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
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 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 Daryl Pedler
GP
Dr Pedler graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1972 and has extensive experience in both General Practice and Emergency Medicine. His interest in medical education also led to senior teaching roles within the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and both Monash and Deakin Universities. Within clinical medicine his interests are in preventive care, health promotion and patient communication.
Dr Rakesh Patel
GP
Dr Rakesh Patel migrated to Australia with his family in 2019. He graduated in 2005 from India and holds more than 12 years of overseas clinical experience. He had worked at Portland District health and South West Healthcare Warrnambool in various departments before joining General practice. Rakesh is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
He has special interest in dermatology and chronic disease management.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
Practice Nurses
Bianca Evans
Nicole Hogan
Anna Rethus
Penelope Byrne
Lisa Trezise
Administration
Molly Drummond
Reception Support Officer
Gill Southwell
Administration Assistant
Sharlie Palmer
Administration Assistant
Macy McIntosh
Administration Assistant
Tiarna Sulman
Administration Assistant
Lavinia McArdle
Administration Assistant
Management
Dr Margaret Garde
Clinical Director
Michelle Emmerson
General Manager
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.
Ritesh Kawade
Physiotherapist
Ritesh Kawade holds a Masters in Manual and Sports Physiotherapy in a highly regarded course at the University of South Australia. He initially graduated from the University of Pune in 2002 and worked in a hospital in India for seven years before moving to Australia. The chance to work in a rural community brought him to Portland and Warrnambool.
Ritesh Kawade has joined Active Health Portland where he will work as a Physiotherapist 1 day a week. At the same time, he and his wife Peta, a massage therapist and nurse, are developing their business, The Hands On Clinic, in Warrnambool three days per week.
Ritesh Kawade is available for all types of physiotherapy needs 1 day per week.
Appointments for Ritesh Kawade can be made by contacting Active Health Portland on (03) 5522 1200.
Brianah Crowe
General and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
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) 5522 1200. No referral is needed.
Lachlan Huppatz
Exercise Physiologist
Lochie graduated from Deakin University in 2021 with his Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Lochie is a recently returned Portland local and is passionate towards improving the health of our community.
Lochie’s interests lie within the chronic health space and ensuring his clients gain their best possible function and improve their quality of life. He will help to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise and rehabilitation interventions to assist clients with sub-acute or chronic health conditions, injuries or disabilities towards achieving their goals.
He is available 2 days per week at Active Health for all your Exercise physiology needs. On the other 3 days he will be working on developing his business, Lifelong Rehab and Movement, working with NDIS and My Aged Care clients.
Appointments can be made with Lachlan by calling Active Health Portland on (03) 5522 1200.
Anna Rethus
Dorevitch Pathology Collector
Deakin Medical Students
Active Health Portland is a teaching clinic and therefore regularly hosts nursing, medical and allied health students.
In 2024 Active Health is host to 2 Medical Students from Deakin University; Sam Andrewartha and Emma Simmonds.
Sam and Emma will co-consult with senior doctors including Dr Marg Garde and Dr Daryl Pedler.
On days that the students are in clinic you may be offered an appointment with them if they are working with the senior 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 the senior 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.
Practice Nurses
Active Health Portland has several Practice Nurses who between them have a vast range of experience in both Hospitals and Medical Clinics.
The Practice Nurses role is quite varied and some of the services which can be performed for patients include:
- Blood tests
- Wound care
- Spirometry
- Audiometry
- Eye tests
- ECG’s
- Immunisations
- Travel advice
- Mantoux Testing and
- Assisting with minor procedures
Active Health Portland nurses implement a dedicated Chronic Disease Management program within the clinic. Part of the role of the nurse working in this program is to undertake a range of assessments and monitoring for patients which can include:
- Assessments for 75 years+ patients and 40- 49 years patients
- Diabetes Management and Coordination
- Management of Chronic Diseases through GP Management plans and Team Care arrangements
The Practice Nurses also see many new patients to do an initial assessment before they see the doctor and also to get some of the patients medical history. This allows the doctor to focus on the patients needs during the consult.
The Practice Nurses also see patients undertaking Employment Medicals. The nurse working with these patients does part of the initial assessment and testing required by the employer during these appointments.
The Practice Nurse role is vital in ensuring patients get the best quality of care during their time at Active Health Portland. Each day Active Health Portland has a minimum of one Practice Nurse available during opening hours.
If you would like further information about our Practice Nurses role or would like to discuss your care with them please talk to your GP or ask at Reception.
Board of Directors
Mr Michael Noske
Board Director
First appointed: 2012
Mr Gary Rogers
Board Director
Ms Jane McKellar
Board Director
First appointed: 2023
Ms Kelly Webster
Board Director
First appointed: 2023