Meet our team

Kathryn Ashcroft

Master of Osteopathy (British School of Osteopathy 2012)

Kathryn is our Clinic Director and Principal Osteopath. She is an upbeat, perceptive and open person who values the relationship between practitioner and patient as a collaborative partnership to restoring health and wellbeing.

She graduated in 2012 with a Masters of Osteopathy from the renowned British School of Osteopathy (now University College of Osteopathy) in London. In 2013 she undertook the rigorous process of validation by the Australian and New Zealand Osteopathic Council in order to emigrate to Australia and is now happily an Australian Citizen.

Kathryn has also travelled throughout Asia, volunteering her osteopathic skills to develop and support healthcare in underdeveloped areas. She established an osteopathic clinic in the mountainous Manang District of Nepal, treating musculoskeletal problems and providing general health checks for the local village people.  In India, she developed a program for expectant mothers to educate women on the physical changes of a normal pregnancy, encouraging active participation in birth planning and a proactive approach to their wellbeing.

She has now settled in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney at our Randwick clinic. Kathryn applies osteopathic principles, coupled with her knowledge of anatomy, physiology and functional biomechanics, to understand the root cause of patients’ discomfort. She adopts structural, functional, fascial, visceral and cranial techniques as a whole body approach to facilitating your body’s recovery to balanced health.

Kathryn has focused her post graduate training on how osteopathic treatment can support a healthy pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life.  She supports women through every stage of their pregnancy and pelvic pain management. She has dedicated many hours of additional training in paediatric osteopathy:

• management of torticollis and deformational plagiocephaly,
• tongue tie assessment,
• child development assessment of primitive reflexes,
• and, paediatric feeding issues.

She is also trained in cranial osteopathy, myofascial release, dry needling, ergonomic assessment, sports strapping, functional biomechanics and gait analysis.

She is registered with AHPRA and is a member of Osteopathy Australia.

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Ellie Sweeney

Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy) (RMIT University 2018)

Ellie is an enthusiastic osteopath with a strong interest in preventive and restorative health care. Her passion for osteopathy began with her own sporting injuries in rowing and hockey. She graduated from RMIT University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy).

Ellie has practiced in Brisbane for over 6 years treating a diverse range of patients. She is excited to have made the move to Sydney for a vibrant city lifestyle.

Ellie focuses on finding and addressing the root cause of pain by using a holistic approach to treatment. She uses a range of functional and structural osteopathic techniques and tailors them to each individual. 

Ellie has a keen interest in treating head, neck and jaw conditions, having suffered many migraines herself as a child. She uses a more gentle and indirect approach to calm the nervous system when needed. These techniques can include counterstrain, myofascial release, cranial or balanced ligamentous tension (BLT).

She has done further training in dry needling, myofascial cupping and most recently went to the UK and became a licensed Perrin Technique practitioner. 

Ellie is also a Pilates teacher and completed a Diploma in Pilates for Rehabilitation at Polestar in 2021. She is registered with AHPRA and a member of Osteopathy Australia.

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Zoe Martin

Acupuncturist (London College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 2008)

Zoe is our Senior Acupuncturist with over 20 years’ experience in body work. She brings an open, honest and caring approach to her treatments.  Her practical, supportive and calm demeanour enables her to truly listen, mentor and empower her patients to reach their health goals.

She graduated from the London College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (LCTA) in 2008 with first class honours.  Having initially trained as a massage therapist in the UK, she worked in a multi-disciplinary clinic with an osteopath and a psychotherapist. She used her knowledge of the body to assist men and women with pain, injury rehabilitation and stress management before opening up her own acupuncture clinic in 2008.

Zoe also has a Master’s degree from Oxford University in Material Science and Engineering.  She chose to retrain as an acupuncturist and was drawn to Chinese Medicine as it is holistic, patient-centred medicine which ‘treats the person not the disease’. She describes acupuncture as a beautifully logical, natural medicine that works with the patient’s own healing systems. 

Since moving to Australia in 2012, Zoe has worked in the Eastern Suburbs and Sydney CBD. She has gained a reputation for treating:

• sports injuries,
• chronic pain,
• aiding post-surgical recovery,
• and supporting fertility journeys from pre-conception through to pregnancy issues and post-natal recovery.

She has completed post graduate courses in women’s and men’s reproductive health, fertility and pregnancy, sports injury, nerve entrapment issues, treating chronic pain, functional movement, paediatrics, mental health, facial acupuncture and skin conditions. As a massage therapist and a yoga / meditation instructor she adds all this expertise into her acupuncture treatments to give each of her patients exactly what they need.

Zoe applies multiple different treatment approaches and acupuncture styles including orthopaedic and motor-point acupuncture including electro-acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, facial and cosmetic acupuncture, dry-needling, non-needle Japanese acupuncture including moxa, scalp acupuncture (neurological and vision), and 5-element holistic re-balancing.

She is registered with AHPRA and is a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.

To read more about Zoe’s journey to becoming an acupuncturist and why a session with her is different visit our Clinical insights blog.

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Doreen Falzon

Naturopathy and Reiki Practitioner (Batchelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) 2023)

Doreen is the founder of etre wellbeing and a dedicated Naturopath and Reiki practitioner. Believing in a holistic, patient-centered approach, and working collaboratively to uncover the root causes of symptoms. She works to restore balance to the body and mind. She has joined the team at Sydney Family Osteopaths to expand her practice.

Her journey into natural healing began with a deep belief in the body’s ability to heal itself. Inspired by The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, she developed a strong belief in the power of the mind. For years, she has been able to ward off colds and ailments through focused intention—much to the amazement of her family. As life becomes more complex, she understands that guidance is sometimes needed to regain optimal health and well-being.

Doreen’s approach integrates evidence-based research with traditional healing practices. She offers naturopathy and Reiki to support her patients in achieving the best version of themselves. The name Etre is inspired by the French verb “to be,” reflecting her mission to help individuals be their healthiest and most authentic selves. She utilises a wide range of therapeutic tools, including diet and lifestyle recommendations, herbal medicine, teas, flower essences, and targeted nutritional support.

Doreen supports patients with a variety of health concerns:

• arthritis,
• hormonal imbalances,
• perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms,
• digestive disorders,
• anxiety and depression,
• diabetes,
• fatigue,
• fertility concerns,
• and cholesterol management.

Her practice is rooted in uncovering the why behind symptoms, recognising that most disease states stem from inflammation and underlying stressors. She takes a comprehensive approach – addressing both physical symptoms and emotional well-being, as she understands that stress and emotions play a critical role in overall health.

Starting her career as an accountant before transitioning into naturopathy, Doreen is a testament to the idea that finding one’s true purpose is possible at any stage in life. She understands the challenges of self-discovery and how misalignment with one’s purpose can contribute to health issues. Through her work, she guides her patients toward both physical vitality and personal fulfillment.

“In a world of quick fixes, my approach is to uncover the why—because true healing begins at the root.”

Doreen is a member of Naturopaths & Herbalist Association of Australia (NHAA)

To read more about Doreen’s approach to patient care visit our Clinical insights blog.

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New team members coming soon!

We are recruiting new allied health professionals to join the team

Sydney Family Osteopaths are growing and recruiting new members to join our team. If you are an enthusiastic, patient focused allied health professional looking for a new opportunity please get in touch. New graduates and experienced practitioners are welcome to apply.

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Our appointment availability:

Please note: We can get heavily booked and so run a waitlist. If you cannot find an appointment time, please contact our team with your details and one of us will respond to you directly. Please allow 48 hours for response.