MEET OUR TEAM

QUALIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL

In 2004 he obtain a PhD in medicine from the University of Sydney evaluating new therapies for patients with sleep apnea and heart failure. Another of his major interests is in the area of education. Grant has been involved in education at many different levels, whether this be speaking to a small group of rural doctors and nurses working in an Emergency Department, addressing a gathering of sleep apnea patients or co-ordinating and lecturing at national courses in Sleep Disorders Medicine. His philosophy has been to pass on his knowledge to others. Grant is a sought after speaker due to his experience and practical approach which is tailored to his audience.

He delivers on-going education and training to our staff so that they can provide clients with a hands-on approach and expert up-to-date advice concerning treatment options which is pivotal to the ongoing success of our clinic.

Throughout his career Grant has been involved in many different spheres including as a consultant to industry, clinician and educator. This experience has also allowed him to observe the many challenges that have arisen when a healthcare system struggles to cope with a new disorder such as sleep apnea. A particular concern is the failure to provide clients with a comprehensive approach to their sleep apnea treatment.

The Sleep and Lifestyle Clinic seeks to address these failures by providing expert initiation and acclimatisation to PAP therapy ensuring that you maximise the benefits of therapy. Along with this we assist our clients to make realistic and attainable lifestyle changes which address the bigger picture and lead to long-term health benefits.

Donna finds the field of sleep medicine compliments both her sports science background and her role as a physiotherapist.  She completed further education in sleep medicine through the University of Sydney. She is currently part of the teaching team with the University of Canberra physiotherapy Undergraduate and Masters Degrees.  Donna has worked as a physiotherapist for over ten years within both hospital and private practice settings and is dedicated to providing evidenced based interventions for the management of sleep disordered breathing.

Cathy Mellor

Cathy has had an interest in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy for all of her 30- year career. She has worked in Sydney in several leading teaching hospitals, working clinically in acute care, transplants, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and chronic management, including working in a management and teaching capacity. In the last 10 years this interest and clinical experience has extended into management of sleep disordered breathing. She now brings this wealth of experience to Just Breathe Physiotherapy. Her special interest is Dysfunctional Breathing Pattern Disorders, non-invasive ventilation and titration and management of CPAP and Bi-level devices for Sleep Disordered Breathing, particularly in neuromuscular disorders, and teaching self-management of chronic conditions such as bronchiectasis. A current interest is the management and rehab of patients recovering from Covid, either in an outpatient capacity or in their home and enabling clients to return to their best version of themselves with the specialised guidance that these clients require. Cathy’s approach to her patient management is based on current scientific evidence with a holistic purposeful approach to achieve your outcomes and a large dose of care. With this wealth of experience she now heads up our home care services. Her special interest is non-invasive ventilation and titration and management of CPAP and Bi-level devices for Sleep Disordered Breathing and teaching self-management of chronic conditions such as bronchiectasis.

Stephanie van Hilten

Stephanie graduated from Sydney University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy. She has spent the majority of her 31 year career working in the cardiothoracic and sleep fields. Stephanie worked at Concord Hospital from 1990-1992, then moved overseas to work in London at the prestigious Royal Brompton Hospital, a renowned specialised cardiothoracic centre, from 1992-1994. Stephanie has spent the last 27 years working in Sydney’s St Vincent’s public and private hospitals and St Vincent’s Clinic, in all areas of respiratory care. Stephanie is currently involved in research with Monash University into effective, affordable, and accessible delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation in the community. Stephanie has extensive experience in intensive care, cardiac and transplant areas, in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physiotherapy management of chronic lung disease and treatment of patients with sleep disordered breathing. This knowledge and experience has extended more recently into the homebased respiratory care of those living with neuromuscular disorders. Stephanie is passionate about providing quality, holistic care to those in the community. Her patient management is based on clinical and scientific evidence, along with years of practical experience and a whole lot of compassion and common sense. Stephanie has experience in intensive care, cardiac and transplant areas, in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physiotherapy management of chronic lung disease and treatment of patients with sleep disordered breathing.