Education

Founder | Melinda Cooper | Physio

Mindy (aka Melinda) Cooper has practiced Continence, Pelvic Floor and Women’s Health physiotherapy for the better part of 40 years and remains no less passionate about its ideals than when she started. She has regularly lectured and tutored in Women’s Health Programs in the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne where she was involved in researching pelvic floor muscle function in parous women. She has been a Clinical Consultant with an Adjunct Appointment to the School of Population Health at Monash University where she was the chief investigator studying validity of outcome measures used in assessing inflammatory conditions of the lactating breast. Mindy also serves as a Clinical Consultant to physiotherapy Masters students at Curtin University. She is delighted to be Emma Heron’s clinical supervisor towards her PhD, an RCT on the effect of TUS in ICLBs. Mindy is the developer and primary presenter of the nationally accredited courses ‘Lactation for Health Professionals’. Mindy invests much of her time in her relationships with her friends, colleagues and family including at last count, her 6 grandchildren.

Lecturer | Emma Heron

Emma is currently completing her PhD on the assessment and treatment of inflammatory conditions of the lactating breast (ICLB). Together with her supervisors, Dr Leanda McKenna, Dr Adelle McArdle and Professor Donna Geddes, her PhD focusses on validating outcome measures for ICLB, and conducting a large randomised clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound treatment for ICLB. In addition to her PhD, Emma tutors and teaches into postgraduate and undergraduate physiotherapy courses at the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University in women’s, men’s, and pelvic health. Emma works clinically at the Royal Women's Hospital.

Lecturer | Helen Lowe | Director Through Life Physiotherapy

Helen has enjoyed a diverse Physiotherapy career in rural Victoria for the past 25 years. In 2006 she felt called to start a private practice to provide her community with specialist areas of physiotherapy that didn’t otherwise exist locally. Through Life Physiotherapy has grown to a team of fifteen who together provide the Gippsland region with; Neurological Rehabilitation, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Paediatric Physiotherapy, Pelvic Health Physiotherapy for Women and Men, Mastitis Treatment, Pregnancy and Postnatal exercise, Aquatic Physiotherapy, Invisible Illness management, Clinical Pilates, Musculoskeletal treatment and rehabilitation, Pilates Classes and Respiratory Physiotherapy.

After attending a lecture by Melinda Cooper in 2008 and then the Lactation for Health Professionals course in 2010 Helen has treated many lactating mothers in Gippsland and joined the teaching team for L4HP in 2014. Helen participated in the early years of the research team with Dr Adelle McArdle and Melinda Cooper, presenting at the 2015 APA National Conference and publishing with Melinda and Adelle in 2020.

Lecturer | Kym Veale | Director Womankind Physiotherapy

Kym is the Owner and Director of Womankind Physiotherapy, based in the north eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and is passionate about raising awareness of women’s health conditions and optimising outcomes for women throughout their lifespan.

Kym completed her post-graduate certificates in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy and Exercise for Women through the University of Melbourne in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Her interest in lactation was fostered under the tutelage of Melinda Cooper working alongside her for several years at Marshall Street Practice and later at Inform Physiotherapy.

Kym has taught at both LaTrobe University and Melbourne University teaching undergraduate and masters level students in Gender Specific Studies and Lactation. She has been teaching on the Lactation for Health Professionals course since 2012 and is thrilled to be working with this team of inspiring women.

Convenor and Lecturer | Hillary Schwantzer

Hillary is the owner and director of Inform Physiotherapy. She convenes, lectures and tutors on the Lactation for Health Professionals Course. Hillary has over 20 years of private practice clinical physiotherapy experience. Since completing her postgraduate certificate in Exercise for Women in 2010 and Continence & Pelvic Floor in 2012, from The University of Melbourne, Hillary has enhanced her expertise in the area of women’s health through clinical practice and continued professional development. Hillary has been treating women with lactation issues since 2016 when she completed the Level 1 Lactation for Health Professionals course with Melinda and level 2 the following year.

Professor | Lisa Amir | MBBS MMed PhD IBCLC

Lisa Amir is a general practitioner and lactation consultant. She works in breastfeeding medicine at The Royal Women's Hospital. She is a Principal Research Fellow at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Breastfeeding Journal.