Paediatricians
Dr Cathy Coates
Paediatrician
Dr Cathy Coates
Dr. Cathy Coates is the director of Fairfield Paediatrics and an experienced paediatrician who lives and works in the local Fairfield community.
She has over 8 years of experience as a paediatrician based at Latrobe Regional Hospital in Gippsland and was head of the department for almost 2 years before deciding to return to Melbourne.
She is mother to a fabulous 5 year old son who provides her with the most amazing belly-laughs but who also frequently challenges and out-wits her. The 4-legged furry member of the family never fails to deliver a very efficient vacuuming service after every meal!
Dr. Cathy Coates has an ongoing appointment in the paediatric Emergency Department of Monash Medical Centre where she has worked as the consultant-in-charge on a regular basis for the last 9 years, whilst also working as a general paediatrician at Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) as her “day job”. Her experience in both acute and outpatient general paediatrics is a unique skill set, with families being able to receive streamlined care for all forms of acute and outpatient paediatric conditions.
Please note that Dr Cathy Coates is not currently seeing new patients.
Dr Siobhan Mullane
Paediatrician
Dr Siobhan Mullane
Dr Siobhan Mullane is an experienced paediatrician who sees children with acute and chronic medical conditions from birth to 18 years. She has a particular interest in continence and toileting problems, unsettled babies, developmental and social and behavioural concerns, ADHD, autism, sleep issues and learning difficulties.
Siobhan studied medicine at The University of Melbourne, graduating with honours. She has worked in paediatrics since 2006, conducting her training at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Siobhan recently completed a Masters of Public Health and continues academic work at the University of Melbourne as a clinical skills supervisor. In addition to her role at Fairfield Paediatrics, Siobhan also works as a paediatrician in a Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrics service and a Refugee Health clinic in a Community Health Centre.
Siobhan believes in approaching health holistically and seeks to understand each child within the context of their family and community. Through her work, Siobhan collaborates closely with families, allied health professionals, teachers, educators, GPs, and paediatric subspecialists to provide the best care for children.
As a mother of two young children, Siobhan understands each parent’s wish for every child to reach their full potential in health and wellbeing.
Dr Lakshinie Gunasiri
Paediatrician
Dr Lakshinie Gunasiri
Dr Lakshinie Gunasiri is a general paediatrician who works with children from birth to 18 years. She
has special interests in developmental and behavioural problems, autism, ADHD, constipation and
continence issues. Dr Lakshinie also works as a consultant paediatrician at Frankston Hospital.
After completing her medical degree in 2001 and working for several years in Sri Lanka, Dr Lakshinie
moved to Australia in 2009, where she completed her paediatric specialty. She has worked in various
locations across Australia and has extensive experience working with families from migrant and
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Dr Lakshinie was admitted to the Fellowship of
the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2020.
With a passion to see children and their families thrive, Dr Lakshinie takes a family-centred approach
to her paediatric practice. She will work in partnership with you to help achieve the best possible
outcomes for you and your child.
Dr Lakshinie is fluent in both English and Singhalese. Her interests include coaching to help people
achieve their life goals, and spending time with her family. She lives in Melbourne with her husband
and twin daughters.
Allied Health
Alexia O’Callaghan
Paediatric
Dietitian
Alexia O’Callaghan
Paediatric Dietitian
Bsc. (Hons), M.Nutr & Diet, APD, A.
Alexia is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) with twenty years of paediatric experience. She has provided dietetic care to children of all ages in a variety of hospital and community settings, including the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne where she worked for more than ten years. Alexia has several years of experience working in a multidisciplinary clinic for infants and young children with feeding difficulties and has completed training in the SOS Approach to Feeding.
Alexia’s areas of nutrition expertise include care of infants, including preterm babies, weight and growth faltering, fussy or picky eaters, food refusal, specific nutrition requirements of children with disabilities – including tube feeding and weaning, gastrointestinal disorders, intolerances, constipation, reflux, allergies and nutrient deficiencies as well as general nutrition.
As a mum herself, Alexia is passionate about making sure the evidenced-based nutrition recommendations she provides are realistic, individualised, and practical. At the request of parents, she is always pleased to liaise with a child’s medical and allied health practitioners to ensure care is consistent, and the best possible outcomes are achieved.
Alexia’s boys are now older teenagers who still manage to keep her busy, make her laugh and, if she’s lucky, make her dinner occasionally!
To arrange an appointment with Alexia, please call or email us.
