Clinicians

Dr Amanda Newman is a specialist women’s health general practitioner (GP) at Jean Hailes Clinic in the Melbourne CBD.

Amanda is a general practitioner with many years’ experience working with women at Jean Hailes. She aims to help women clarify their knowledge of their health issues and prioritise their concerns, paying attention to the impact of their home and work environment on their health conditions.

When she’s not at work, Amanda practices yoga, sails, and climbs small hills. She stays connected with friends and spends time with her husband, adult children, and young grandchildren.

Amy is the Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. Amy works closely with the other health professionals at Jean Hailes and external referrers to ensure your care is comprehensive and managed as part of a team approach.

Amy has worked in the area of women’s health and continence for over 30 years. Amy worked for 17 years at The Mercy Hospital for Women and was involved in direct patient care and clinical research in gynaecology, urogynecology and obstetrics. At the Mercy Hospital Amy was an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in the Urogynaecology Unit.

Amy has been involved in research investigating transcutaneous tibial and sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of overactive bladder. Amy uses this treatment with appropriate patients in her clinic. Her other research involvement has been the role of physiotherapy management before and after Botox to the pelvic floor muscles.

Amy enjoys teaching undergraduate physiotherapy students and is also involved in tutoring on the Masters of Pelvic Health, and the Post Graduate Pelvic Floor and Continence courses at The University of Melbourne.

Special interests
Amy has special interests in persistent pelvic pain, endometriosis, bladder pain, voiding dysfunction, urinary and faecal incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse management, vulval pain, sexual pain, as well as pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation during the pregnancy/postnatal period, perimenopause/menopause and older age. Amy fits vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse.

Dr. Ann Watt is a compassionate healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in women’s sexual health. She has worked at Family Planning Victoria, the Royal Women’s Hospital, and a Community Health Centre specialising in endometriosis. Dr. Watt is a member of the Australian Menopause Society, the Pelvic Pain Foundation, and the Medical Acupuncture College.

Specialising in laser acupuncture, she effectively treats pelvic pain and other conditions with a holistic approach. Dr. Watt also helps patients with weight loss through an evidence-based lifestyle approach, supported by weight loss medications when needed.

She holds certification with SCOPE in obesity management and is a member of NACOS. Additionally, Dr. Watt has training in very low energy ketogenic diets, low carb Mediterranean diets, and Health Management Coaching. Ann runs a dedicated weight loss clinic on alternate Fridays.

Her focus is on providing personalised, non-judgmental care to help patients reach their health goals.

Dr Anne Connell is a specialist women’s health GP at the Jean Hailes Melbourne CBD clinic and an active member of the Australian Menopause Society (AMS).

Anne’s professional passions lie in women’s health and skin cancer – two areas that often intersect in the management of vulval conditions. She is proud to be part of the dedicated vulval clinic team at Jean Hailes.

She is also able to offer support in the broader area of menopause management and to provide contraceptive options, including the insertion of IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, copper) and Implanon devices.

Anne brings an attentive ear, a discerning eye, and a respectful, compassionate approach to every consultation. She firmly believes that women deserve to feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies at every stage of life.

Originally from Scotland, Anne completed her medical training there before settling in Melbourne in 2008. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, playing guitar, and reading. She also cheerfully manages the men in her life – her husband and two adult sons. Her happy place is on a bicycle in rural France or Italy.

Dr Bridget Dickenson offers a range of services such as contraception advice, pregnancy planning, menopause management and IUD insertion.

Dr Dickenson aims to provide thorough and thoughtful care, addressing the unique health needs of each patient. She is dedicated to preventive health measures, striving to maintain and improve overall patient wellness through early detection and health education.

Dr Bridie Mee is a specialist women’s health general practitioner (GP) at Jean Hailes in Melbourne CBD.

Bridie is excited to be joining the vulval clinic team and feels very passionately about providing thorough and collaborative care for vulvovaginal concerns. She has a broad background and enjoys all aspects of women’s health including sexual health, pregnancy management, contraception, menstrual management, hormonal concerns and peri/menopause.

