Our Team
Providing care
Our Doctors
Active Health Portland is a teaching clinic and regularly has both medical students and registrars working alongside our senior general practitioners.
Dr Margaret Garde
GP & Clinical Director
Dr Garde arrived in Portland to commence work at what was then “Portland Medical Group” in Otway St in December 1984. Since then she has filled roles in Emergency Medicine, Hospital care, Family Planning and sexual health, Public Health, Indigenous Health, Adolescent Health, Chronic Disease Management and more recently has achieved qualifications and experience in Medical Education.
At Active Health she runs continuing education for all health staff and teaches the two medical students and two interns who are attached to the clinic. Dr Garde also supports our GP Registrars.
Dr Jamie Mattner
GP
Dr Jamie Mattner graduated from Adelaide University in 1996. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and has a diploma of Child Health.
After more than 20 years of experience as an urban GP, he is seeking to enjoy the lush greenness of SW Victoria.
Broadly Jamie appreciates the variety and continuity within general practice, as well as the centrality of communication.
Specifically, his interests within general practice include chronic disease management and men’s health.
Dr Adrian Cameron
GP
Dr Adrian Cameron graduated from Deakin University in 2012. Dr Cameron has worked in emergency medicine and general practice, and was welcomed as a member of Active Health Portland in February 2022.
Doctor Cameron has special interests in Chronic Disease, Mental Health and Dermatology.
His hobbies include music, bushwalking and cooking.
Dr Nicole Farrell
GP
Dr Nicole Farrell was born in Canada and completed an undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, Canada. She moved to Australia in 2008 and studied medicine at Flinders University, South Australia. She completed speciality training in General Practice and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). She has completed a Diploma of Child Health.
Nicole has an interest in the education of medical students. As well as being a General Practitioner, she works for Deakin University as a Senior Lecturer in General Practice. Nicole enjoys the breadth of General Practice and likes to see patients of all ages. Outside of work, she is a mum and enjoys getting outdoors with her family. Snowboarding, Scuba Diving and Swimming are hobbies she enjoys.
Dr Deborah Carrington
GP
Dr Deborah Carrington graduated with honours from the University of Melbourne in 2008 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has completed accreditation in Neuroprotective Developmental Care with Possums Education.
In 2016, Deborah was awarded the Richard Gutch Medal for achieving the highest results in Victoria in the RACGP Fellowship Examinations. She holds a Diploma of Child Health from the University of Sydney and has completed studies with Australasian Lactation Courses. Her areas of special interest are breastfeeding and other infant feeding support, unsettled babies, antenatal care, maternal mental health, tongue tie assessments and release.
She is a mum of four children and loves supporting families as they navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood. She also enjoys writing and can be found at www.drdeborahcarrington.com.
Dr Adam Barrett
GP
Dr Adam Barrett graduated from the University of Queensland in 2019. He has since been working in
public hospitals in both Bundaberg and Geelong across a variety of different medical specialties.
Adam has returned to Portland in 2023 and is currently a registrar training to be a GP Fellow. He has
special interests in sports and musculoskeletal medicine as well as paediatrics.
Dr Brittany Butten
GP
Britt is one of our GP-registrars-in-training at Active Health. Graduating from Deakin University MBBS in 2019 after completing her placements in the South West region most notably here at Active Health Portland. She calls Portland home along with her partner Jacob and baby son Vincent.
Her special interests in General practice are Palliative Care and Medical education. She holds an affiliate lecturer position at Deakin University. At times she will have medical students with her for consults. She has completed additional studies in paediatrics under the Sydney Child Health program and is passionate about women’s and children’s health. She aspires to be provide a non-judgemental general practice experience and welcomes patients of all backgrounds (including LGBTQI and family planning). Britt can also prescribe medications for those receiving treatment for HIV.
Dr Bradley Borges
GP
Dr. Bradley Borges obtained his MD from Deakin University, Geelong. Upon graduating, he worked at Portland District Health before returning home to Melbourne to complete further training in Paediatrics & O&G at Western Health/Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s. He has now returned to Portland to complete his GP fellowship at Active Health.
