Andrew is the very definition of the Ampersand philosophy; the ampersand is an all-inclusive, all accepting word that means there is always more. With being neurodivergent himself, Andrews superpower is the speed at which his brain can process information and come up with new, exciting and creative ways to solve even the most complex of matters, which means that his treatment plans for improving motor control are fun, interactive, and best of all, don’t feel like rehabilitation or prescriptive exercise.

Andrew has been working in the western surburbs of Melbourne and specifically Melton since graduating as an Osteopath in 2010. Andrew has a profound interest in helping children and adults with movement disorders to develop correct movement patterns to improve their quality of their every day lives after spending years being an elite athlete himself, which initially drew him to working extensively with sporting teams and elite level athletes to perfect their sport by helping them recover from injury and improving movement patterns.

Andrew has also had a love and passion for water, from spending summers playing in his parents pool to coaching kayaking at Port Melbourne, when his children were old enough to enjoy the same experiences he did, he found a love for finding ways to help young people with different sensory requirements to enjoy the pool environment too, while improving motor skills and cardiovascular endurance playing in the water. He is a certified lifeguard and has completed the Australian Physiotherapy Association programme for Hydrotherapy and all aquatic therapy programs are developed using AustSwims guidelines for accessibility and inclusivity.

With having personal and family experience with neurodivergences, Andrew has a profound connection to the community and Ampersand has been created to serve, with unique insights into the challenges and needs of individuals with disabilities, driving his commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and effectiveness for everyone, everybody and every ability, whilst drawing on his extensive experience of treating the weekend warriors, desk workers, tradies, mum and dads and everyone else from all walks of life from his time at other clinics in Melton.

The name Ampersand Allied Health came to Alex at 3am one morning after hyper-focusing on this new adventure. Finding a way to highlight the fact that the clinic is an all-inclusive way of allied health needed an all-inclusive name to represent this; the Ampersand, meaning and, or &, was the best way to highlight that there will always be another choice, another option or another way.

Alex is also similar to the ampersand, having different neurodivergences, loving to help anyone in any way possible and finding as many different ways as possible to do this. Helping the extended community comes about in a variety of different ways for Alex; treating people of all ages and backgrounds using a variety of therapeutic techniques including dry needling, to mentoring students both as a clinical supervisor and as a lecturer at Victoria University to creating learning content for myotherapists and remedial massage therapists across Australia. She has a passion for education and with her down to earth approach and you will walk away from any therapy with a deeper understanding of why you came.

From graduating as an osteopath in 2012, Alex has spent most of her clinical career treating in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and is extremely excited to help those in the west, while continuing to work at ProActive Osteopathy in Malvern East, a multidisciplinary clinic she established in 2015.

With a background in high level swimming as a teen and a developing love for yoga throughout her years of studying, Alex always wanted to find a way to incorporate these into therapy, finally being able to with the creation of Ampersand Allied Health, collaborating with Melton Waves Swimming Pool and having an on-site yoga room designed with varying sensory needs and activity levels in mind.

With a similar personal and family experience with varying neurodivergences to Andrew, Alex has a deep understanding of the sensory needs of individuals – whether they are neurodivergent or not. By creating an all-inclusive clinical environment where everyone feels at home it is her hope that Ampersand Allied Health becomes more than just a place for treatment, but it also is a place for enjoyment, care, laughter and a place where you can feel free from discomfort or dis-ease.

Milo is our lovable and cheeky 2-year-old chocolate Labrador who brings joy and laughter to Ampersand Allied Health. Known for his amusing antics and heartwarming presence, Milo is an essential member of our team.

Milo's typical day involves enthusiastically greeting clients with his wagging tail and signature puppy eyes to gain your attention. During his ‘tough’ days at work, Milo usually sneaks in many naps during appointments, complete with gentle or not-so-subtle snoring. Despite his occasional snooze-fests, Milo is always ready to lend an ear (or a paw) to anyone in need.

While he might not have a university degree, Milo excels in providing comfort and companionship. Besides sleeping, his favourite activities include receiving endless pats, playing fetch, and basking in the company of our clients. Milo is great at helping people feel calm and relaxed, whether it's adults or children with nerves or anyone needing a bit of support on a tough day.

Fun Facts

• Cheeky Personality: Milo has a knack for making everyone smile with his playful antics and infectious energy.

• Snoring Symphony: It's not uncommon to hear Milo snoring softly in the corner during sessions, providing a relaxing background ambiance.

• Pat Enthusiast: Milo loves a good pat and will happily sit by your side, leaning in for more attention.

• Social Butterfly: He enjoys the company of anyone and everyone, making him the perfect therapy dog for our inclusive and welcoming environment.

• Destroyer of dog toys: This cheeky puppy challenged a client’s gift of “the indestructible duck”. Check out his profile pic above to see just how indestructable Milo thought the duck was :)

Come Meet Milo

Next time you visit Ampersand Allied Health, be sure to say hello to Milo. He's always eager to make new friends and offer his unique brand of furry support.