Bridie graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2010 and trained as a GP with special interest in women’s health, working previously at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and obtaining her Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology while working at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

Outside work, Bridie enjoys exploring nature with family, playing in orchestras and catching the local gig scene.

Dr Cely Goeltom is a Specialist Women’s Health GP, at Jean Hailes Clinic in the Melbourne CBD. She has over 30 years’ experience in Women’s Health.

She has expertise across all aspects of women’s health and has a particular interest in:

• menopause and perimenopause
• menstrual problems
• pelvic and vulval problems
• polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos)
• sexual health.

She also a mentor and examiner for Women’s Health subject at Monash University. She speaks fluent Indonesian.

When not at work Dr Cely enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her other hobbies include travelling and involvement in community work.

Elizabeth is a gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Melbourne CBD clinic.

As a founder of Jean Hailes, it has been important to Elizabeth to continue Jean Hailes’ legacy. She believes the power of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is its multidisciplinary structure.

Elizabeth worked at Queen Victoria Hospital and Prince Henry’s Hospital, which merged in 1987 to form the Monash Medical Centre. There, she was appointed Head of the Menopause Unit. Elizabeth served patients for more than 30 years across the three organisations. She now consults at Jean Hailes in Melbourne CBD and also at a monthly clinic at the Foster and Toora Medical Centre, Foster.

Elizabeth enjoys being a role model for younger professional women, encouraging them to find a passion in their work and provide healthcare and education for our community. She finds working with women a profound privilege.

Elizabeth visits Mongolia each year with a multidisciplinary group of health professionals to teach, give lectures and provide clinical services, including surgery. The group has established a fellowship funded by Epworth Freemasons to bring two doctors from Mongolia to Australia for three months each year. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health provides clinical attachments across our disciplines. In 2018 Elizabeth was appointed Visiting Professor, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences.

In 2009, Elizabeth was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to medicine in the field of women’s health, particularly obstetrics and gynaecology.

Dr Emily Clarke completed her medical degree at Monash University in 2012 and then moved to Victoria’s north east to undertake training in General Practice. Emily worked as a GP in a variety of roles, including family medicine, remote rural practice, indigenous health, student health and addiction medicine. Emily has a Master of Medicine in Sexual and Reproductive Health and is currently retraining to be a Sexual Health Physician.

Emily believes in unhurried and judgement-free consultations. She is passionate about empowering women to achieve their health-related goals through education and joint decision making.

Emily is particularly interested in assisting people with:

• contraception
• IUD insertion/removal
• Implanon insertion/removal
• sexual function, including painful sex
• vulval conditions
• recurrent vaginal discharge
• menstrual problems
• medical abortion
• sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV management and prevention (PEP and PrEP), syphilis, herpes, genital warts etc
• chronic hepatitis B/C.

Dr Gela is a Procedural General Practitioner with over 15 years of experience, focusing on women’s health. She’s particularly interested in managing:

• menopause/perimenopause
• menstrual problems
• sexual health
• mood disorders related to menstrual cycles/PMDD
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• pelvic pain/endometriosis
• pregnancy options counselling
• contraception (including IUD and Implanon insertions)
• colposcopy.

Dr Gela is committed to a holistic approach, valuing shared decision-making to achieve the best outcomes for each individual patient.

When not at work, Dr Gela enjoys spending time with her young family and practicing solfege.

Dr Gemma Pasco is a Women’s Health General Practitioner (GP) at Jean Hailes Melbourne CBD clinic.

Helen Luntz is an experienced Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Family Therapist and works collaboratively within the Jean Hailes Clinical Team in Women’s Health.

In a collaborative and consultative style, Helen draws on a variety of therapeutic approaches to suit your situation, with the use of evidence-based practices, which may include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Systems, Narrative Therapy and other approaches. She offers sessions by telehealth video-link.

Helen’s special focus may include:

• women across the lifespan 18+, all ages
• relationship issues
• vulvodynia and dyspareunia
• anxiety and stress
• low mood and depression
• grief and loss
• adjusting to illness
• adjusting to change
• managing family relationships and couple issues
• women’s health, including PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, perimenopause, illness, cancer
• life transitions and change
• parenting support.

Medicare rebates or private health rebates may apply to assist with the costs of the consultation.