President

Dr Bronwen Ackermann is a physiotherapist whose interest in performing arts health began working with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and her subsequent PhD looking at violinists. She has worked extensively with performing artists since the 1990s, with her clinical and research work now focussed on musicians' injuries. She is engaged currently in an academic position at Sydney University and has had extensive involvement with the United-States based Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). She lectures and runs workshops nationally and internationally to orchestras, health and music organisations about evidence-based principles of injury prevention and management for musicians. She continues to consult musicians clinically as part of her Musicphysio consultancy.

Vice President

Dr Peter Bragge is a pianist, piano teacher and physiotherapist with a special interest in musicians’ injuries. In 2006 he completed his PhD investigating musculoskeletal injury prevalence and associated risk factors in pianists and he has an ongoing interest in the prevention of musicians' injuries. He is currently a lecturer at The University of Melbourne School of Physiotherapy and remains actively involved in piano teaching and performing in bands.

Treasurer

Dr Debra Shirley is a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist engaged currently as a Lecturer in the Discipline of Physiotherapy at The University of Sydney. She has a PhD which investigated treatment mechanisms in low back pain and is currently undertaking a Master of Philosophy (Medicine – Public Health).  Her research interests include injury epidemiology and injury prevention particularly in relation to adolescent dancers and sport participation. She has extensive clinical experience in managing musculoskeletal injures and has treated members of the Australian Ballet.  Debra’s interests in performing arts health care stem from her professional background and her involvement in Ceroc as a dancer and teacher for over 10 years. She is currently the Australian delegate to the International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Therapists and Deputy President of the NSW Physiotherapists Registration Board. 

Secretary

Dr Paul Duff is a general practitioner in Woy Woy with a VMO appointment to Woy Woy Hospital.   His interest in music dates back to childhood and his days as a chorister with the Australian Boys Choir and his interest in amateur singing continues.   He was touring medical officer with the Australian Childrens’ Choir and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the 1990s and was heavily involved with GP Divisions movement through this time.   These days his energies are focused as coordinator of the Woy Woy After Hours Medical Service while continuing roles as an examiner for the RACGP and member of the NSW Medical Board AON interview panel.

Ordinary Members

Dr John Hadok is a doctor working in emergency medicine and acute primary care. He is an avocational performing artist, and sees strong links between the meanings of medicine and the arts. As a singer and a doctor he is perhaps the embodiment of the axiom "Medicine is showbusiness for the ugly"! In 2006 he initiated a performing art medicine symposium in Mackay, Queensland. He has an interest in encouraging doctors and therapists in non-metropolitan areas to develop interest and skills in the field of performing arts health care.

Dr Steven Miller is a clinician and research fellow in Victoria. His clinical practice focuses on workplace injury management and rehabilitation. He is also a medical advisor to Worksafe Victoria and the Victorian Transport Accident Commission. Steve has a keen interest in musician medicine and is himself a musician (a kit drummer of 20+ years, and a hobby guitarist). He runs a musician medicine clinic fortnightly in Melbourne and monthly in Brisbane. Steve’s research background includes a PhD in neuroscience and psychiatry, and he is currently a Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative Practitioner Fellow, based at the Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre and Monash University's Department of Psychological Medicine.

Dr Mark Seton has lectured in performing arts theory and practice for dancers, actors and theatre-makers, and his research specialisation is the ethical training of actors for stage and screen. He is currently an Honorary Research Associate with Department of Performance Studies, University of Sydney. Prior to this, he has worked variously as a video and sound editor, production manager, director, writer and producer in film and video production for over 20 years. He is an accredited teacher of InterPlay®, a creative practice of song, dance and storytelling nurturing spontaneity and community-building, and he provides consultancy for organizations seeking to nurture sustainable practices in innovation. He is also a member of the Human Research Ethics Committee for the Australian College of Theology and has provided training in research ethics to the College’s affiliated colleges.

Diana Devitt Dawson,  a Tasmanian, has 25 years experience as a teacher/practitioner of the F.M. Alexander Technique, a psycho-physical re-education in 'the use of the self.'  Diana studied in London and is now director of training at the Alexander Technique Institute Teacher Training School in North Sydney. Diana has extensive orthopaedic & stress management experience from post-graduate nursing studies in U.K and Canada. Her special interest is teaching & demonstrating the benefits of Alexander lessons to performers. Diana is a member of (BAPAM) the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine. She plays harp and has an interest in new & old world music.

Dr Jonathan Livesey is an Ear Nose and Throat surgeon and voice specialist. He runs a multidisciplinary voice clinic in Sydney.  He first became involved with performing artists working with singers in the UK and now consults with actors and singers in Australia.  Jonathan uses a holistic approach to assessing and managing individuals with vocal difficulties.  This is based upon the five platforms of medical issues, vocal skill and use, emotional and mind/body issues.   He is involved in Australian Voice Association and is busy as a speaker and educator.

Jan Cullis is a counsellor who works in the area of performance anxiety.   She works in Dr Livesey’s multidisciplinary voice clinic in Sydney

Dr Dwight Dowda is an occupational physician with a Masters in public health related to spinal injuries.  His work is primarily in occupational rehabilitation with most of his work in consulting and assessing for workplace rehabilitation.  He plays koto/celtic harp and has an interest in ethnic music.