Who We Are

Who We Are

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Our Story

Helen and Virginia, both physiotherapists, met whilst working independently in the community in 2009. Helen and Virginia wanted to extend their network and bring together other like minded therapists.

In 2011, Active Wise Health Care was born. Ten years on, Active Wise is proud to be providing a multi-disciplinary service that includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry. Our therapists are passionate about providing quality care to people of all ages who are unable to access more traditional services outside of their homes.

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Our Purpose

Active Wise’s purpose is to keep our clients active, maximise their independence and improve their quality of life. We are passionate about helping our clients achieve their goals through client centred, evidenced based, therapy.

We acknowledge the privilege and benefits of working with clients in their homes – our interventions are tailored to the client’s specific needs and environment. Active Wise therapists provide warm and friendly care to people of all ages – we love what we do and we look forward to working with you!

Our Team

Active Wise is a dedicated team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists who are committed to providing warm, friendly service. Active Wise staff deliver personalised quality therapy to seniors in the comfort of their own homes. All Active Wise therapists hold the necessary registrations and have current police checks.

Virginia Croagh

Co-Director  |  Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne

Master of Public Health, Monash University

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Virginia has worked in a number of different settings, but has spent the majority of the last 15 years working in the community doing home visits. She loves the challenge of working with people (and their families) to help them achieve their goals and get the most out of life! Virginia is particularly passionate about keeping her clients in their own homes for as long as they desire. Virginia juggles her work life with a dynamic home life – she has three daughters, a son and a step-son. When time permits, Virginia loves going for a spin on her bike, cooking for family and friends, reading and swimming in nature.

Helen Noakes

Co-Director  |  Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland

Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment
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Helen’s passion in physiotherapy has been working with the senior population; she has a wide range of experience in both residential and community care. Helen loves working closely with clients to help restore their level of function and improve quality of life. Helen also enjoys working alongside staff/families to promote safe manual handling practices. Helen loves to travel, and would like to travel more now that her children are grown up. She also enjoys walking with her dogs, visiting wineries, pottering in the garden and being with her family and friends.

Michelle Lee

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Curtin University

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Michelle graduated as a physiotherapist in 2014 and has since then developed a keen interest working in the aged care sector. She finds it rewarding to work with the elderly to help improve their mobility, and help them achieve their functional goals. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys cycling, reading and looking for good restaurants to try with friends.
Harleen Mashli

Harleen Mashli

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, India (and Accredited in Australia)

DMA Pilates Trained

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Harleen has been working as a Physiotherapist for over 10 years in Private practice, Aged Care, NDIS and  Community.

Harleen believes in a holistic approach to Physiotherapy treatment to aid patients achieve their health and wellbeing goals.

She believes that Physiotherapy will help more people stay mobile, safe and happy.

She really enjoys working with elderly people as she could really make a difference to their quality of life by forming close relationships and takes a positive approach to patient care to empower them to achieve optimal outcomes.

Outside of work Harleen enjoys spending time with her two daughters and Husband. Being social with family and friends, and enjoys playing basketball, bushwalking, reading and travelling.

Kathryn Fraatz

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne

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Kathryn is a warm and friendly therapist who brings more than 20 years of clinical experience to her clients. She has worked in a variety of settings including acute and rehabilitation hospitals, private practice, residential aged care and community health. She particularly loves working with clients and families in their own homes to achieve their rehab goals. When not at work, Kathryn loves spending time with her young children, walking along the Merri Creek or reading a good book. She heads to the Surf Coast whenever the opportunity arises to enjoy time with extended family and get to the beach.

Megan Nolan

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Lincoln Institute, University of Melbourne

Post Graduate Diploma in Neuro Physio, University of Melbourne

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Megan is passionate about facilitating a fun and positive environment for achieving client’s goals. Megan enjoys getting to know her clients, so she can tailor their treatment and support them through their rehab process, and maintain their successes. Megan keeps fit by walking, practicing yoga, pilates and karate. She loves spending time with her family of 4, dog, cat and chook, music and arts. ‘I’ll wash the dishes if someone else will cook!’.

Viv Kong

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Newcastle

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Viv brings her vibrant and upbeat personality to our clients and makes her sessions fun and enjoyable. Viv is motivated by helping clients achieve their goals. Her experience to date has involved rehabilitation settings as well as work in the community and aged care sectors. When not at work, Viv enjoys relaxing, singing, doing Pilates, swimming and going to the gym.

Clara Zwack

Physiotherapist

PHD (Cardiovascular Health), Swinburne University

DR Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Science (Anatomy), University of Melbourne

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Clara has worked as a physiotherapist in public health, private practice, sports and oncology rehabilitation before finding her passion lies in Community and Aged Care. She has a keen interest in treating people in their homes. Her main focus is helping her clients regain their confidence and independence. Clara has recently complete her PhD studying the cardiovascular health profile of young adults with disability. Outside of work, Clara enjoys basketball, sailing, hiking, reading and spending time with her niece and nephews..

