Get to know us
Hi, I'm Jacqui (She\Her)
QUALIFICATIONS
VOLUNTEERING& PRESENTING
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Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement)
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Graduate Diploma of Exercise Rehabilitation
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Facilitator of the Australasian EDS ECHO Program 2024/2025
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Co-Lead of the CORE Network of Excellence
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Fundamentals of the Integral Movement (IMM) Method taught by Jeannie Di Bon in association with The Ehlers Danlos Society
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Finding Functional Foundations Course (FFF) in association with the Ehlers Danlos Society
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EDS ECHO - Clinicians, Allied Health and Paediatric Courses
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LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Training by With Pride
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Psychology Behaviour Change and Lifestyle Coach
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The Alert Program®
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Volunteer with:
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The Ehlers Danlos Society
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The Australian POTS Foundation
I am a Specialised Exercise Physiologist who completed a Bachelor of Applied Science Human Movement and Graduate Diploma of Exercise Rehabilitation in Ballarat, class 2005.
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I live with CFS, IST, POTS, hEDS, MCAS and chronic pain. I grew up in the country playing any sport I could. My goal was elite netball or swimming and endured the sub-elite space with unexplainable pain, multiple injuries and my first traumatic injury during a netball semi final, rupturing my ACL at 17yo. But looking back the sprains, strains, injury, pain etc, now all makes sense 🥴.
In 2007, I became unwell with Idiopathic Pericarditis at 24yo, which started the cascade of symptoms and conditions presenting. I was dismissed, gaslighted and told I was just experiencing stress and anxiety, prescribed antidepressants and referred to see a Psychologist. I had many horrible years ahead, however I was able to eventually see a silver lining and had an opportunity to 'redesign life' (and this is a quote from a patient of mine which I believe can help those ready for it over the many many years ahead).
With my personal experience, the evolving evidence and my passion for advocacy and learning, I knew I wanted to help people with invisible illnesses.
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I started Dizzy hEDS & Co. in 2022 when I was not being given the work/life balance required for my own health, and starting a my family as a single parent to my beautiful little boy who follows in my genetic footsteps (unfortunately).
But now being my own boss lady, I get to focus on what I am so passionate about. Make a difference in peoples lives. Allow them to feel heard. Give them hope. Give them strength, knowledge, and support. Give them their power back. Work our way to living life, whatever that may be. See what opportunity we have to 'redesign life'.
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BUT - I need you all who sign on to work with me, unfortunately I have bad days, I have appointments, I have a limited capacity. I wont paint a picture of recovery because I haven't experienced it but progress is and has always been made. So when working with me, my focus is always practicing what I teach, I do my best to forward plan and pace but life happens hey!?
I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who completed a Bachelor or Applied Science Human Movement and a Graduate Diploma of Exercise Rehabilitation at the University of Ballarat (now Federation University), in 2001.
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I live with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and long-term fatigue. I have been lucky that my hypermobility has prevented me from sustaining any ligament injuries in my 40 years of playing netball, however I do live with daily joint pain, and I am one of those clumsy people who catches my hips on corners, and bruises without ever knowing what it was that I bumped in to!
I also have a 5 year old living with PANDAS, and looking at our genetics and history, a lot of things make more sense, the more we learn about these invisible illnesses and autoimmune dyfunction.
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The more I have learned from my personal journey, alongside all of the wisdom that I have gained from working alongside Jacqui, the more I have started to notice in the clients whom I’ve worked with. It became a natural fit for me to work with Dizzy hEDS & Co.
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My experience as an Exercise Physiologist has taken me through the Public Health system working with both Paediatric and Adult Populations, Occupational Rehabilitation, and Private Practice working with athletes, and non-athletes, across the lifespan, and from all backgrounds. I have worked extensively in Youth Mental Health since 2014, and am now seeing clients whom I first knew as teenagers in the public mental health system, now presenting as adults living with co-morbid dysautonomia and HSD, which has further piqued my interest in learning about what drives the manifestation of these conditions in our bodies – at a genetic, epigenetic and gut microbiome level, but that’s a topic for another day.
I’ve long been of the belief that my superpower is in reading people, physically, mentally and emotionally, and connecting with them to support them in navigating the challenges that life throws up in maintaining our health and capacity physically, mentally, emotionally and socially, along with movement and exercise. Like you, I have my days where brain fog and fatigue take over, and I may not always be on top of everything that I need to be. Because I’m walking the walk that many of you are, and I hope that like Jacqui, that element of lived experience helps me to support you through a shared understanding of the challenges of navigating a life where our bodies don’t always keep up with what we want them to achieve. But together, we can take steps to move forward and find progress whether in the little things, or in the big picture.
Hi, I'm Rebecca "Bec" (She\Her)
QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement)
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Graduate Diploma of Exercise Rehabilitation
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Past chair, Victorian Chapter Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)