He otherwise has a keen interest in Sports & Musculoskeletal medicine as well as Infectious Diseases. Brad is an approved prescriber of Yellow Fever vaccine.
Outside of work you will find Brad competing at the local table tennis competition in Portland and also the club doctor for Portland Football Netball Club.
Dr Jessica Farrar
GP
My name is Jessica Farrar and I grew up in Bendigo before moving to Adelaide to follow my dream of studying medicine. I had always had a keen interest in medicine but my passion grew after battling my own chronic health issues.
In my career, I hope to bring patient centred, high quality healthcare to regional and rural Victoria because your health should not be affected just because of where you live.
Outside of medicine, I have 2 beautiful furbabies- Franklin and Odie and live with my partner Nathan. I enjoy hiking, travelling and just spending time with family and friends.
Allied Health
Carolyn Price
Mental Health Nurse
Carolyn Price is a registered psychiatric nurse who has worked in the public mental health system for 32 years. Carolyn works as part of the Primary Mental Health Team, which is a free service.
This team provides assessment and treatment for people experiencing symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress related issues. Carolyn also offers a Perinatal Emotional Health Program which provides family centred psychological care for women and or partners during pregnancy and up to one year post birth.
Team clinicians, such as Carolyn, are employed by South West Health Care in the Division of Mental Health and cover a wide region. The team consists of a manager and a Psychiatrist who provide support and a secondary consultation to the clinicians. The team liaise with the GP as the primary carer in regards to treatment and ongoing care of patients.
A referral for this service can be obtained from your GP at Active Health Portland.
Brianah Crowe
General & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Brianah graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Charles Sturt University and has further qualifications in Pelvic Health Physiotherapy through the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Women’s Health Training Associates and Pelvic Health Melbourne. Brianah also has further qualifications in Persistent Pain Physiotherapy.
Brianah has a fierce passion for the health and wellbeing of local women, aiming to increase awareness and accessibility to pelvic health care alongside local GPs and midwives. Brianah works in a holistic manner and creates a space where you feel safe, at ease and heard. She truly believes that pelvic health dysfunction is common but not normal and aims to raise awareness and education around this within the local community.
In her spare time, Brianah enjoys spending time with her partner Jake, family, and friends, being physically active, reading and painting.
Brianah sees general musculoskeletal, pelvic health and persistent pain patients at Active Health 5 days per week.
Appointments can be made with Brianah by calling Active Health Portland on (03) 4504 2515. No referral is needed.
Practice Nurses
Kam Benton
Nurse Practitioner
Bianca Evans
Registered Nurse
Lisa Trezise
Registered Nurse
Nicole Hogan
Enrolled Nurse
Anna Rethus
Enrolled Nurse
Gracie Drummond
Enrolled Nurse
Administration
Molly Drummond
Reception Support Officer
Gill Southwell
Administration Assistant
Sharlie Palmer
Administration Assistant
Tiarna Sulman
Administration Assistant
Lavinia McArdle
Administration Assistant
Management
Margaret Garde
Clinical Director & GP
Michelle Emmerson
General Manager
Deakin Medical Students
Active Health Portland is a teaching clinic and therefore regularly hosts nursing, medical and allied health students.
In 2025 Active Health is host to 2 Medical Students from Deakin University; Maya Sargeant and Madeline Bryant.
Maya and Madeline will co-consult with our doctors.
On days that the students are in clinic you may be offered an appointment with them if they are working with the doctor you wish to see.
When you have an appointment with one of the students they will begin the consult taking some initial assessments before your doctor joins them. This allows the students to continue to practice and develop their medical skills in a clinical setting and also gives them valuable face to face time with patients.
As mentioned, Active Health Portland is a teaching clinic and we aim to offer our students the opportunity to experience a broad range of aspects in the clinical setting. We therefore encourage patients to allow students to co-consult with GP’s but understand if at any time you decline to have them present during your consult.
Board of Directors
Mr Michael Noske
Board Director
First appointed: 2012
Mr Gary Rogers
Board Director
First appointed:
Ms Jane McKellar
Board Director
First appointed: 2023
Ms Kelly Webster
Board Director
First appointed: 2023