Sort Practitioners by Modality
‘It's our level of care that sets us apart’ - Lisa Thomson, Senior Partner
Click on the links below to learn about the CSSM team.
Educated at the University of South Australia, Vaughan has gained a wide range of clinical experiences since completing his studies and moving to Melbourne in 1998. Sporting and family commitments helped to shape his core range of clinical interests. Originally drawn to Podiatry after having his own knee pain cured by orthotic management, Vaughan values how much more enjoyment can be gained from sports when you have no pain associated with playing them. Likewise through watching his three children’s development, Vaughan is determined to minimise any pain associated within childhood development.
Vaughan’s philosophy regarding treatment is to address the cause of the pain biomechanically, and instill a treatment plan that will enhance every patient’s enjoyment of life’s endeavours.
CSSM Physiotherapist Corey Farrell has always been interested in how the body works, sport and strength training. Physio was the perfect fit.
“It’s also a great combination of problem solving and working with people.”
Corey has an intense passion for physiotherapy with a particular interest in lower limb injuries including the ankle and knee. He also has a keen focus on injury prevention and high performance especially in younger age groups with many of his patients playing football, soccer and basketball.
“I love the challenge of appropriately reintegrating people back into sport as fast as possible while minimising the risk of re-injury.”
Spending a lot of time strength training in the gym, Corey enjoys helping others who have any niggles or injuries to modify their program to keep them moving.
“I enjoy empowering people with the information and the tools they need to manage their own health and get back to the things they love to do.”
When not working at CSSM, he can be found providing match day support for the West Coast Eagles AFL and AFLW teams.
Away from the clinic, Corey enjoys music – as well as reading and strength training.
Senior physiotherapist Caroline Szafranski was drawn to physio during her four years spent living in the United States on a tennis scholarship at Arkansas State University. “I was training six days a week and spending a bit of time in the medical rooms!”
She studied Exercise Science and then spent 6 months working in California. “I think my involvement in tennis and triathlons has helped me enormously with treating patients and understanding their emotional ride as well.”
After completing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University back home, Caroline has worked with various sporting organisations including the AFL Umpires Association in addition to grass roots football clubs.
“I’ve also worked in various roles both in private practice and in a hospital environment, both in the UK and Australia, giving me extensive experience in treating patients with both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions,” she said.
Caroline has a special interest in biomechanics, rehabilitation and Clinical Pilates training having completed mat and equipment Level 1 Certificate in Pilates and Level 1 Dry Needling Certificate, and several other courses. “I treat all areas but but enjoy treating backs, neck and doing pilates, plus post surgery rehab especially total hip and knee replacements.”
Away from the clinic, Caroline continues to play tennis and still has that competitive nature participating in ironman triathlon and marathon running, competing in several races including the half ironman and long course world championships and completing two Melbourne marathons! “I’d like to say that my competitive spirit is a little more tame these days but I can’t help myself sometimes!”
Caroline is at CSSM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Senior Practitioner pricing applies.
After 15 years of international competitive Taekwondo, Adele sustained several injuries. “I was always so fascinated by how the human body functions and heals – seemingly myotherapy was the perfect fit. An enthusiast about health, fitness and being the best version of yourself is a key factor”.
Adele feels that analysing the main components of people’s everyday lifestyles and interests allows her to identify and provide specialised ways for a specific individual to help aid in strengthening, rehabilitating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adele enjoys working with people “to help get them back to the activities they love”.
Adele executes this through a “hands-on approach”, which includes trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping, myofascial release and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Adele is a firm believer on educating her clients about their condition and what their recovery process will entail to improve their ability to manage, maintain and overcome their injuries.
Adele has worked with NICA (National Institute of Circus Australia) and amateur basketball, netball and football leagues across Melbourne.
In Adele’s spare time, she loves to participate in pilates, rock climbing, hiking, baking and spending time with family and friends.
After multiple injuries and different rehab experiences, Julia Meeuwissen found a love and appreciation of myotherapy.
“I like that myotherapy has a holistic approach that empowers and supports people to take responsibility for their own rehabilitation journey and to gain more confidence, trust and respect for their body and its innate capacity to heal and recover.”
With an interest in the human body, anatomy and biomechanics, Julia enjoys treating tendinopathies, tension headaches, neck pain and TMD.
“I have had all of these issues myself so can empathise and share techniques that have helped me. I’d like to further investigate optimal load management strategies for tendinopathies and posture as well as mind-body connection for stress related tension headaches, neck pain and TMD.”
As a myotherapist, Julia hopes to empower patients to live an active and healthy life knowing that injuries can be overcome and aches and pains are part of the journey.
Julia was attracted to the multimodal aspect of CSSM where each practitioner can learn from other modalities to ensure the best outcome for each patient.
“I like CSSM’s philosophy including best practice, patient education and exercise as an integral part of treatment.”
When she’s not working, Julia enjoys going for multiple day hikes, camping, and going to the beach as well as reading fiction, putting on incense and listening to records, or walking her dog Zephyr.
As a physiotherapist, Peter relishes the opportunity to help his clients return to the things that mean the most to them, whether that’s sport, work or family. “A strong and healthy body maintains a healthy mind, which allows us to perform and work to the best of our ability.”
Peter promotes an active approach to rehab and has a passion for treating sports injuries such as new and recurrent muscle strains and injuries of the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.
With a unique understanding of the demands of high level competition, Peter has worked with Melbourne Victory FC Academy as well as with the A League Men’s team. He is currently the Head Physiotherapist for Bentleigh Greens Soccer Club in the National Premier League Victoria competition and also part of the Football Victoria program as a physiotherapist for their state and representative teams.
