Dr Gundi Muller-Grotjan
Principal GP/Owner - Books Currently Closed
Dr Gundi Muller-Grotjan is a graduate of the University of Aachen, Germany and arrived to Narooma in January 2007.
She holds a Diploma in Obstetrics from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (DRANZCOG) as well as a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practice (FRACGP).
Her interests and specialties include women's health and obstetrics, paediatrics and minor surgery. Dr Muller-Grotian has worked in South Africa, the United Kingdom and rural NSW.
Dr Susan Johnstone
General Practitioner
Susie moved to Australia from Vancouver, Canada in 2008 to study Medicine at the University of Sydney.
After finishing her studies she worked as a junior doctor in Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine in Newcastle, Darwin, and regional Queensland.
Following this, Susie moved to the Upper Hunter Valley where she completed her General Practice training. She is excited to join the team at Bermagui Medical Centre and is looking forward to exploring everything the South Coast has to offer.
Dr Prema Swaminathan
GP Registrar
Dr Prema Swaminathan graduated in India and moved to Australia in 2014. She completed her AMC exams and was working as an emergency resident in Royal Perth Hospital before moving to Sydney in 2021. She completed medical, surgical, paediatrics and mental health rotations at St George Hospital in Sydney and has now become a GP Registrar.
Dr Prema is keen on coastal life and health care in the coastal community- especially the older population and chronic disease management. She enjoys handicraft and would love to learn some new skills from the locals.
Dr Paul Barnett
General Practitioner - Books Currently Closed
Dr Paul Barnett previously worked at Royal Hobart Hospital, gaining experience in General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine and Drug and Alcohol Medicine.
Dr Barnett and his partner are enjoying living in Narooma and have no immediate plans to move.
Dr Anne Marie Ni Chualain
General Practitioner
Anne Marie is a GP registrar moved from Ireland to Australia in 2012 and has worked in both Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care.
She has transitioned recently into General Practice and is loving the new challenges it represents. She has moved to the South Coast recently from Sydney and is loving the new lifestyle.
Dr Stefanie Pidcock
GP Registrar
Dr Stefanie Pidcock is a current GP registrar, having come to medicine after a career in Environmental Science. She brings a wealth of life experience in caring for patients and their families. Dr Stef is an excellent communicator and a strong believer in evidence-based medicine, working collaboratively with patients in shared decision-making for their health.
Dr Stef has a family of a husband, 3 children and two dogs, and enjoys spending her spare time with them in the outdoors.
Dr John Brown
General Practitioner - Retiring at the end of November 2024
I have decided to retire on 30 November 2024. I have been at the Lighthouse Surgery since June 2019 on this occasion having previously worked here from 2002 to 2006. I have worked in Narooma for 22 ½ years after 22 ½ years in general practice in Mudgee NSW. I’ve really enjoyed my time at the Lighthouse Surgery with a wonderfully supportive staff as well as a most interesting group of patients who have challenged me medically. It has been the greatest privilege to care for these patients and to help them through good times and rough times. I have been in medical practice for 50 years this year and have enjoyed every minute. I want to thank the people of Narooma and beyond for allowing me to care for them.
- Dr John Brown
Dr Georgina Burrough
General Practitioner
Dr Georgie is a Narooma high graduate who has returned home for 6 months with her partner and young family. She graduated from the University of New England in 2016 and obtained her Fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practice (FRACGP) in 2022. She holds additional training in Paediatrics (SCHP), Women’s and Reproductive health (FPAA) and has an interest in all areas of General Practice.
Georgie and her family are loving being back down on the South Coast.
Dr Amin Mirzaei
GP Registrar
Dr. Amin is an Iranian trained General Practitioner with a passion for providing comprehensive healthcare services to individuals and families. He has several years of experience working in Iran in both emergency medicine and general practice.
Amin focuses and is interested in:
• Skin Care and Cancer
• Aged Care and Geriatrics: Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for elderly patients through personalized care and management of age-related conditions.
• Men's Health
• Chronic Disease Management such as Diabetes and heart diseases
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Mental Health and well-being
Amin is committed to delivering individualized attention and holistic care to each patient, ensuring that all health needs are met with empathy and professionalism. Whether you are seeking preventative care or managing a chronic condition, Amin is dedicated to partnering with you on your journey to better health.
Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with family, friends, hiking, mountaineering and swimming.
Nurses
Sally Ritchie
Practice Nurse, Credentialled Diabetes Educator
Sally has been a Practice Nurse working in Narooma since 1987. She completed her general training at St Vincent's in Melbourne, where she also completed a cardio-thoracic course.
Sally moved to the Mercy Maternity to complete her midwifery training and then to St George Hospital in Sydney to complete her Accident and Emergency training.
Sally moved to Narooma in 1986 with her husband and children. In 2012 she became a Credentialled Diabetes Educator. Sally continues her ongoing education in all fields related to general practice and holds a wide variety of certificates.
Joanne Bismire
Practice Nurse
Joanne started her varied career in health care working as an AIN in an aged care facility in Peakhurst in 1987.
Her previous experience in healthcare includes working locally in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, as a medical receptionist, physiotherapy aide, in dental nursing and in aged care. Joanne returned to The University of Wollongong completing a Bachelor of Nursing Degree. After her degree she completed a Certificate 3 in Pathology and did some local community nursing.
Joanne finds General Practice nursing to be extremely rewarding. Joanne is dedicated to working alongside doctors and administrative staff while providing quality, best practice nursing health care, guidance and education.
Janelle Whiting
Practice Nurse
Janelle has lived in Narooma since 1988 and went to primary and high school locally.
Janelle completed a Bachelor of Nursing through the University of South Australia. Janelle has been working for Lighthouse Surgery as a Practice Nurse since 2008 and Bermagui Medical Centre since it opened in 2011. She is a part of the management team for both practices and enjoys striving to continually improve the care given to the Narooma and Bermagui communities. Her special interests include preventative and chronic disease care, as well as assisting the training of GP registrars.
Janelle is also an authorised nurse immuniser and women's screening nurse.
Chrissi Moody
Practice Nurse
Chrissi began her nursing role in a busy Canberra practice. She has worked in General Practice in both the city and rural areas, Aboriginal Health in both urban and remote Central Australia and some years as the Practice Nurse Support Project Officer at the ACT Division of General Practice.
Chrissi is a member of the Lighthouse Surgery and Bermagui Medical Centre where she provides lifestyle education, chronic disease management including cardiovascular, diabetes, asthma and COPD care, aged care, women's health, men's health, immunisations, wound management, mental health, health promotion, Aboriginal health and much more. Chrissi constantly maintains a standard of continued education in all fields of nursing to offer endless high standard of care to our community.
Bev Wright
Practice Nurse
Bev joined the Lighthouse Surgery in 2016 after completing her degree with The University of Wollongong.
She was prompted to study after several years of working at a local nursing home. Her interests outside of work are breeding fish and playing with her grandchildren.
Ella Rehn
Practice Nurse
Ella grew up and completed her schooling on the eyre peninsula of South Australia.
She then moved to Adelaide to complete a Bachelor of Nursing with University of South Australia graduating in 2019. She began her graduate year at Flinders Medical Centre at the beginning of 2020 and has worked on various wards between 2020-2022, mainly working on the orthopaedic and plastics ward. She also worked with an agency in Adelaide working relief nursing in multiple private hospitals.
Ella then packed her life up into a van and commenced travel nursing, however did more travel than nursing. Working short contracts at Ceduna Hospital, Geelong hospital and finishing with a 3 month stint at the South East Regional Hospital where she fell in-love with the coast here. She then took off overseas before moving back to Narooma in January – where she plans to live long-term.
Ella is new to GP nursing, the team at Lighthouse surgery have been extremely welcoming and is looking forward to continuing working in the GP practice, with doing the occasional shift at MDH or SERH.
She is currently undergoing her immunisation course.
Allied Health
Southern IML Pathology - Narooma
Pathology Collection Service
Open Monday - Friday 8:30am - 1pm
This service works on a non appointment system, you arrive, take a number and will be seen in turn. This service is available to our patients and other patients who have pathology forms provided by other doctors.
