About Us

Program Director
Dr Toby Newton-John BA (Hons), MPsychol (Clin), PhD
Dr Newton-John is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has been involved in chronic pain treatment and research for the past 13 years. He completed his clinical training in psychology at the University of Sydney before moving to the UK in 1995 to work at the pioneering INPUT Pain Unit at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. He completed his PhD at the University of London before returning to Australia in 2003 to take up a position with the ADAPT program at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. He relocated to Newcastle in mid-2005 to establish the new Innervate Pain Program at Hunter Specialist Medical Centre.

He is currently an associate editor for the journal Pain Reviews, and is a reviewer for the journals Pain and the European Journal of Pain. He is a series editor for the second edition of the textbook Clinical Pain Management, and a unit director for the Graduate Studies Program in Pain Management, University of Sydney. He has published over 30 peer reviewed scientific papers, reviews and book chapters on psychological aspects of chronic pain.

Clinical Psychology

Jenny Geddes BSc MPsychol (Clin) MAPS

Jenny qualified in Clinical Psychology in 2002. She started working in the field of pain management with Hunter Integrated Pain Service (HIPS), before moving to Innervate Pain Management. Her particular interests are in pain in the elderly and the running of group-based programs. She is co-author of a paper recently accepted for publication entitled "Non-specific effects of group based pain management programs".

Physiotherapy/Exercise Physiology
Lisa MacPherson BSc ApplSc (Physio)
Lisa MacPherson is a physiotherapist with a special interest in the management of chronic pain. She has many years of experience in managing patients with sub-acute and chronic pain including functional restoration and multidisciplinary pain management, and has been actively engaged in managing people with work related injuries to return to work for a similar period. She is a WorkCover (NSW) appointed Independent Physiotherapy Consultant. Lisa has recently completed a Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) through the University of Sydney.

David Elvish BApplSc (Physio), MBA, MHlthSc(Ortho.Manip)
David has 16 years experience in the assessment and provision interventions for both compensable and non-compensable clients with chronic pain. He has presented at various conferences and courses on the prevention and management of work-related injuries. David has completed two post graduate Masters Degrees. David has been appointed as an Independent Physiotherapy Consultant with WorkCover NSW for the last 8 years. David undertakes regular training to injury management advisors and claims officers on appropriate injury management of chronic pain and has conducted training programs for WorkCover NSW.

Phillip Rees BHM (ExSc)
On completion of his degree in Human Movement science with a major in Exercise Science Phil worked as an Injury Management Advisor with a leading workers compensation insurer, gaining valuable knowledge into the area of workers compensation legislation. For the past eighteen months, Phil has been working as an Exercise Physiologist with chronic pain patients. He works on an individual basis and as part of the multidisciplinary team. He has also been involved in the establishment of medical upgrade and early intervention programs with Workplace Physiotherapy.

Vocational Rehabiliation Counsellor/Registered Nurse
Helen Macaulay RGN, Grad Dip RC
Helen has a wealth of experience in both nursing and vocational rehabilitation backgrounds. Coming from many years in general and disability nursing areas, Helen moved to the vocational rehabilitation field 11 years ago and became a senior rehabilitation counsellor working with clients with chronic illness. She has a broad range of skills in this area, which are invaluable once fitness for work has been achieved.

Medical Input
Dr Marc Russo MBBS, DA (UK), FANZCA     Dr Simon Tame MBBSFANZCA
Dr Marc Russo (Pain Specialist) and Dr Simon Tame (Consultant in Pain Medicine) give lectures on pain mechanisms, the limits of medical treatment for chronic pain, and the importance of the self-management approach for effective coping with pain. They meet with each participant and develop medication reduction plans for those who are taking excessive amounts of analgesia. Benzodiazepine and narcotic medications are ceased where possible, and all other pain medications are expected to reduce by at least 50%.