Event Phone: Monique Poppelaars (+61) 416 124 584

Date: Sunday, 3 May 2026

Time: 8:45am – 4:30pm

Title: VIC Annual Branch Meeting

Presenters:

1. Nad Perera: AHPRA registered Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and the Clinical Director of Alive Physio & Wellness

2. Catharine Brown: Reflexology practitioner and educator and Registered Nurse

CPT Points: 6.75 points for the full day

2 points for Reflexology: A trauma informed approach and techniques to support nervous system regulation by Catharine Brown & 2 points for Reflexology Practicum Exchange (Gold Category, Activity 6)

1 point for Annual Branch Meeting, 1 point for Fascial Counterstrain for foot conditions, including Plantar Fascia and Heel Pain by Nad Perera & 0.5 point for Meditation (Silver Category, Activity 8.1)

0.25 point for “Moving forward.” (Bronze Category, Activity 13)

About the event:

8:45am – 9:15am               Registration

 

9:15am – 9:30am               Coming Together: Welcome to Country, settling in and Meditation

 

9:30am – 10:30am            Annual Branch Meeting (ABM)  *Members Only*

An opportunity to catch up with the latest VIC branch and development of the Reflexology Association of Australia.

 

10:30am – 11:00am          Morning tea / Networking

 

11:00am – 12:00pm         Fascial Counterstrain for foot conditions, including Plantar Fascia and Heel Pain by Nad Perera

In this interactive workshop, Nad will present Fascial Counterstrain for foot conditions, including plantar fascia and heel pain.  He will introduce a gentle, reflex-based approach to understanding and working with conditions such as plantar fascia pain.  Participants will gain a clearer picture of the anatomy of the foot, learn simple observational assessment techniques and explore how tender points can guide the hands during treatment.

He will also discuss how the foot connects to wider systems in the body, including nervous and circulatory influences, and explain why addressing these patterns can improve outcomes beyond treating the diagnostic label alone.

 

12:00pm – 1.00pm           Lunch (BYO)

 

1:00pm – 2:00pm            Reflexology: A trauma informed approach and techniques to support nervous system regulation by                                                Catharine Brown

The workshop will provide:

• A Revision of the Autonomic nervous system and the impact of trauma;
• Considerations when developing a trauma informed approach;
• Sharing of practices that regulate the nervous system for ourselves and our clients; and
• Reflexes and protocols that are particularly useful and why.

Benefits of attending this workshop are:

• Gain a deeper and practical understanding of the nervous system and learn how trauma impacts the body;
• Enable to become more aware of the impact, benefits and value to what you already do in your Reflexology practice;
• Include in your Reflexology practice considerations that address the needs of people with trauma;
• Learn Reflexology techniques (revision for those who already use these) in regulating the nervous system allowing for healing, via the immune system, digestion, the power of touch, safety, being heard and the breath; and
• Include some great regular somatic practices for your own nervous system regulation to enable you to be your best and do your best work.

 

2:00pm – 3:00pm            Reflexology Practicum Exchange

Following the workshop, practical application of Reflexology and self-care techniques to support a trauma informed approach and nervous system regulation.

 

3:00pm – 3:30pm              Afternoon tea/networking

 

3:30pm – 4:00pm            “Moving Forward” and Raffle

Interactive session on reviewing Study Day feedback forms  – reflect, acknowledge, cherish, ground and work together.

 

4:00pm – 4:30pm              Meditation

 

4:30pm   Close

 

About the Presenters:

Nad Perera

Nad Perera is an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) registered Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and the Clinical Director of Alive Physio & Wellness in Hawthorn, Melbourne.

He graduated from La Trobe University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and brings over 22 years of clinical experience across public hospitals, private practice, and the Royal Military College (Duntroon).  Nad established his first practice in Canberra in 2007 and expanded his clinical work to Melbourne in 2014.

Nad has a strong passion for hands-on manual therapy and has undertaken extensive postgraduate training to deepen his clinical expertise.  His advanced studies include Fascial Counterstrain through The Jones Institute, Visceral Manipulation through the Barral Institute, Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute, and Orthopaedic Manual Therapy through Curtin University.  He has been using the Counterstrain approach in clinical practice since 2009 and considers it a privilege to support the body’s natural healing processes through gentle, precise, and system-based care.

Nad is the only physiotherapist in Victoria formally trained in Fascial Counterstrain.  He works extensively with complex and persistent pain presentations, spinal and nerve dysfunction, visceral and immune-related influences, and performance-related limitations.

 

Catharine Brown

Catharine Brown has been practicing Reflexology for 30 years.  She initially trained with Joyce Lockett throughout Basic Reflexology for Nurses course in 1994.  Catharine then completed a Diploma of Reflexology with Sandi Rodgers at the Victorian School of Reflexology and Herbal studies in 1996, and a second Diploma of Reflexology at the Australian School of Reflexology and Relaxation (ASRR) in 2016.  She taught with the ASRR for 4 years.

Catharine is also a registered nurse and has applied Reflexology in aged care for pain management and palliative care for 10 years.  She established a pop-up clinic at a Neighbourhood House for 2 years and coordinated a Reflexology market stall for many years.  For the last 4 years, Catharine has been a nurse counsellor in the field of addiction, developing an intimate understanding of the impact of trauma on the nervous system.

Catharine currently works in private practice from home, home visits and visiting retirement villages.

 

 

*Important Note for Attendees

1. The event starts at 9:15am.

2. Please bring following items:

• Reflexology Chair/Recliner or Massage Table
• Pillow
• Towels
• Wipes
• Creams/Lotions/Massage Oil.