Richelle Jackson - Highland Podiatry
Podiatrist
Lighthouse Surgery on Tuesdays - Phone 4476 2999 to make an appointment
Bermagui Medical Centre on Wednesdays - Phone 6493 4903 to make an appointment
Daniel Baltis - See Change Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist
Works at Lighthouse Surgery on Mondays.
Please Contact See Change Physio on 02 4472 9170 to arrange an appointment.
Dr Tom Ward
Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon
Visiting once a month from Canberra.
Specialising in lower limb joint replacement.
Phone 02 6201 6822 to arrange an appointment.
Dr Robin Smart
Urologist
MBChb (Otago) FRACS FRCS(Eng) FRCSEd FNZMA Member of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Smart specialises in urological consultations, urological investigations such as flexible cystoscopy, TRUS prostate biopsies, urodynamics, and appropriate day case surgery including minor scrotal surgery and a range of cystoscopic procedures. Please phone reception to make an appointment to see Dr Smart.
Byron Jackson - Highland Podiatry
Podiatrist
Lighthouse Surgery Narooma on Thursdays - Phone 4476 2999 to make an appointment
Ashleigh Russell - Narooma Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist
Works out of Bermagui Medical Centre on Mondays.
Contact Narooma Physio on 02 4476 1866 to arrange an appointment
South Coast Dizzy Clinic
Vestibular Physiotherapy
Visit Lighthouse Surgery every second Wednesday and Saturdays once a month.
Specialising in treating Vertigo, Dizziness and Balance conditions. For further inquiries or to arrange an appointment please contact 02 4209 3503
Amplifon
Audiology Clinic
Visits Bermagui Medical Centre.
Amplifon offers a range of services to look after all your hearing needs, from diagnosing hearing difficulties, to fitting, servicing and maintaining hearing aids. Contact 02 9091 8520 to make an appointment
Capital Pathology - Bermagui
Pathology Collection Service
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am-12pm for blood tests.
Bookings essential - Phone Bermagui Medical Centre on 6493 4903 to make an appointment
Audika - Katherine
Audiology Clinic
Katherine visits Lighthouse Surgery Narooma on Thursdays.
At Audika, our team are dedicated to providing you with exceptional hearing care including FREE hearing checks if you are over the age of 26. We believe in personalised hearing care, because we know that every individual is unique. So when it comes to your hearing aids, there's no one-size-fits-all solution and it is our goal to make sure you always have the very best in hearing care.
Contact 1800 057 220 to make an appointment.
Francine Read
Psychologist
Previously from Western NSW, Fran has a wide range of experience and the relocation to lovely Narooma was driven by her desire to be closer to family, especially her little granddaughters. She loves camping and looks forward to exploring the South Coast.
Fran will be working Monday and Tuesdays and is open to working with adults and children. Offering Psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Relaxation Strategies, Skills Training and Interpersonal Therapy, Fran is happy to work with issues such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, stress management and complex trauma. Clients will need a MHCP and fees will apply.
Contact Lighthouse Surgery reception on 02 4476 2999 to arrange an appointment.
Registrar
Registrars are fully qualified doctors who have started a training pathway to become General Practitioners.
They enrol in a training program that runs for three 6-month terms and in this time, they are required to work in at least two different rural areas.
Here at Braveheart Health we choose to employ registrars as we are committed to training new GPs for the future. We hope that spending time in rural areas, will help them to see how rewarding being a rural GP can be and choose to stay rural where doctors are in short supply. We have been very fortunate to have some of our registrars stay on after their training has finished and become permanent with us.
Medical Student
Braveheart Health is committed to the teaching of the coming generation of medical practitioners and as such welcomes medical students from several universities for placements throughout each year. We have a particular commitment to ANU in Canberra, but also have had visits from students studying at UNE, JCU and Monash to name a few.
Our goal is to show the medical students how rewarding GP practice can be with the hope that someday they will return as GPs to practice in rural areas where they are so badly needed.
Admin
Jane Taylor – Practice Manager
Sharon Young – Administration
Amey Middlemiss – Administration
Lizzie Simpson – Administration
Soraya Mackay – Administration
Anna Halliday – Administration
