Understanding Persistent Pain: Making Sense of Pain and Building Confidence in MovementArdie Worsley2026-10-08T02:39:43+00:00

Understanding Persistent Pain: Making Sense of Pain and Building Confidence in Movement

📅 Date: October 21st
⏰ Time: 1pm AEDT
📍 Online: Join from the comfort of home

Persistent pain is a common but often overlooked symptom of many neurological conditions.

Whether related to changes within the nervous system itself, reduced activity, muscle and joint changes, or the long-term impact of managing a neurological condition, pain can significantly affect daily life, independence, and wellbeing.

Join Ava Lambert (Accredited Exercise Physiologist) and Jayne Mulhaney (AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist) for this informative and empowering webinar designed for individuals living with neurological conditions, their families, and carers.

During this session, Ava and Jayne will explore why persistent pain is so common in neurological conditions and explain how the nervous system influences the way we experience pain. Participants will learn why pain can sometimes continue even when there is no ongoing injury or damage, and how factors such as sleep, stress, fatigue, mood, and activity levels can affect symptoms.

The webinar will also discuss the important role of movement and exercise in managing persistent pain. Attendees will gain practical strategies to build confidence in movement, increase participation in meaningful activities, and improve overall quality of life.

About the Presenter:

Ava Lambert is an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist who completed a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours) at The University of Queensland. She discovered her passion for working with neurological conditions and complex health conditions through her honour’s thesis in wheelchair basketball, where she was then the QLD state wheelchair basketball strength and conditioning coach.

Avs has a special interest in supporting individuals with chronic and complex health conditions, helping them improve their function, confidence, and quality of life through evidence-based exercise and rehabilitation.

Ava is passionate about educating and empowering people to better understand their health and advocate for the care they need. She is committed to making exercise accessible to everyone and helping individuals build the skills and confidence to achieve greater independence and long-term wellbeing.

Melissa Harrison

Cultural and Professional Development Manager & Neurological Physiotherapist

BSc (hons) Physiotherapy, University of the West of England, UK
Msc Neurorehabilitation, Brunel University, UK

Melissa has worked in the field of neuro physiotherapy since early in her career. She specialised as a senior neuro physiotherapist in the UK for a number of years - working across a variety of specialities including neurosurgery, neuro medicine, stroke and both inpatient and outpatient neuro rehab. This experience has given Melissa a solid understanding of the journey people go through from receiving their initial neurological diagnosis, through to much later stages of their rehab.

Melissa went on to complete a Masters in Neurorehabilitation in London, gaining valuable analytical and research experience and completing her own research project exploring the rehabilitation services available to people with brain tumours. Melissa has a special interest in neuro-oncology, as well as stroke and a wide range of post neurosurgery and neuro medical conditions. This experience led to her being invited to review and contribute to the Cancer Council's 'Understanding Brain Tumours' information booklet in Australia in 2019.

It is her time working as a physiotherapist at ARC that motivated Melissa further to remain living in Australia! Over her time working at ARC, Melissa has become a PD Warrior certified instructor and trainer - delivering practical courses to other allied health professionals across Australia.

She loves her job for continuing to develop the ARC team as it grows. Melissa enjoys supporting the team through change and growth, ensuring the highest quality of therapy is maintained, as well as the team culture that staff and clients thrive from at ARC. Melissa can be contacted at ARC Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and welcomes feedback on the service clients are receiving.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys ocean swimming, tending to her rapidly growing plant family and making the most of the abundance of beautiful walks Sydney has to offer!

Lisa Meng

Hurstville Deputy Exercise Physiology Team Leader and ESSA Accredited Neurological Exercise Physiologist

Bachelor of Exercise Physiology, University of New South Wales

Lisa completed a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at the University of New South Wales. Lisa started at ARC in 2018 and is passionate about assisting individuals in building a healthy life long relationship with exercise, no matter the impact of their disability. She believes that movement and exercise is a privilege that should be and can be enjoyed by all.

She has been involved in a number of Stand Walk Run intensives, an ARC driven program that involves the Multidisciplinary team to apply the principles of neuroplasticity to a client's program. Through this experience, she has been part of many client journey's that have seen clients with neurological impairments return back to sport, running, work and travels.

Lisa is the co-chair for the Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) special interest group. She has extensive experience working with FND clients and assisting them with understanding their condition, offering creative and sustainable management strategies and helping them re-integrate into physical activity.

