Pelvic Health Foundations
4-Day, In-Person Course

This course provides hands on training for physiotherapists to develop their skills in Women's Pelvic Health.

These courses are for female physiotherapists interested in working in the field of Women's Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. Our Pelvic Health Foundation Course specifically cover the management of bladder, bowel and prolapse. Internal vaginal examinations are part of this course. (Our individual add-on courses cover Pelvic Pain and Rectal).

Presenters

Alexandra Lopes, Melissa Smith
Level

Foundation
Location

Pelvic Health Melbourne
3/216 Blackshaws Road
Altona North, VIC, 3025
Times

8.15 am - 4.30 pm daily
Inclusions

Morning/Afternoon Tea and Lunch daily

Dates

10-13 September
CPD Points

28
Price

$2200 incl GST

This course is intended for female-qualified physiotherapists or osteopaths who have an interest in Women's Pelvic Health Physiotherapy and are looking to train in this area.

A practical examination on Day 4 will give you feedback on your clinical competency and what you personally can work on.

To be eligible for this course, participants must have a minimum of two years of clinical experience in either physiotherapy or osteopathy.

It is required that participants complete the following prerequisite courses before attending the practical sessions:

APA Women's Pelvic Health Physiotherapy - Level 1 - Part A (online course)
Pelvic Health Foundations Online Coursework (not included in course price - additional fee AUD$605)

Highly recommended
We recommend that students also complete the APA Women's Pelvic Health Physiotherapy - Level 2 - Part A (online course) - where practically possible.

This course is ideal for students travelling to attend the course, who want to do the 4 days AND/OR add on the pelvic pain and rectal course for a 5-6 day Intensive Foundations Course

Competency
A practical examination on Day 4 will give you feedback on your clinical competency and what you personally can work on.

SESSION ONE - Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) (SUI, Pelvic Floor UP training)

Hand Hygiene
The practice of a SUI subjective assessment
Demonstration of Informed consent with student time to practice
Demonstration of the first stage of internal vaginal examination (External, EUS, Cervix and PF)
Supervised practice of internal vaginal exam 1:4 ratio with a tutor
Practical experience with exercise dosage progressions for Pelvic Floor muscle strengthening
2 case studies covering additional theory Urinalysis Dip stick testing

SESSION TWO - Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI)
(UUI, Bladder Diaries & Pelvic Floor Muscle DOWN Training)

UUI Theory Quiz
The practice of a UUI subjective assessment
Demonstration of an internal vaginal exam - adding in the bladder, urethra, anterior internal wall, and sweep of pelvic floor
Supervised practice of internal vaginal exam 1:4 ratio with a tutor
Practical experience with pelvic floor muscle down training done as a group in all different positions with different cues - tutor facilitating
Bladder diary examples x 5 covered
Treatment for UUI - deferral techniques, TENS, medication, botox and check bowel and uterus
2 case studies covering additional theory

SESSION THREE - Bowel
(Constipation / Diarrhea and Dis-impaction Protocol and Defecation Dynamics)

Bowel Theory Quiz
Demonstration of Internal Vaginal Exam Adding in Posterior Shelf and Sidelie rectal prolapse Ax
Practice the above internal vaginal exam again with 1: 4 tutor-student ratio
Go through Aperients for bulking, softening, laxatives, rectal agents, and antidiarrheals
Practice defecation dynamics and assessing and teaching colleagues
Timed sits
2 x Bowel Case studies

SESSION FOUR - Prolapse

POP Theory Quiz
Examination of all students to assess basic competency to perform an internal vaginal examination
POP assessment on Valsalva of anterior wall, bladder, uterus /cervix, and posterior wall
Standing Assessment demonstrated.
Prolapse Conservative Management - lifestyle and PFMT and Pessary management and Oestrogen
2 x Prolapse Case Studies discussed

RTUS transabdominal US for bladder volume.
Practical Examination on your clinical competency with feedback

Students are required to enrol in and complete all four sessions to obtain their Certificate of Completion.

All course dates are subject to change due to minimum enrolment requirements and unforeseen circumstances.

Detailed daily schedule

Learning Objectives

Every session includes performing internal intimate assessments as well as acting as a patient and having these assessments performed on you.

Informed consent is required prior before to participation.

Whilst we do encourage you to experience internal examinations for your learning there are times when this is not possible due to medical or cultural reasons.

In these cases we ask that you arrange for a model to take your place for the internal exams by:

Bringing a model who you can practice on,
PAY for the services of a model to be examined in your place - at an additional cost

IF YOU REQUIRE A MODEL:
Please contact Pelvic Health Melbourne a MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS before the course commences to allow us adequate time to arrange a model for you, or to notify us that you will be bringing a model

Contact us on:
Tel: 03 93251511
Email: info@pelvichealth.melbourne

We have moved to this approach based on feedback from our past participants and to prevent any potential irritation of pelvic pain or discomfort for everyone.

Places are limited for each course and enrolments are allocated in the order in which they are received and course fees paid in full.
All course materials will be supplied, including a printed copy of the course manual.
Pelvic Health Australia (PHA) is not responsible for any travel and/or accommodation arrangements or reimbursements.
Please check with us on current enrolments before booking your accommodation and transport for a course.
Pelvic Health Australia (PHA) reserves the right to make minor changes to the content, schedules and presenters as required, however, this course is intended to be provided as advertised.
Images taken during the event. Each participant will be asked to consent to Pelvic Health Australia (PHA) taking audio or images (photos or video) in relation to the event. These images may be used for marketing, advertising and promotional purposes.

