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‘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.
CSSM Podiatrist Paula Alarcon become interested in Podiatry after an ACL reconstruction. “I visited a Podiatrist who helped me stabilise my knee after I had noticed the changes that orthotics made in my running cycle when I went back into sports.”
“I have always led an active lifestyle, growing up with sports and dancing. This inspired an interest in how the body moves, and a passion to help people move.”
Paula’s sporting background has provided her with a particular interest in the recovery and management of foot and ankle injuries.
“Our feet are what keep us moving every day, they are the wheels in our daily journey, and they work very hard all year around. Therefore, prevention and proper management of foot problems are essential for our mobility, comfort and health.”
Joining CSSM, Paula says she enjoys being able to work with a great variety of health professionals allowing patients to have a more holistic approach as well as contributing to her own learning process by exchanging opinions and ideas from other practitioners.
While Paula believes Podiatry enables her to choose her own pathway from rehabilitation of the foot and ankle, biomechanics, running gait analysis to skin conditions, she hopes to specialise in the rehabilitation of injuries and sports Podiatry.
A true believer that movement is medicine, Paula is an elite Ultimate Frisbee player having participated in the under 24’s championships world cup with the Colombian team in 2018 held in Perth and the under 24’s Australian team in 2019 held in Heidelberg, Germany. Away from the clinic you will likely find Paula training with her Ultimate frisbee team called Spicy Chilly!
If she has any time left, Paula also enjoys going for hikes on the weekends or going to the beach as well as Salsa dancing thanks to her Latino background.
Physiotherapist Grace Rutter believes patients should feel supported whilst being provided tailored education and a comprehensive management plan based upon their rehabilitation and lifestyle goals.
Grace has a particular interest in lower limb soft tissue injuries, women’s health and knee rehabilitation.
“I love being able to have the opportunity to help people do what they love, no matter their stage of life. My aim is to help people feel empowered about their rehabilitation journey to achieve their goals.”
With an additional degree in sports and exercise science, Grace also worked with various high performance athletes in a range of different settings, including the Port Melbourne VFL club.
Grace has experience working in acute hospitals (cardio/ musculoskeletal/neuro), subacute settings (geriatric evaluation and management), and women’s health (acute, private, continence clinic).
Away from the clinic, you’ll find Grace on the driving range, reading a good book or out for dinner with friends.
17 years of dance training, 12 years of tennis and 7 years of competitive rock climbing fueled Kelsey’s interest in sport and associated injuries. “I’d always been interested in health and fitness and Physiotherapy was a great transition from Personal training into the treatment and rehabilitation of a lot of the issues I saw in the gym. It came with a stronger understanding of the human body.”
While sport is her passion, Kelsey believes that creating solid foundations of strength and rehabilitation are key components in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, whether you work in an office or as an elite athlete. “Having participated in a fair few sports over the years it’s given me a better understanding of the demands the body can be put through, the movements required to succeed and the difficult task of taking time away from the sport you love when injured.”
Kelsey employs a hands-on approach when treating muscular pains and joint dysfunction, complementing treatment outcomes with modalities such as cupping, dry needling, trigger point therapy, and taping. “Shoulder joint issues really fascinate me because they can be unpredictable and complex. I really enjoy the process of breaking down why the injury has occurred in the first place and rehabilitating the joint structures.”
Away from work, Kelsey is an avid participator in rock climbing and has competed in both state and national events. “I can also be a great couch potato when I need some down time and enjoy meeting up with friends.”
Senior Practitioner pricing applies to consultations with Kelsey.
Nadia Schipano is a passionate and highly skilled osteopath who brings a holistic, evidence-informed approach to patient care. With a double degree from RMIT University in Health Science and Applied Science (Osteopathy), Nadia combines deep anatomical knowledge with a genuine commitment to helping people move better, feel better, and live better.