Lisa is a cheerleader for her clients, not only in a therapy setting but for all further pursuits that aid in them living a fuller and more meaningful life. She has played a key role in supporting a Parksinson's client, Dean Laws, in completing two marathons and promoting the work of the Dean Team, which aims to improve the lives of all those living with Parkinson's.

Lisa has delivered an evening lecture to health professionals about the Role of Exercise Physiologists in Cardiometabolic risk factor management for the neurological population. Lisa is invested in assessing Neurological clients thoroughly, understanding the various risk factors and secondary health conditions that are related to Neurological conditions. She uses her treatment approach and education components to ensure clients understand their condition and empower them to follow a trajectory that leads them to improved overall health.

Lisa works full-time in our Hurstville clinic. She loves her time on the gym floor getting the most out of her clients, but also supervising the EPs on her team as she believes ARC is one of the best environments for a Neuro EP to thrive.

Alice Bond

Neurological Physiotherapist

Bachelor of Science(Neuroscience), Otago University, New Zealand

Bachelor Physiotherapy, Otago University, New Zealand

Alice joined the ARC team in 2022 after spending seven years in New Zealand, where she worked extensively with people recovering from traumatic brain injury, concussion, and spinal cord injury. Since joining ARC, she has expanded her expertise across a broad range of neurological conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and related disorders, and Functional Neurological Disorder.

Alice has a particular passion for vestibular rehabilitation and concussion management. Building on her extensive experience in the concussion field, she has completed numerous professional development courses focused on treatment of dizziness and post concussion symptoms including dizziness, migraine and imbalance. She enjoys helping people understand their symptoms and regain confidence in activities they may have been avoiding due to dizziness, fear of falling, or changes in strength and mobility.

What Alice loves most about neurological rehabilitation is that no two people are the same. She enjoys working alongside clients to tackle complex challenges, celebrate meaningful milestones, and develop practical, evidence-based strategies that support independence and quality of life. She is a strong advocate for multidisciplinary care and values the unique perspectives each team member brings when working together to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

Based full-time in our Hurstville clinic, Alice provides both neurological physiotherapy and vestibular rehabilitation services. She also leads ARC's Concussion Special Interest Group, helping to drive best-practice care and continually improve services for people experiencing concussion and persistent post-concussion symptoms.

Outside the clinic, you'll find Alice playing hockey, experimenting in the kitchen, exploring new hiking trails, or planning her next travel adventure.

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Understanding Persistent Pain: Making Sense of Pain and Building Confidence in Movement

📅 Date: October 21st ⏰ Time: 1pm AEDT 📍 Online: Join from the comfort of home

Persistent pain is a common but often overlooked symptom of many neurological conditions.

About the Presenter:

Caroline Takla

Laurel Thompson

Sarah Sargeant

Ceri Greco

Melissa Harrison

Natalie Watson

Anna Jones

Jo-Anne Benett

Lynn Tullock

Stuart Blair

Sharon Ngai

Catherine McCartney

Meredith Wong

Vivian Lam

James Hunter

Hayley Yong

Rose Smith

Melanie Bourke

Ellen McGowan

Roisin Larkin

Robyn Keyser

Angela Maier

Ariarna Ross

Nicole Joffe

Anna Singer

Lauren Gosbell

Amber Cormack

Emma Auinger

Abby Kinsella

Michelle Peel

Katie Corish

Kirthana Parbhoo (Kitty)

Sophie Olding

Olivia Lewin

Nigel Shenoy

Kate Shaw

Aisling Carolan

Jack Goulding

Ashleigh McNee

Sophie Dahl

Hayley Sparkes

Katharina Hellstrom

Zoe Blackburn

Sophie Andrews

Niamh Seery

Bethany Darlow

Katharine Mason

Hannah Wallbank

Erfaneh Ranjbarkermani

Aoife Cunningham

Amelie O’Sullivan

Michelle Khan

Nikki Blakey

Merryn Checkley

Jayne Mulhaney

Jennifer Daly

Chelsea Tanner

Alice Dixon

Leah Henry

Kristi Thoroughgood

Ella Simmons

Cerissa Dimarchos

Julian Diang

Lisa Meng

Marlou Tacugue

Jason King

Analise Bauchinger

Eva Pavia

Isabelle Corridan

Marnie Stanton/h2> Receptionist .

Louise Pyne

Ava Lambert

Olivia Chatfield

Madison Amorim

Eloise Bowman

Olivia Simmons

📅 Date: October 21st
⏰ Time: 1pm AEDT
📍 Online: Join from the comfort of home

Marnie Stanton/h2>
Receptionist

.