We understand that plans can change and sometimes you may need to cancel or reschedule a course. To ensure fairness and transparency, we have established the following terms and conditions:

Minimum numbers are required for this course to operate.
In the event the course is cancelled by Pelvic Health Australia (PHA) due to insufficient numbers, participants will be notified as soon as possible and enrolment fees will be refunded in full.
PHA will not be held responsible for any costs relating to travel and/or accommodation expenses or cancellation fees incurred.
All cancellations are to be notified in writing.

Please Note: If an unforeseen genuine emergency requires a cancellation, please contact our office. Refunds will be determined on a case-by-case basis only.

The following cancellation fees will apply for all cancellations by a participant:

After enrolment - A refund will be provided less an administration fee of $100.00.
30 Days before the course start date - 50% refund will be provided
14 days before the course start date - No refund will be provided.
No-show fee for non-attendance - No refund will be provided.

If PHA can fill the cancellation with a new student, a refund will be provided, less an administration fee of $100.

If you are looking for accommodation close to the course venues we suggest the following:

Presenters

Alex has 30 years of clinical experience as a physiotherapist in the musculoskeletal and pelvic health fields. She has 23 years of experience in education:

The University of Melbourne undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy.
Australian Physiotherapy Association Level 1 and Level 2 Women, Men and Pelvic Health coursework
CFA - Continence Foundation of Australia community educaton
Fitness Industry - Conference PresenterWomen's Health Training Associates: Pessary Coursework

Alex is a Co-director of Pelvic Health Melbourne and Symmetry Physiotherapy. Encompasing 12 locations across Melbourne North and North western suburbs.

Alex has developed and delivered courses under Pelvic Health Melbourne covering:

Pelvic Girdle Pain: SIJ, Pubic Symphysis and Coccyx
Rectal
Pelvic Pain
4-day Pelvic Health Foundations
Real Time Ultrasound
NEW - Men's Health Unpeeled

Alex was the Past National Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Associations' Women's Men's and Pelvic Health group.

She is passionate about delivering high quality practical education to physiotherapists across the world to continue to progress the quality of pelvic health care for everyone.

Melissa has worked in private practice as a pelvic health andsports/musculoskeletal physio for over 16 years. Melissa has focused the past 10 years of her pelvic health training and clinical load on working with complex pelvic health patients.

Melissa is a clinical expert in the management of SIJ, Pubic Symphysis, Coccyx pain and complex pelvic health complaints and educates in this field.

Zeba is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist with more than eight years of clinical experience in private practice, specialising in complex bowel dysfunction and clinical education.

A passionate educator and mentor, Zeba delivers the full suite of professional development courses at Pelvic Health Melbourne, providing evidence-based education to physiotherapists across Australia.

She also mentors clinicians internationally, including in Japan and Singapore, supporting the development of advanced clinical skills and confidence in pelvic health assessment and management. Zeba played a key role in expanding pelvic health physiotherapy services internationally, relocating to Japan to establish and grow services across multiple clinics. Her work focused on developing sustainable clinical programs, mentoring local clinicians, and improving access to high-quality pelvic health care.

In addition to her clinical and educational roles, Zeba is a tutor in the Master of Physiotherapy program at La Trobe University, where she helps prepare the next generation of physiotherapists through clinical teaching and practical education.

Zeba is passionate about translating the latest evidence into practical, clinically relevant education, empowering clinicians to deliver confident, patient-centred pelvic health care.

Tutors

Dennise is an experienced physiotherapist with more than 22 years in clinical practice and a special interest in pelvic health. She is passionate about helping women, children, and people with complex pelvic health conditions through individualised, evidence-based care.

An enthusiastic educator, Dennise has been part of the GEMt (Global Education of Manual Therapists) teaching team since 2013, delivering dry needling courses across Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. She also tutors on Pelvic Health Australia's Foundations and Real-Time Ultrasound (RTUS) courses and has assisted with Dr Melissa Davidson's Pessary Introduction course.

We at Pelvic Health Australia believe enpowering physiotherapists through education encourages the best outcomes for patients.

Company

Legal

Pelvic Health Foundations
4-Day, In-Person Course

4-Day Course

Future Students

Who is this for?

Pre-requisites

Course Schedule Summary

Download Full Schedule

Learning Objectives

Important Information - Internal Assessments and Addtional Fees

General Terms and Conditions

Cancellations

Accommodation

Presenters

Alexandra Lopes - Physiotherapist & Educator

Melissa Smith - Physiotherapist & Educator

Zeba Haroon - Physiotherapist & Educator

Tutors

Dennise Smith - Physiotherapist & Educator

Pelvic Health Foundations 4-Day, In-Person Course

4-Day Course

Future Students

Who is this for?

Pre-requisites

Course Schedule Summary

Download Full Schedule

Learning Objectives

Important Information - Internal Assessments and Addtional Fees

General Terms and Conditions

Cancellations

Accommodation

Presenters

Alexandra Lopes - Physiotherapist & Educator

Melissa Smith - Physiotherapist & Educator

Zeba Haroon - Physiotherapist & Educator

Tutors

Dennise Smith - Physiotherapist & Educator

Pelvic Health Foundations
4-Day, In-Person Course