Natalie Burgess - Midwife, Birthskills Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and Infant Massage Instructor

Qualified Midwife. BSc (Nursing) Gradulate Diploma (Midwifery)

Certified Yoga Teacher (Fremantle Yoga School), found of Belly Flower

BirthSkills Practitioner

Certified Infant Massage Instructor (IMIS)

Natalie has been a Midwife since 2000, and is involved in promoting and supporting natural birthing choices in the South West of Western Australia. The birth of her first son was difficult, and it was this experience that motivated her to truly understand and embrace natural birth.  Her second son was born beautifully, birthing himself naturally and easily in water.

Natalie’s focus is to provide support and education for expectant couples, and new parents.  Natalie is passionate about gentle birth, and aims to provide a safe, nurturing and empowering experience through belly, birth and baby.

Dr Mataji Kennedy - Clinical Psychologist

Mataji is a Clinical Psychologist with a Masters Degree and a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Macquarie University. She also has a Bachelor Degree with First Class Honours from the University of Qld. She specialises in working with new mums who are adjusting to Motherhood and those with Postnatal Depression. She has recently authored a book for new mums titled Hanging by a Thread. 12 strategies for staying sane in the first year of motherhood.

Mataji has trained and worked in a number of private and public facilities with clients, including Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Clinic, UTS Counselling Service and Macquarie University Psychology Clinic.

Through her clinical and corporate experience she has a good understanding of the pressures associated with life change. She has first-hand experience of the emotional rollercoaster called motherhood, has two small children and has transitioned in and out of a number of roles in her career.

Mataji is fully registered with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Rachel Livingstone - Prenatal Fitness Expert

Rachel Livingstone grew up in London, England and has been in the fitness industry for 22 years. During this time she has accumulated a wide range of qualifications in; nutrition, strength training, cardiovascular exercise, personal training for specific populations - pregnancy, the elderly, children & adolescents, people with back injuries and sports conditioning, boxing/kickboxing, aqua aerobics and business. She has also had the benefit of close associations with doctors, physiotherapists, back care specialists and obstetricians.

Rachel immigrated to Australia in 1998 based on her qualifications and experience in health and fitness and in 2000 set up her personal training business Fitness One2One. In 2003 Rachel added a specialised pre and post natal program called Glowing Expectations which has looked after some 700 women since its inception. This service has come to include women preparing to get pregnant, those suffering from conditions such as PCOS (polycistic ovarian syndrome) and what she calls 'family friendly' training options for mums and dads. She works on direct referral from several private obstetricians and GPs based in Sydney. In 2004 she expanded the program further to provide 'Kids Care' first aid courses for parents and other carers. In 2006 she opened 'The Health Hub' in Darlinghurst to house all these and several new services.

Her business and ideas have been featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Telegraph, Mother & Baby and Pregnancy & Birth. She has also written several articles for Pregnancy & Birth magazine, the 'Move of the Week' column for the Telegraph's Body & Soul section and Bub Hub parenting website. Rachel was also chosen as spokesperson for Pears Australia's gestational diabetes campaign in 2008.

Jenny Dugard - Post Natal Fitness Expert

Jenny Dugard, Director and Founder of Body Beyond Baby, specialises in group training for mums she aims to bring the benefits of health and fitness into the lives of those around her.  Jenny has a great belief that if you make exercise part of everyday life and work at it as a family you and your children will have a greater chance of leading lives free from sedentary-related illness and injury.   

“Our children are so precious, what we teach them early in life will shape and stay with them for years to come.  If they see exercise, healthy cooking and healthy eating as a normal part of everyday life they will grow up with these values and lead a much healthier and fulfilled lifestyle.”

Areas of expertise:
•    Pre and Postnatal group exercise
•    Abdominal separation rehabilitation and core control
•    Postural and functional strength for mums
•    Body composition and shape change
•    Lifestyle change for the whole family

Being mother to two year old Marley with another baby on the way Jenny knows only too well the challenges that motherhood brings.  Through leading by example Jenny will show you that it is possible to get fit, stay fit and look and feel fantastic as well as being mum.

Sherrie Aprilovic - Pre and Post Natal Pilates

Sherrie Aprilovic is the Principal Instructor and Director of Narellan Pilates Studio.

She is a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer of more than 15 years in the Macarthur community. Sherrie has completed a detailed course in Anatomy and Physiology, Myofascial Trigger Point and Muscle Release Therapy techniques. Sherrie graduated from the University of Technology in Sydney in early 2005 after successfully completing the APMA Post Graduate Certification in the Pilates Method in 2004.   After graduating, Sherrie was employed by Wollongong Pilates Studio where she continued her education and training in the Pilates Method under the guidance of APMA President Donna Oliver and Exercise Physiologist Shelley Harper. 

Sherrie has completed over 1600 hours of theory, practical and clinical training in the Pilates Method to date and also has training and experience in Swiss ball and corrective exercise prescription, relaxation techniques, meditation and yoga. She also holds certificates in Pre- Natal & Post-Partum Rehabilitation & Pelvic Floor Rehab from the USA Centre for Women's Fitness.  Her repertoire includes Rehabilitation Pilates plus Traditional exercises for the mat and all equipment and apparatus.

