Eileen Lavis (She/Her)

Eileen graduated from the University of Sydney in 1993 with a degree in Physiotherapy. As an undergraduate Eileen had a keen interest in women’s health doing her elective positions at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Sydney when it was at Paddington. After graduating Eileen worked both in the public hospital system and in private practice in New South Wales. Eileen then worked in Canada for 6 years where she worked for herself and in 3 clinics, one of which she played a fundamental role in its successful establishment. All clinics were multi-disciplinary, with a strong focus on rehabilitation.

In 2014 Eileen purchased Chiarelli Healthcare who provided educational workshops to Doctors, Physiotherapists and Nurses regarding Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation and sold the book Women’s Waterworks – Curing Incontinence.
Complete Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy was then developed in 2014 by combining the continence and pelvic floor services of Rathmines Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre (which Eileen owned from 2002-2019) with Chiarelli Healthcare. The name was changed to Complete Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy to better reflect the services that were provided.

Eileen carries a full clinical caseload. Additionally, Eileen lectures independently as well as for The University of Newcastle, The Australian Physiotherapy Association and Family Planning NSW. Eileen has been interviewed on ABC radio on topics of women’s health.

Additional roles:

• Lecturer and tutor at The University of Newcastle since 2014
• Clinical supervisor for undergraduate Physiotherapy and Midwifery students at The University of Newcastle
• Contractual lecturer for The Australian Physiotherapy Association since 2017 including Female Sexual Pain (developed by Eileen), Level 1 & 2 APA WMPH and Gerontology Level 1 courses leading to titling and specialization.
• Provided input and feedback on the level 2 APA WMPH Career Pathway course content
• Lecturer for Family Planning NSW – midwifery programme
• Presenter at conferences and for medical, nursing and allied health in-service programmes
• Provides input into the development of clinical pathways of adult and paediatric continence management in Hunter New England Health service
• Previous Hunter Academy of Sport Injury Management Consultant
• Provides book reviews and articles for national and international journals

Areas of Special Interest

• Continence and pelvic floor rehabilitation for bladder and bowel conditions
• Pelvic and Sexual Pain for women, men and transgender individuals of all ages
• Abdominal pain and rehabilitation post-surgery
• Children’s and teenagers’ bedwetting and continence issues
• Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation for prostatectomy, radiation and hormone treatments
• Prolapse management including pessary fitting
• Women’s health including endometriosis, adenomyosis and menopause
• Pre and post-surgical rehabilitation for hysterectomy, prolapse repair, incontinence, fistula repair and cancer treatment
• Lecturing and education

Women’s Health Qualifications, Awards & Affiliations

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) – University of Sydney
• Post Graduate Certificate in Physiotherapy (Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation) – University of Melbourne 2002
• Graduate Certificate Continence Promotion and Management 2014
• The Continence Foundation of Australia Graduate Certificate in Continence Promotion & Management scholarship winner 2013
• The Continence Foundation of Australia 2008 National Conference Scholarship.
• Publications in Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal and Journal of The Association of Massage Therapists
• Registered Physiotherapist – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Member of The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) & associated Continence and Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health Special Interest Groups, The Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA), International Urogynecological Association (IUGA), International Society for the Study of Sexual Medicine (ISSM), International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases (ISVVD) and International Continence Society (ICS)
• Registered Health Services Provider with WorkCover/SIRA, Medicare, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, ADF Health Service, 3rd Party Insurers & all major Health Funds

Eileen is passionate about improving the continence, pain status and wellbeing of all Australians and conducts education sessions for community groups. If you would like Eileen to provide an education session at your workplace, community group, fitness facility or school please contact the clinic via email, the contact us section of the website or phone 4975-1311.

In her spare time Eileen enjoys:

• Walking, running or hiking any where that is scenic and interesting
• Travelling with her partner and 4 girls
• Seeing live shows
• Cooking
• Eileen’s current goal is to swim regularly and to realise that a pool is only cold for the 1^st four laps, so get in and give it a go!