactive and creative and loves working with families to make meaningful connections whilst also improving children’s quality of life and functional goals.
When not working, Annie will be found outdoors hiking, camping or running with friends and her dog Soul.
Physiotherapist
Jamie Kemp
Jamie covers the following areas: Cities of Melbourne, Moreland, Darebin, Yarra, Brimbank
Jamie is an experienced physiotherapist with a calm and gentle nature, dedicated to improving the wellbeing of children and young adults. He implements the latest evidence-based practice into fun and engaging sessions.
Jamie completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy Advanced – Research (Honours) at Monash University. Since then, he has worked across a variety of settings, including as a senior physiotherapist at The Royal Children’s Hospital, where he continues to work part-time in the Gait Laboratory. Jamie has expertise across a wide range of paediatric conditions, with particular interest in cerebral palsy, gait (walking) analysis, orthopaedic/musculoskeletal issues and post-operative rehabilitation.
In his spare time, Jamie enjoys playing tennis, hiking and taking his dogs to the beach
Physiotherapist
Angela Anderson
Ang covers the following areas: Cities of Frankston; parts of Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Greater Dandenong and Casey
Angela is a caring physiotherapist, who is passionate about delivery fun, effective sessions to help children and adolescents achieve their goals. She has extensive community and private practice experience and has a keen interest in evidence-based care of both musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Angela offers services in multiple settings including home, school, childcare, playgrounds and pools.
Graduating in 2005 with her Bachelor of Physiotherapy from LaTrobe University, Angela worked across acute hospital, emergency care, rehabilitation and community settings before moving into private practice in 2010.
Building on her enthusiasm for empowerment through knowledge and love of working with children, she is currently completing her Masters of Teaching part time. When Angela is not working or studying, she enjoys spending quality time with her partner, two children and two gorgeous cavoodles.
Physiotherapist
Julia Hendy
Julia covers the following areas: Cities of Port Philip, Bayside, Kingston, Glen Eira and Stonnington
Julia is a dynamic children’s physiotherapist dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. Julia strives to help her patients achieve their fullest potential. She strongly believes in patient and family-centered care, empowering parents and children to actively participate in their rehabilitation journey.
Administrative Manager
Nicole Pristupa
Bio coming soon….