Her clinical interests span a wide spectrum—from chronic pain management and sports injuries to low back and neck pain, as well as headaches and migraines. Nadia thrives on the diversity of her caseload and is particularly drawn to the evolving science of pain. She is dedicated to expanding her expertise in chronic pain management, always seeking new ways to empower her patients through education, movement, and hands-on care.
Outside the clinic, Nadia is a certified yoga teacher and an avid runner who values balance in all aspects of life. Whether she’s travelling, teaching, or spending time with loved ones, she brings the same energy and mindfulness to her personal life that she offers her patients.
At CSSM, Nadia is proud to be part of a supportive, collaborative team that prioritises high-quality, patient-centred care. Her goal is to continue growing as a clinician, confidently managing a wide range of cases—including the most complex—while helping every patient take charge of their health journey.
After 15 years of intensive dance training and working as on osteopath, Kim was looking for a pro-active way to help people manage their conditions. “Pilates was the perfect fit.”
Rather than “treat” conditions, Kim says Pilates improves movement and helps to relieve pain. “I work to help people overcome their back and neck pain, manage restrictions with arthritis, rehabilitate joint injuries, improve balance, build strength and increase bone mass in osteoporosis. I also love keeping people strong throughout their pregnancies and beyond.”
According to Kim, clients are surprised at how easily a problem area can be identified. “We have elite athletes coming in who are very strong and fit but have pain or an injury. We can find a muscle not doing its job properly and they are surprised at how quickly that muscle tires and how we can progress exercises to keep Pilates continually challenging.”
“I love that my clients are very pro-active leading to great, long term results. There is a huge variety in the people and conditions I see, keeping each class interesting. I also love getting to know people and hearing about their lives.”
Kim has first-hand knowledge in the role pilates can play in pre and post-natal health but also has extensive experience treating and rehabilitating AFL and dance injuries.
Away from the clinic, Kim enjoys spending time with her three boys and getting involved in sports, activities, camping, and bushwalking. She also loves walking her dogs.
Nicholas Goldie is a passionate physiotherapist who is committed to helping people recover from injury, move with confidence, and achieve their personal health and performance goals. Growing up with a strong involvement in sport and an active lifestyle, Nick developed a fascination with how the body moves, performs, and adapts. His own experiences with injury and rehabilitation gave him valuable insight into the challenges many patients face and inspired him to pursue a career where he could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Nick completed his Doctor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne and enjoys treating a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and both acute and chronic presentations. He has a particular interest in exercise-based rehabilitation and working with active individuals who want to return to sport, improve performance, or simply get back to doing what they enjoy.
Nick takes a patient-centred approach to care, working closely with each individual to understand the underlying causes of their symptoms and develop personalised treatment plans tailored to their goals. He believes that successful rehabilitation is built on a combination of evidence-based treatment, education, and empowering patients to take an active role in their recovery. Seeing patients regain confidence, improve function, and return to meaningful activities is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work.
As a clinician, Nick is passionate about continuous learning and professional development. He is particularly interested in further exploring sports physiotherapy, injury prevention, performance enhancement, and the latest evidence-based rehabilitation strategies to help his patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
Outside the clinic, Nick enjoys staying active at the gym, playing sport, travelling, and exploring new places. A keen sports fan and traveller, he brings the same enthusiasm and energy to his professional life that he does to his personal pursuits
Kobi Phelan is a physiotherapist and a strong advocate for the role of exercise therapy in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions with a particular interest in lower limb injuries.
Kobi understands the importance of tailoring treatment and rehabilitation to each patient on an individual basis when returning to sport and activity. With this in mind, Kobi places high importance on actively involving her patients in the design and implementation of their injury rehabilitation.
“I really enjoy seeing someone through the ups and downs of long term rehabilitation, and get a huge sense of satisfaction when these patients are able to return back to their desired activity.”
In the future, Kobi hopes to continue to evolve armed with the latest research and treatment techniques.
In her spare time you’ll find Kobi at the gym, taking her dog for a walk, or completing DIY jobs around the house and garden.
Senior practitioner pricing applies for consultations with Kobi.
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.”
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