Peter is also a great advocate for the involvement of children and adolescents in sport, helping them develop healthy habits as they grow. He has a particular clinical interest in working with adolescent athletes.
“It’s so important to stay at the forefront of the industry in terms of latest techniques, advancements, patient care and rehabilitation and use this information to continue to play a key role in patients’ recovery.”
Peter has valuable experience in pre- and post-operative care and has developed expertise in using Clinical Pilates to facilitate optimal recovery and performance.
“The challenge of pre and post-surgery and the journey between physiotherapist and patient to integrate them back into daily activity or sport in an even better condition than before their injury is what drives me.”
Whether it’s an acute injury or simply wanting to optimise performance, Peter has the expertise to diagnose and prescribe a program to get you back on track to achieving your goals. His unique combination of physiotherapy and high level coaching skills is a valuable asset in both the prevention and rehabilitation of injury – particularly in the areas of sports performance in the younger athlete.
Away from CSSM, Peter has developed a keen interest in golf, enjoys attending sports events, training in the gym and keeping up with the latest research and advancements within the physiotherapy industry.
Senior Practitioner consultation fees apply to this practitioner.
Travis is an Osteopath and the founder of CSSM.
Travis chose osteopathy because he has always liked the hands-on approach to treatment. “That, together with the high level of study and knowledge in areas such as anatomy and movement, which is inherent within the osteopathy program, really excited me. I had already done four years of study in health before commencing osteopathy and I had the opportunity to do other things. But I chose to pursue osteopathy, and another five years of study because of the ability of the skills I learnt to help people in a meaningful way.”
Travis enjoys treating most injuries of the “active” person. “One of the biggest areas of interest is treating teenagers. There is a perception that kids and teenagers are just little adults – this is a massive misconception. Growing athletes have a unique set of needs. We are seeing a lot of kids and teens suffering significant injuries from a young age.” Recent studies have shown that in Australia, the highest increase in knee reconstruction surgery has occurred in teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16. “The impact of that on their future is scary.”
After working at a few other clinics, Travis found that health care suffered from a lack of direction and, CSSM was born. “Osteopathy was a relatively small profession with just a few hundred of us in Australia. I saw the opportunity to bring osteo to the masses.”
Ever since, Travis has been keen to make osteopathy accessible as a health service that can deliver a patient focussed approach to care, giving meaningful evidence-based treatment and management to patients.
“We started as a one man show, and have grown to a team of over 20. As part of this growth and expansion we have added a team of other modalities such as physio, podiatry, myotherapy and Pilates to the clinic – a centre of excellence for the management of musculoskeletal injury.”
Travis describes CSSM as an extension of his family. “I am just as passionate about our team and the community we treat as I am about few other things. Doing what we do and doing it well, is my biggest objective.”
The CSSM philosophy is to provide a level of care that exceeds the norm and ensures the best outcome for patients. “Our standard appointment is what most other clinics call an extended appointment. It is a source of amusement to us when we see other clinics promote their guarantees of extended care. From our perspective, you do not need to guarantee it, if it is what is ingrained in you.”
Just as families continue to grow, Travis hopes CSSM will too and continue to serve the community. “As a larger clinic, we are able to offer more specialised services to our patients, such as our running gait analysis and pre-pointe assessments. We hope to continue to grow this suite of programs (golfers and cyclists stay tuned). From there, we also hope to spread our reach to other locations when the opportunity presents itself.”
When he’s not working within the Practice, Travis looks forward to catching up on some much needed sleep. “CSSM is all-consuming but nothing is more important than watching my kids do their thing and celebrating their achievements. If I get the time, I do enjoy hitting the trails with some mountain biking and trail running through the Dandenong’s. I love the solitude of being out there working up a sweat, lost in my own thoughts.”
CSSM physio Lily Taplin is a Camberwell local.
An active individual, Lily grew up participating in sport, fascinated by biomechanics and how the body moves. It is an interest that grew into a profession.
For Lily, being a physiotherapist combines the challenge of uncovering the cause of pain with the fulfilment of empowering others to manage their injuries and reach their fullest potential.
“That is why I love it”
“What I’m passionate about, is taking the time to really get to know the individual, their goals, interests, and expectations, and collaboratively developing a treatment plan that enables them to achieve these factors.”
“So many people experience aches and pains in their everyday lives but there is so much we as physiotherapists can do to help and getting the right help is vital in being able to return to the activities you need to and want to do. I love being a part of the journey to help others return to what they love and lead fulfilling lives.”
Away from the clinic, you’ll find Lily getting out in nature, whether its running, hiking or simply walking her dog.
“I also love to travel and explore new places and beautiful scenery.”
CSSM physio Katie Maxted is born and bred in Adelaide but we won’t hold that against her!
Katie has always led an active lifestyle and grew up dancing, fascinated by biomechanics and how the body moves.
“I enjoy supporting individuals throughout their lifespan to feel liberated, comfortable, and proud of their bodies, whilst empowering them to achieve both their health and personal goals.”
Having worked in both private practice and inpatient care, Katie is passionate about post surgical orthopaedic rehab and return to sport injuries as well as pre and post natal clinical pilates. As part of a large team at CSSM, Katie says it’s the can-do attitude of the practitioners that motivates her.
Away from the clinic, you’ll find Katie on a Pilates reformer, a bike at spin class, or enjoying the sunshine on a casual weekend run.
“I love trialling new food places – so I am always open for restaurant recommendations.”
You’ve come to the right town Katie!