our story
Women’s Health Physiotherapy Mackay was proudly started in 2021 by Lauren Neill.
Lauren moved to Mackay in 2014 with husband Matt, and since then has created a family of two boys and a fur baby, and proudly call Mackay home.
Lauren saw the gap in Mackay healthcare, particularly for women, and decided to create Mackay’s FIRST dedicated Women’s Health Physiotherapy clinic… WHPM (Women’s Health Physio Mackay).
The vision for WHPM is to integrate within the Obstetricians, Gynaecologists, Midwives and specialist doctors of Mackay to provide a space for women to access all the care they need for their pregnancy, post-natal and menopause journey. Creating this “on stop shop” allows continuity of care, ease of handovers, and integration between the speciality health professionals to ensure the women has holistic care for their needs.
our approach
We believe that every woman’s body is different. Every woman has an individual story, their own medical history, and unique goals. Therefore, treatment approach must be individual, unique and specific to each patient.
We believe that a woman’s symptoms need targeted treatment, however healing and rehabilitation works best with the whole women’s wellbeing and story is acknowledged.
We believe in evidence-based practise. Our extensive experience and high-level education, result is gold standard care implemented with passion and kindness.
our team
Lauren is the proud founder of WHPM, who had the vision to create a clinic exclusively for women, and continues to have a huge passion to educate and empower women.
With over 10 years of experience working in both the public and private sector she has spent most of her career working in close consultation with Obstetricians, Gynaecologists, Midwives and specialist doctors. Lauren is a big believer in keeping women active, and strives to be an advocate for all her patients.
Lauren has completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor rehabilitation in 2016 and then went onto complete her Masters in Women’s Health and Continence and in 2020. She additionally has her Professional Certificate in Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse including pessary fittings, and has complete Pilates training including pre and postnatal. After falling in love with breastfeeding, she completed her Lactation Consultant course to became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
When Lauren isn’t in the clinic you can usually find her hanging out with her two cheeky children, at the gym or beach side with a coffee in hand.
Professional memberships:
After completing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2012 in the Netherlands, Lisa worked in a hospital and private practice setting for 5 years in Holland. In 2017 she relocated to Australia to be with her husband. Since then she has worked in private practice on the Sunshine Coast and in Moranbah before relocating to Mackay last year. Lisa’s passion for Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health was ignited in 2019. Since then she has completed an array of courses, enabling her to have an in depth knowledge to diagnose and treat pelvic health conditions. Lisa has had two daughters of her own. In her free time Lisa enjoys travelling Australia and overseas and spending time with her young family.
We look forward to welcoming you into our beautiful spaces located at Ritu Rana Medical and NG Gyne, both of which are located in close proximity to the Mater Hospital in Mackay.
Before your appointment you will be emailed a form to fill out.
Please bring any relevant referrals or reports you have relating to your condition.
If you are seeing us regarding pain or general advice in pregnancy, please allow 30-45 minutes for your first appointment. This will involve a full assessment of your presenting symptoms, education and treatment.
Review appointments are usually 30 minutes.
Please allow 60 minutes for your initial postpartum appointment. This enables us to take a complete history, go through your bothering symptoms and complete a thorough assessment. We will assess your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles and provide you with an individual program to get you back doing all the things you love! This appointment often involves a vaginal examination (read more about this below).
This appointment ideally occurs approximately 6-10 weeks post the birth of your baby. However, if you are in pain or sustained a 3rd or 4thdegree tear, please give us a call and we will help decide when to get you in.
Please allow up to 60 minutes for your initial pelvic floor appointment. This enables us to take a complete history and assessment, and to develop an individualised treatment plan based on your symptoms.
Vaginal Examination
Your appointment may involve a vaginal examination to assess your pelvic floor muscles and assess you for conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, birth injuries or pain. A vaginal exam allows us to gain the highest level of information we can to understand your symptoms and put together a rehabilitation plan based on what you need.
However, if you wish not to have a vaginal exam, there are most defiantly other ways we can assess you pelvic floor, such as ultrasound and visual inspection.
Real Time Ultrasound
We may decide to use real time ultrasound to assess your abdominal or pelvic floor muscle function. If this is needed we try and get you to have a comfortably filled bladder.
No, not at all.
If you have had appointments with a specialist (i.e. urologist or gynaecologist) it is helpful for you to bring along any information that you can.
If you are DVA or eligible to claim under Medicare (EPC), we will need a GP referral to our clinic.
Please wear whatever is comfortable. We use towels and drapes to keep you comfortable and modest.
You can claim your private health insurance rebate at the time of payment, meaning you only pay the gap. If you have a Medicare referral, we can apply for your rebate at the time of payment.
Payment at the time of consultation is required. We do not accept cash payments.
Online Pilates class participants will be sent an invoice to their email following the class.
Absolutely not! Whilst a vaginal assessment is highly valuable in providing us with lots of information, it is not vital and it is completely your choice. We will discuss the benefits and indications for this with you at each appointment, but there are other assessment options if you prefer not to have an internal assessment done.
A period doesn’t prevent us performing a vaginal examination. However, we do whatever you feel most comfortable with on the day. Again, we will talk you through all the assessment options and you have the choice of which one.
WHPM is proud to be a baby friendly clinic, and although we encourage you to take the time for you, we also understand that in many cases, particularly in a FIFO region, your baby may need to join you at your appointment, and they are more than welcome to. Please bring your pram, capsule or rug for them if you wish, and we have extra pillows, towels and space for kids.
We understand that situations can arise that make it impossible to attend your scheduled appointment. If this happens, please give us as much notice as possible as we often have a waitlist for appointments.