Bronwyn Dreher

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University

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Bronwyn has worked as a physiotherapist in a variety of health service settings, including rehabilitation, hospital care, and private practice. She also has experience in the community health sector, supporting the delivery of programs for health promotion and prevention.
Bronwyn is enthusiastic about working with the senior population and those people with disabilities. She enjoys assisting clients to improve and maintain their level of function and to achieve their goals for health and wellbeing. In her leisure time, Bronwyn likes playing tennis, swimming, going to watch a good movie, and being with families and friends.
Urvashi Kundalia

Urvashi Kundalia

Physiotherapist

Bachelor or Physiotherapy, India (and Accredited in Australia)

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Urvashi has 10+ years experience working as a physiotherapist in varied practices including aged care, community, NDIS, private practice and hospital settings.

She has worked in various nursing homes across Victoria  helping elderly with pain management and conducting group classes focussing on balance and strenghthening exercises. She has helped residents by devising falls prevention strategies specific to them.

She is focused on developing clinical exercise treatments to achieve favourable outcomes for patients.

Her approach to care is genuine and comprehensive in nature and she believes that as a physiotherapist she is uniquely positioned to listen, understand and empower others in driving positive change towards both physical and mental wellbeing.

When not working, Urvashi enjoys exploring cafes, going on nature walks, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Meg Chaintrier

Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University

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Meg worked for 4 years in a broad variety of physiotherapy positions in both the private and public healthcare systems, both in Gippsland and Melbourne. Meg then moved to France where she was able to study further to obtain the French equivalent of a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. This allowed her to work in France. She worked in Toulouse in private practice and also in Aged Care between having children. Meg is now permanently back in Melbourne where she grew up. Meg enjoys most things French and going for long walks with her family.
Kathryn Horley

Kathryn Horley

Occupational Therapist

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University

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I am a positive and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with over 20 years experience working predominantly within the public health sector ranging from the acute hospital setting, community health, and currently as a Senior Occupational Therapist within a community rehabilitation setting. 

Over my journey, I have been fortunate enough to accumulate vast and varied levels of experience in adult neurological rehabilitation, with a focus on stroke rehabilitation, functional occupation-based practice, home modifications, and adaptive technology.

I thoroughly enjoy the nature of home-based therapy and the opportunity it gives to work with clients in their own environment. 

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband, family, friends and being outdoors.

Alison Cooke

Occupational Therapist

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University

Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
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Alison is an Occupational Therapist with more than 27 years’ experience working with older adults and adults with disabilities, primarily in the community health sector. She is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to achieve solutions that assist them to achieve their goals and which maximize their independence, safety and wellbeing. She acknowledges and values the privilege of working with clients in their own homes or places of residence. Alison is a SWEP credentialed prescriber for assistive technology and home modification assessment and prescription. Alison enjoy’s providing occupational therapy clinical supervision services to both early career and experienced OTs. In her spare time, Alison enjoys spending time with her family, attending the gym, and enthusiastically supporting her Western Bulldogs AFL team.

Amy Harry

Occupational Therapist

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy / Bachelor of Behavioural

Science, La Trobe University

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Amy is an Occupational Therapist with over 10 years’ experience working in inpatient and community rehabilitation settings in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She has an interest in working with clients with neurological and orthopaedic conditions and places a high importance on goal-directed and client-centred therapy. Amy is SWEP credentialed for assessment and prescription of equipment. In her spare time, Amy enjoys spending time with her young family, playing netball and watching her mighty Tigers play footy.
Lauren Nicol

Lauren Nicol

Occupational Therapist

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy,  Deakin Uni

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Lauren is an Occupational Therapist with over 10 years’ experience working in inpatient rehabilitation and community settings. She is holistic in her client assessments and is passionate about providing a service that is client centered. Lauren enjoys working with adults or all ages and abilities, with particular interest in working with older adults and client’s requiring neurological rehabilitation.

Lauren is focused on providing a service that is goal directed and maximises a client’s independence in their meaningful occupations. Lauren is SWEP credentialed for assessment and prescription of equipment.

In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, cheering on the Richmond Tigers and most of all, spending time with her young family.

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Beth Rose

Podiatrist

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Beth has had over 30 years of experience as a Podiatrist in a variety of areas including acute hospital, community health, private practice and aged care settings. She currently also provides services to residential aged care facilities and to clients in a home care setting. Rehabilitation, wound and diabetic care and high-risk assessment are of particular interest, as are the positive outcomes of a team approach and enhancing quality of life by improving mobility. Beth has three children attending secondary school and university. Her spare time is spent walking her pug, keeping fit, cooking and catching up with friends at beachside cafes.
Lauren Nicol

Monica Derum

Occupational Therapist

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Deakin University

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Monica is an Occupational Therapist with over 15 years of experience working predominantly in the public health sector, in both inpatient and community settings. Monica has a particular interest in working with older people and is passionate about helping her clients to achieve their goals such as remaining at home for longer, making activities easier to do and feeling safer to do those activities. Monica is SWEP credentialed for assessment and prescription of equipment.

Monica enjoys spending time with her family, particularly watching her three children play sport, going on day trips and doing pilates.

Get In Touch

A dedicated Allied Health Team providing exceptional care to people in their homes.

  CONTACT US

  MAKE A REFERRAL

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Get In Touch

A dedicated Allied Health Team providing exceptional care to people in their homes.

  CONTACT US

  MAKE A REFERRAL