Allied Health
All appointments, enquiries and costs with Allied Health need to be directed to the Allied Health Specialist themselves – phone numbers are listed below.
El Laird – Diabetes Educator and Dietitian
El’s Dietetic Career spans over 30 years, and includes private practice, community, and clinical practice, as well as student tertiary education training.
Since immigrating from Cape Town, South Africa, to Australia in 2002, El was employed by NSW Health for 19 years as a Community and Hospital Dietitian, with the latter part of her tenure serving as a Specialist Diabetes Dietitian for the Tweed Byron Local Health District. El has a special interest in Diabetes, because of her recognition of the positive role she has had in assisting people living with diabetes lead their best lives. In 2017, she expanded her scope of practice by completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, to become a Diabetes Educator.
El and her husband relocated to the beautiful Bega Valley in mid-2021, where she combined her skills to commence private practice as both a Credentialed Diabetes Educator and Accredited Practicing Dietitian.
El recognises there is an overabundance of information out there regarding both nutrition and diabetes, which can be overwhelming to navigate and to discern what is true or otherwise. She welcomes the opportunity to support you with accurate and credible information, based on current best practice. She strives to create a positive environment where you can feel confident, supported, and encouraged to make healthy changes that are both realistic and sustainable.
El believes her ability to develop a rapport – listening and understanding is key to developing a strong partnership with clients to achieve their health goals. As a result, El’s approach is holistic, with consideration of the social, environmental, and physiological aspects, as well as the emotional aspects pertaining to food and nutrition.
El has a warm, compassionate, and caring personality, and can achieve an environment that supports her clients with client-centred care, to achieve outcomes that are both meaningful and valuable and aim to lessen their burden.
Appointments can be made by phone on (02) 6495 4700.
Merimbula Psychology
Merimbula Psychology consists of a team that provides a wide range of psychological and therapy services to children, adolescents, adults and families. They are attached to Sapphire Clinic in the next building as Coast Health.
Their team of therapists have all worked in the field of mental health services for many years and are experienced in psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment for emotional and psychiatric disorders such as:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Various other psychiatric disorders
• Childhood disorders
• Parenting problems
• Relationship problems
• Complex grief reactions
They welcome clients from all cultural backgrounds.
Appointments can be made by phone on (02) 6495 3970.
For more information, please visit their website Merimbula Psychology.
Paul Ledger – Podiatrist
Paul Ledger is a Podiatrist who provides both generalist podiatry foot and nail care along with specialist care to clients with diabetes, arthritis and other injuries of the foot and lower limb. Paul has experience in treating people of all ages.
He currently consults at the clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 4:20pm, and appointments can be made by phone on (02) 6442 4801.
For more information, please visit Paul’s website Ledger Podiatry.
