Our Team

Dr Mark Laidler – Owner/Osteopath

Mark studied at RMIT and graduated with Distinction as an Osteopath, upon completing his Master’s Thesis on Core Stability and Dysfunction in the lower back. This is an area Mark has continued to study over the last decade and he takes a special interest in helping back pain sufferers take control of their bodies and achieve the most they can.

Mark has been working as an Osteopath for over 15 years, gathering vast experience working in numerous clinics throughout south west Victoria. In early 2015 Mark opened Ocean Grove Osteopathy and Sports Health with a vision to provide exceptional health care to Ocean Grove and the Bellarine Peninsula. Mark has previously worked at Victoria University as a Clinical Supervisor, helping to guide the next generation of Osteopaths as well as a tutor for Deakin Medical School. In 2017 Mark was excited to have the opportunity to expand his business and open a second clinic, Leopold Osteopathy and Sports Health, enabling him and his team to help a wider range of patients from in and around the Bellarine Peninsula.

Mark is keenly interested in Sports’ Health, which has stemmed from many years of playing and being involved in sporting clubs. Mark spent over 15 years playing for the Ocean Grove Football Club’s Senior team, and over the journey accumulated his fair share of injuries. So he has first-hand experience of any sports injuries you are dealing with.

Mark uses a variety of techniques, including dry needling, to treat a wide range of conditions and injuries for young and not so young patients alike. Marks’ guiding work philosophy is patient education as he believes that understanding the causes of your problem is vital in being able to make individual and lasting changes.

Dr Meg Bryant – Osteopath

Meg has moved back to the Surf Coast after years living in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs. She grew up just down the coast in Apollo Bay, and had moved to Melbourne to study a double bachelor’s in Health Science and Applied Science (Osteopathy) at RMIT, graduating with distinction. Meg’s love of the coastal lifestyle and her passion for helping her community is what drew her to Ocean Grove.

Over the years, Meg has enjoyed a variety of sports including representative netball, football for the mighty RMIT Redbacks, dance and surfing. Meg knew from a young age that she wanted to work in healthcare, having experienced many of her own injuries and seeing first-hand the incredible work of allied health professionals. After discovering Osteopathy, she never looked back!

Meg enjoys treating a wide variety of presentations in people from all walks of life. Whether you are busy working from home, are a weekend warrior, or just overdid it in your Pilates class, Meg believes that a combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription and education can help people get back to doing what they love. Incorporating both gentle and more direct techniques, Meg is very passionate about tailoring her treatment and management to the individual and their lifestyle.

Meg has completed further training in cupping and dry needling, which she uses to compliment her treatment. She also has experience as a sports trainer at the UniSport Nationals competition, and with the RMIT elite athlete program, and enjoys helping athletes of all abilities reach their potential.

Outside of work you will find Meg enjoying beach days, bike rides and being the “fun Aunty” to her gorgeous nephew Lennix.

Dr Taylor Harvey – Osteopath

Taylor has been at the clinic for the past 5 years now since moving to the peninsula. Having grown up in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs and graduating from RMIT in 2016, Taylor previously worked in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and spent time working overseas in India at an orthopedic hospital, running the osteopathic department, mentoring osteopathic students, and observing surgeries.

Taylors main areas of interest include: Chronic pain management,pre and post op rehabilitation, Migraine and Headache management as well as various other sporting injuries and back and neck pain;

Since leaving Uni, Taylor has completed further studies through the University of Tasmania and University of Melbourne on Neurological Rehabilitation and Neurological disorders, such as MS, Dementia and Parkinson’s. Taylor has also completed an advanced Dry Needling and Cupping course, which he incorporates into his treatments.

A massive sports fan, Taylor has grown up playing both cricket and football and takes a devoted interest in sporting injuries and the rehabilitation process from them. Taylor takes an in-depth approach to caring for his patients through extensive history taking and getting to know his patients for people, not just their complaints, to aid in better outcomes.

Dr Erick Olbinski – Osteopath

Born and raised in Melbourne, Erick completed his Masters of Osteopathy at Victoria University
following his Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy), graduating with distinction. Taking a keen interest in
understanding human movement and function through his passion of Calisthenics led him to a
career in Osteopathy.

Erick is no stranger to injuries himself and understands how frustrating, confusing and scary being
injured can be. He has a strong belief in the robustness and adaptability of the human body,
provided it is given an optimal environment to thrive. Erick most enjoys helping people understand
how their body functions and ensuring his clients are well informed on how to best manage their
injuries, from complex injuries to small niggles.

Erick’s employs a treatment style that combines patient education, a direct manual therapy
approach and exercise rehabilitation. He is interested in all things Osteopathy, however is
particularly interested in helping people with neck pain and headaches, manage sporting injuries and
guiding people through post operative rehabilitation and recovery.

Outside of work, Erick has too many interests to keep up with! His favourites being skydiving and
reading, occasionally dusting off his motorbike, rock climbing with friends or just spending time
outside. Moving down to the coast his next pursuit is learning to surf!

