Stuart Hinds

The Self-Care Therapists

After over 30 years as a practitioner and educator in what Stuart considered one of the most fulfilling careers, the focus now turns to a crucial yet often overlooked topic affecting every therapist: self-care for massage therapists. Countless talented and passionate therapists have sadly left their career due to the physical and mental toll it takes on their bodies. Massage therapy is undeniably physically and mentally demanding. For those who are devoted to it, it remains one of the most gratifying professions. Stuart will explore Sustainable workload ratio, Mental Fatigue, Tools of the trade, Therapist fitness, Practical Techniques for sustainability and Therapy injuries.
 

Stuart is one of Australia’s leading soft tissue therapists, with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner, working with elite sports athletes, supporting Olympic teams, educating and mentoring others as well as running a highly successful clinic in Geelong. Recognised for his expertise, he lectured on remedial soft tissue techniques at Victoria University for over 15 years. Stuart delivers a range of highly sought after seminars across Australia and internationally, supported by his educational platform www.stuart-hinds.com which delivers online courses, webinars and one-on-one mentoring to help support his colleagues to build successful businesses. Stuart also regularly publishes articles both nationally and internationally relating to soft tissue treatment and its relationship to musculoskeletal dysfunction within industry journals and mainstream publications.
 

Cal Cates

Palliative Care Everywhere

In this session, Cal Cates invites you to explore the meaningful integration of massage therapy into palliative care, and the education massage therapists need to be effective palliative care providers.
 

Cal Cates is an award-winning writer, published researcher, international speaker, and the founder and Executive Director of Healwell. Cal is an inspirational change facilitator, they have trained thousands of healthcare providers in skills of resiliency, self-awareness, communication, and forgiveness. They have dedicated their career to advocacy in healthcare, massage therapy as social justice, and to revolutionising education for healthcare providers. Cal has trained with Roshi Joan Halifax, Ram Dass, Frank Ostaseski, and other leaders in the field of contemplative care and has created curriculum and written for trade journals on topics ranging from end-of-life care to interdisciplinary education to racism and the endless ways that humans make it hard to live in successful, equitable harmony.

Jack Williams

Can we Change Fascia Through Manual Therapy?

There is a lot of discussion about fascia in musculoskeletal pain, including techniques to change its structure. Though we need to ask ourselves - What we can feel? What can we change? And how is this relevant to clinical practice?  This presentation aims to address all these important questions to help guide manual therapists.
 

Jack is a director at Melbourne Athletic Development, a leading sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinic in Melbourne. Along with his degree in physiotherapy, Jack has completed a Masters of Exercise Science, 3 year yoga apprenticeship and is currently completing a three year training program in Fascial Manipulation (Stecco Method). These broad skill-sets provide him with the tools to treat complex sports and musculoskeletal conditions. Jack is heavily involved in education, teaching into both the undergraduate and post-graduate courses at La Trobe University in addition to providing private professional development courses.

Kerry Jordan

The Ethics of Solidarity - Seeing Yourself In Others to Provide the Best Possible Care

Kerry Jordan and Cal Cates will take participants on a journey through their own minds with a focus on the parts that we all wish didn’t exist– the places where bias, “othering” and all of the things that continue to make us feel separate from each other live and grow. The presentation will include exploration of the neurobiological realities of implicit bias, the importance of shifting from a perspective of cultural competency to one of cultural humility.

Kerry and Cal will then support participants in an exploration of specific issues that relate to the ethical care of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Participants will be invited to engage with current events, with each other and with themselves

Kerry is a teacher for Healwell and is an essential part of the curriculum development team. She brings 20 years of experience as an instructor and has an extensive background in teaching pathology and physiology and adapting massage therapy for special populations. Before training as a massage therapist, Kerry owned and operated a successful yoga studio in Boston. She has been teaching yoga since 1999. Kerry effortlessly weaves the principles of yoga and meditation into her teaching and service work with yogis, massage therapists and health care providers.

Brad Walker

Integrating Assisted Stretching - Enhancing Treatments for Practitioners and Clients

Brad will explore the benefits of integrating assisted stretching into therapeutic practices, learn how assisted stretching can significantly enhance treatment outcomes for both practitioners and clients. Brad will look at the science and techniques behind assisted stretching, practical applications, and benefits for different client needs. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, this presentation will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to assist your practice and optimise client outcomes.

Brad is a Health Science graduate of the University of New England and has postgraduate accreditations in athletics, swimming, and triathlon coaching. He has coached elite level and world champion athletes from sports as diverse as triathlon, motorcycle racing, roller skating, squash, and baseball, and has lectured extensively on stretching, flexibility and sports injury management. Brad is often referred to as the Stretch Coach and has even been called the Stretching Guru. His stretching and sports injury articles have been published in numerous health and fitness magazines and extensively online at sites like the Washington Post, the New York Times, About.com, Athletes.com and BodyBuilding.com. Amazon has listed his books on 5 of their best-seller lists both in the US and the UK.

Eleanor Oyston

Fascial knowledge 25 from now, on our shoulders

More information coming soon!

Eleanor Oyston has forged a distinguished career transition from medical technology to integrative healthcare. With extensive experience in diagnostic cytology and developmental neuroscience, she pivoted mid-career to become a Dip RM and Bowen Therapist. Establishing a clinical practice in Canberra, she also became a pathophysiology instructor for massage students. Eleanor's impactful work includes co-founding Oncology Massage Training and Oncology Massage Global (OMG), facilitating retreats and pioneering in-hospital training programs. Her influence extends globally, teaching and presenting at international conferences across Australia, Europe, and the USA.

Recognised for her expertise, Eleanor collaborated on a national scoping study mapping complementary medicine for cancer patients in Australia, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In 2017, she founded OMG as an international consultancy promoting oncology massage integration in medical settings worldwide. Selected for UTS's ARCCIM International CIM Research Leadership Program in 2020, Eleanor has contributed to research publications and advanced Research Capacity Building in tactile therapies. Her tenure at UTS concludes in November 2024, leaving a legacy of innovation and advocacy in oncology massage and complementary medicine.