Zoe Mongey - Pre/Post Natal and Infant Yoga

After travelling the world as both a marine photojournalist and scuba diving instructor, Zoe decided to become a yoga teacher. This was because it embodied two of her greatest passions - yoga and teaching. Zoe started her teacher training with an apprentiship in Iyengar yoga. Then, after teaching for several years, she continued her studies by completing a second teacher training program in pranayama, meditation, Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga.
Zoe then added a new passion to her list - her family! She is now a wife and the mother of four wonderful children. Zoe says’ “Although I discovered yoga many years ago, it was after the positive and profound effect that yoga had on my 1st pregnancy, labour and newborn that I started specialising in pre natal, post natal and baby yoga.” Whilst pregnant with her 4th baby Zoe created ‘Bliss from Within Prenatal Yoga DVD’ which is used in hospitals and by midwives all over the world. The DVD has made such a difference to pregnant and laboring women all over the world that NACE (The National Association of Childbirth Educators) have endorsed the DVD. Zoe has since created ‘Baby Bliss – Yoga for newborns to 18 months’ and that too has been endorsed by NACE, it is also the only baby yoga and massage DVD currently on the market. Zoe also states, “I have taught many pregnant and post natal women and young babies over the years and I am thrilled to bring my DVD's to you - I found yoga helped me beyond words throughout all my pregnancies, labours and with all my babies, so I really hope it helps you too!;

Merendi Leverett - Exercise Physiologist

Merendi Leverett is our Director and founder of Merendi Health & Wellness.

Graduating from Central Queensland University in June 1998 with a Bachelor of Human Movement Science, and from Queensland University of Technology in June 2000 with a Graduate Diploma of Health Science (majoring in Human Movement with a specialisation in Exercise Rehabilitation), Merendi has been working in the areas of occupational rehabilitation, personal training and with health and well-being programs since 1999.

Merendi's individually developed wellness programs are for people of all ages and fitness levels. She has a fresh and vibrant, but structured approach to her  programs, thus ensuring that you stay highly motivated and focused on achieving your goals, whilst also having fun along the way.

On a personal note, Merendi is a mother to 6 year old non-identical twin boys and 3 year old daughter. Since becoming a mum in 2004 Merendi now understands and appreciates the importance of good health and exercise during pregnancy and after giving birth. Since this time she has developed a specialist interest in developing specific exercise programs for women during their pregnancy and postbirth, due to her own experiences of pregnancy, child birth and raising children. Merendi herself knows the time constraints of parents and offers exercise programs tailored to fit in with every parent's busy life.

Colleen Burns - Physiotherapist and Founder of www.pregfit.com.au

Colleen Burns is a dynamic Sydney-based Physiotherapist and proud mother of baby Matilda. She combines her professional skills with a friendly and caring nature to provide the highest quality care to her patients.

Graduating from Sydney University as a member of the Golden Key Society for Academic Achievement, Colleen is passionate about educating people about their own bodies in order to help them prevent and manage pain and dysfunction. Colleen promotes the use of exercise to empower people to take control of their body through correcting posture, and movement patterns.

With a background in musculoskeletal and women’s health physiotherapy (including pre and post natal exercise, pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence and bladder retraining), she has a special interest in teaching core stability, posture re-education, and exercise-based injury prevention. She has specialized training in the management of chronic back and neck pain, and overuse injuries.

Colleen is member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, including the National Continence and Women’s Health Group. She regularly writes articles relating to pre and post-natal exercise and is a contributor to “Interaction”, the journal of NACE - National Association of Childbirth Educators.

Since recently falling pregnant with her first child, her growing passion for exercise during the pre and post natal periods lead her to create pregfit.com.au - a website dedicated to pregnancy and exercise.

Colleen is enjoying combining her physiotherapy skills and personal experience to continue helping expectant and new mothers adapt to their body’s changes - helping them to rehabilitate through supportive and caring exercise and educations programs.

Sophie Halls Anning - Nutritionist

Sophie Halls Anning is a fertility and pregnancy nutritionist, providing consultations in the Eastern Suburbs or via Skype for busy mums-to-be or clients outside of Sydney. A 12 week program, or advice before, during and after pregnancy will help you meet all the nutritional needs for both yourself and your growing baby with structured eating plans and simple, tasty recipes.  Find out more at http://broodyfoodie.com.au/

Tamika Hidler - Hypnobirthing Expert

Tamika Hilder currently holds a certificate in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and is a qualified as a Hypnobirthing Childbirth Educator as well as Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master NLP practitioner, Life Coach and Psych-K facilitator.

Her passion for natural birth is based upon her desire to see babies brought into this world born in love and gentleness so to prevent many of the issues she currently deals with in her private practice with her adult clients. Tamika currently has a private practice in Robina, Gold Coast, where she helps adults to heal from a variety of issues including depression, low self-esteem, body image, weight and food issues and also birth trauma. 

She has come to the conclusion that the way we are conceived, carried and birthed is crucial to our brain, emotional, relational, social, physical and psychological development. Too many of her adult client's issues stem back to their prenatal and perinatal period and this can be prevented through conscious conception, a loving, relaxed pregnancy and a gentle birth. 

Tamika has recently stepped down from being the Director of the Australian Birth and Parenting Network and will be initiating the very first Australian Prenatal Education Association later this year. Tamika is a natural and witty educator, speaker, writer and therapist with a passion and drive to help humanity evolve into a more aware and loving place. 

She is a regular contributor to The Art of Healing Magazine, and has written for Friends of the Birth Centre and Homebirth Midwifery Association magazines and hopes her message reaches the hearts of many to inspire love and raise awareness.