Dr Madeline Sherlock – Osteopath

Madeline has been practicing Osteopathy for over 10 years and enjoys all the different
aspects of what being an Osteopath can offer. Getting to know an individual and what their goals are is probably her favourite part.

Madeline treats a range of musculoskeletal conditions; regardless of the individuals age, type or mechanism of injury. She has a varied technique approach to address both acute and chronic injuries which may include soft tissue massage, stretching, articulation and mobilisation.

Madeline has a particular interest in paediatrics and women’s health, being a mother of three young children herself, and has also completed post-graduate study in these areas. She is able to perform dry needling and is also familiar with Pilates and incorporating it with exercise prescription and management.

Her main goal in treating and managing people Osteopathically is to enable patients to reach their optimum health; including becoming pain-free and returning to their pre-injury activities. Madeline believes that taking care of her own health and well-being is an important aspect to being a worthy practitioner.

She is a strong believer that in order to achieve some sort of balance in life that moving well and having a basic understanding of how and what works for your body is as good a place to start as any.

Dr Jake Ballagh – Osteopath

Jake’s passion for health and wellbeing started in his country home town of Murtoa, where he grew up heavily involved in the local footy, basketball and tennis clubs. This active lifestyle sparked his interest to pursue Osteopathy as a career. Jake has acquired a double degree in Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy) at RMIT in Melbourne. Jake’s strong sense of community active lifestyle has brought him to Ocean Grove after five years in Melbourne.

Jake enjoys treating all presentations and uses a wide range of techniques in his treatments enabling patients to improve their overall wellbeing. Jake also incorporates patient education, management and mindfulness into his treatments working to achieve the goals of patients. His background has led him to having a particular interest in managing sports related conditions, including surfing, basketball, football and tennis, and he loves connecting and helping younger generations keep active. Jake enjoys implementing his further training in dry needling and cupping as part of a tailored treatment approach to achieve the best outcomes for his patients.

On a more personal level, Jake’s upbringing in Victoria’s west has seen him invest back into the community through volunteer work and sporting events. He continued to play footy at his premiership winning home club of Minyip-Murtoa Burras throughout his uni years and working over the harvest season in summer breaks. In his spare time Jake enjoys surfing, playing guitar and spending time with family and friends.

Jake looks forward to helping his patients achieve optimal health!

Kim Nankivell – Podiatrist

Being a talented sprinter at a young age, Kim found herself at the podiatrist as she was caught in a constant cycle of lower limb injuries. She had a very favourable outcome at the podiatrist and at this point, Kim realised that she could combine her interests in sport and helping people, as a career. In 2001 Kim purchased a sole practitioner Podiatry practice based in Naracoorte South Australia, where she grew up. Fast forward a few years, Kim is now based in the Bellarine Peninsula in the South-east of the Melbourne CBD with clinics based out of Leopold, Belmont and Ocean Grove. Kim commutes across the border to help service the South Australian sites once a fortnight. Kim loves a round of golf whenever time permits and enjoys spending time with her lovely 2 daughters.

Kim has a keen interest in all aspects of podiatry, with a special interest in sports podiatry, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and orthotic therapy.

For more information, please head to www.mypodpodiatry.com.au or contact Kim on 0429 108 199

Tiarna De Wacht – Remedial Massage Therapist

Virginia Mitchell – Receptionist

Gin joined the team in late December 2021 and has filed the clinic with her friendly and caring personality. She enjoys greeting patients as they enter the clinic as she likes to create a calming environment for both practitioners and patients. Gin enjoys taking her over excitable labrador Hutchy for a walk each day and on weekends you’ll find her at the soccer pitch cheering on her kids.

Maree Greenwood – Receptionist

Maree joined the OGOSH team in late 2020 and is passionate about ensuring the everyday operations of the clinic run smoothly to allow our practitioners to focus on the health and wellbeing of our clients. Maree enjoys interacting with our wonderful clients and seeing patient’s lives transform as they continue their health journey at OGOSH. Having moved to the Bellarine two years ago, Maree enjoys scuba diving, early morning swims with the Lonnie Mermaids, camping, bike riding, and walking her adopted Airedale Polly.

Chelsea Ferguson – Receptionist

Chelsea joined the OGOSH team at the start of 2022. She is currently studying VCE at Saint Ignatius College and has aspirations to pursue a career in medicine as she has a strong passion for helping others. In her free time, Chelsea can usually be found at the local netball courts playing, training or coaching for the Ocean Grove Netball Club. Chelsea is always up for a chat and endeavours to create a positive environment at our clinics by helping patients feel welcome.

Melody Davidson – Receptionist

Melody has recently joined the OGOSH team in September 2022 and is currently a student at Saint Ignatius College. If she is not at school or work, you can find her training for an upcoming ballet or track and field competition. Melody enjoys chatting with patients to bring a joyful nature to the clinic.