Katie Clifton
Paediatric Dietitian & Lactation Consultant
Katie Clifton
Paediatric Dietitian and Lactation Consultant
B.Sc, M.Nut&Diet, APD, AN, IBCLC
Katie Clifton is a Dietitian who has extensive experience working in paediatric nutrition in Australia and abroad. She has a particular interest in supporting children with gastrointestinal disorders, growth faltering, fussy eating, breastfeeding concerns, developmental delay, autism, and allergies. Katie sees children of all ages from birth through to adolescence. She is inspired by the vital role diet plays in promoting child health and is committed to providing practical nutrition care for children and their families.
Katie has more than a decade of experience working at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, specialising in gastroenterology, hepatology, and intensive care nutrition. Katie has a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from Deakin University, a Certificate in Paediatric Dietetics (RCH), and has completed training in the SOS Approach to Feeding. She has also worked in Aboriginal child health in the Northern Territory and spent several years in the UK employed in community child nutrition, and at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Katie’s nutrition expertise also extends to providing compassionate care to breastfeeding mothers and their babies. She is a qualified Lactation Consultant, and a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She is also kept busy as a mother of three energetic, young boys.
To arrange an appointment with Katie, please call or email us.
Blaise Doran
APA Pain Physiotherapist
(Paediatric Chronic Pain)
Blaise Doran
APA Pain Physiotherapist (Paediatric Chronic Pain)
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Grad. Dip, Neurological Rehabilitation, MSc Pain Management, APAM, MACP, APA Titled Pain Physiotherapist, specialising in Paediatric Pain Management.
Blaise is a UK-trained physiotherapist who migrated to Australia in 2006. He has nearly 18 years’ clinical experience, the last eight and a half of which were gained at the Royal Children’s Hospital, working in the Children’s Pain Management Clinic.
He specialises in persistent pain management in young people, particularly adolescents. During his time at the Children’s Pain Management Clinic, he was also the clinic co-ordinator and was passionate about educating fellow health professionals about pain management in a paediatric context.
Blaise uses the latest evidence-based physiotherapy pain management approaches, combined with a psychologically-informed perspective, to re-establish movement capabilities and aims to coach young people to make sense of their pain experiences and restore physical function. He knows the value of multidisciplinary working, and is always willing to communicate with medical and other allied health practitioners to ensure consistency of care, where appropriate.
A father to two young boys, Blaise chooses to work part-time so he can enjoy time with them as they grow up.
To arrange an appointment with Blaise, please call or email us.
Support Team
Sue Torwick
Practice
Manager
Sue Torwick
Sue Torwick is Practice Manager for Fairfield Paediatrics. Sue brings to our clinic over 20 years practice management experience and is experienced in all areas of management within the health industry.
She studied a Bachelor of Business (management) at RMIT University, and also holds a Diploma of Practice Management, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Sue’s previous work has included State Manager for a large corporate health group, overseeing the operations of several clinics in Victoria; consulting and advising for private practices across Australia; training and mentoring practice managers in the requirements of running a successful practice; as well as many years hands on clinic management.
In her spare time, Sue can often be found riding her motorbike through the hills of the Yarra Valley, playing tennis, or spending valuable time with her growing brood of grandchildren.
Olivia
Medical
Receptionist
Olivia
Olivia is our Medical Receptionist.
Olivia is available to assist you with scheduling appointments and answering any general enquiries you might have.
She is currently in her second year of studying psychology at university. Her goal is to become a clinical psychologist some day and she loves the connection with patients that her role at Fairfield Paediatrics allows.
Outside of work, Olivia enjoys drinking coffee in the sun with her friends and practicing yoga.
Ruby
Medical
Receptionist
Ruby
Ruby is one of our Medical Receptionists.
Ruby is available to assist you with scheduling appointments and answering any general
enquiries you might have. She brings with her over three years of customer service
experience.
She is currently undertaking a degree in communication (screen and media) at university.
Since starting at Fairfield Paediatrics in 2020, she has been struck by the sense of
community surrounding the clinic and loves getting to know the families who attend. She
is a proud dog-mum to Pepper, who keeps her laughing, always. You can find Ruby at the
front desk on Wednesdays.
Nikki
Medical
Receptionist
Nikki
Nikki joined Fairfield Paediatrics in 2021. She brings over 20 years’ experience in administration and client support, with her most recent roles being medical receptionist in General Practice and cardiology clinics.
When not working, Nikki takes advantage of every opportunity to curl up with a good crime novel and her fluffy Ragdoll cat, Pebble.
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