Our Board

Dr Matthew Cooper (Osteopath)

President

B.Sc.(Clin.Sc.), M.H.Sc.(Osteo.)

Matt has been a practicing Osteopath for a little over a decade and is the director and owner of Melbourne Osteopathic Clinic Docklands. Matt has worked in an elite sports clubs and was thrilled to be part of the medical team at the Western Bulldogs during their drought-breaking premiership in 2016. Matt has spent the last number of years mixing clinical work with teaching at Victoria University. Matt is a husband and father to two fantastic little ones. Matt thrives on mentoring young practitioners and helping with their transition into practice. He hosts a podcast called PracReady with Osteopath Craig Taylor, which has the primary focus on helping the future of our profession to be “PracReady” from day 1.

Cris Massis

Director

BAppSc, GradDipSportBus, MBA, MAICD

Cris is the Director of Saint George Consulting, a consulting agency specialising in strategy, management, governance, membership and allied health. His career has focused on service-based organisations across a variety of sectors including healthcare, finance and professional sport. Cris has held senior positions at the Bob Jane Corporation, St Kilda Football Club, CPA Australia, Australian Physiotherapy Association and Advent Health.

He is the current Chairman of BMS Risk Solutions (Affinity), current non-executive Director of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Vic) and an independent member of the Exercise & Sports Science Australia Standards Council. He was recently appointed as the first public board member of the American Physical Therapy Association. He is the former Chairman of the Allied Health Professions Australia.

Cris holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma in Sport Business, and an MBA. He has completed the AICD Company Directors course, and the Executive Program in International Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Dr Deanne Mitchell (Osteopath)

Director

I am honoured to stand before you as a newly appointed Board member, poised to contribute to the growth and excellence of our esteemed profession. Allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to former President Dr Michelle Funder and former Board member Dr Georgia Ellis for their invaluable contributions during their six-year term, shaping the trajectory of our organisation. I'm very much looking forward to working with the new Board members.

Beyond clinical practice, my roles as a critical care nurse, quality improvement nurse and Veterans’ Liaison Officer have significantly broadened my perspective. This diverse background, spanning hospitals to private practice across Australia, reinforces my deep conviction in the immense value of osteopathy.

Having had the privilege of working in clinics across Canberra, Far North Queensland and Darwin, I bring a rich and varied perspective to the board. My journey has been one of continuous learning and unwavering dedication to advancing osteopathy. While I have contributed to clinics across Australia, calling Perth home fills me with joy as I am committed to furthering the goals of Osteopathy Australia.

As an adopted member of the Kuku-Yalanji clan, I acknowledge the importance of fostering inclusivity within healthcare. Recognised by the Golden Key Society for academic excellence, I hold a Bachelor of Nursing, Post Grad in Clinical Nursing, Bachelor of Clinical Science, and a Master of Osteopathic Medicine. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with members of Osteopathy Australia as we collectively shape the future of osteopathy.

Dr Heath Williams (Osteopath)

Director

Since graduating from Victoria University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Clinical Science and Master’s in Health Science (Osteopathy), Heath has had a varied career in the health and wellbeing space, including teaching roles in exercise rehabilitation, ergonomics and clinical education. Heath has worked extensively in the occupational health and safety industry, firstly with Health Response UK in London and now with Corporate Work Health Australia. He is experienced in the fields of office and vehicle ergonomics, task analysis, manual handling, and risk assessment training. 

Heath is one of Osteopathy Australia's advanced occupational health osteopaths (vocational) and in 2025, Heath was successful in being elected as a Director to the Osteopathy Australia Board of Directors. 

Heath is looking forward to providing association members and other key stakeholders with educational content that will add to and further enhance our standing in the health community. 

Kathryn Refshauge

Director

OAM FAHMS GradDipManipTher USyd MBiomedE UNSW PhD UNSW

Kathryn Refshauge, a physiotherapist, is currently Professor of Allied Health (Strategic Partnerships), University of Sydney, and immediate past Dean of Health Sciences. 

She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. She is a Director of the Board of the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS) and of other governing boards, as well as a member of Clinical Council, Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network and various professional and research bodies nationally and internationally.

She has previously held many positions in the health sector, such as Chair of South West Sydney Research, a NSW Health hub, and executive member of other health hubs and committees in the health sector in NSW. She has served on the executive of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Sports Medicine Australia, and human research ethics committees, and was involved in the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative. 

Her research focuses on integrating her physiotherapy, biomedical engineering and physiology backgrounds to improve health outcomes, particularly for musculoskeletal conditions. She has published extensively in the area of musculoskeletal health and developed guidelines and position statements for best practice in diagnosis and management of various musculoskeletal conditions. 

She holds several honorary professorial appointments internationally and has been a member of the editorial board of international journals. Her education excellence has been recognised through three awards for outstanding teaching, including a national award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision.

Dr Mollie McCarthy (Osteopath)

Director

Stefanie Johnston

Director

Stefanie, a pharmacist, is a consultant with a focus on Advisory and Risk Consulting Services, working with organisations in the Health Ageing and Human Services sector. Stefanie brings deep expertise in quality, safety, governance and risk. She has a diverse and extensive 20+ year healthcare background that includes experience in consulting, frontline, executive and board roles within a number of healthcare organisations. Her varied unique blend of experience has given her an in-depth understanding of the needs and challenges of the healthcare system.

In her previous roles, Stefanie was an Executive at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and in the broader Health, Ageing and Human Services Sectors where she led complex projects related to standard and guideline development, education, development of new models of care , policy development and advocacy.   

Stefanie is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, and has earned an Executive MBA. 

Dr Nicholas Tripodi

Director

Dr Tink Gee (Osteopath)

Vice President

BSc (ClinSc), MHSc (Osteo), GradCert (Neonatal and Inf Paeds for Man Ther)

Tink Gee is an enthusiastic and accomplished osteopath with 20 years of experience. Her private and professional life has been underpinned by a desire for leadership and contribution to her community and the osteopathic profession. 

Tink has an established clinic in Hobart called Rockhopper Osteopathic Clinic, where she not only provides care to the local community but mentors young osteopaths to provide the same high level of care that she offers.

Tink’s passion for treating paediatric patients led her to gain a Graduate Certificate in Infant and Neonatal Paediatrics for Manual Therapists and is titled by Osteopathy Australia as an Advanced Paediatric Osteopath (tertiary). 

Tink was a member of Osteopathy Australia’s Paediatric Clinical Practice Group from 2014 until it ceased in 2020. Tink is the past t President and current Board Director for the not-for-profit organisation the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation of Australia & New Zealand (SCTFANZ). She was also the Vice President of the Tasmanian branch of Osteopathy Australia from 2009 until the state branches ceased in 2011.

Tink has an active family of four boys and loves getting out in the beautiful Tassie wilderness, bushwalking, paddling, playing hockey, and regularly practising yoga and pilates.

Outside of Osteopathy Tink is very active in her community, she has volunteered on the Building Management Committee Galleria Salamanca since 2019. She was the public officer and committee member of Queenborough Little Athletics between 2014-2017 and organised and coached the South Hobart Primary School Soccer Association in 2015 and 2016.

Simultaneously contributing to numerous boards and community organisations while building the profile of Rockhopper Osteopathic Clinic and being a busy mother has given Tink an incredible insight into the challenges and successes of many of her osteopathic colleagues. She wants to see Osteopathy continue to build its profile and respect in the public forum to pave its way for a bright future. She feels it is imperative that all of the states of Australia are equally represented and will endeavour to work together to help this happen. The vision and planning required as a team of Board Directors inspire her to contribute to help this happen.