About the
Active Therapies team
Lucy Forbes,
Physiotherapist and Director
Lucy Forbes is co-director of Active Therapies with her husband Andrew, an Osteopath. Together they have lived and worked in the Southern Highlands for 23 years, with their 2 children. She has immersed herself in all aspects of Highlands life.
Lucy and Andrew both believe that ‘Active Therapies’ reflects their philosophy, being ‘active’ themselves both physically, and in their approach to their community. They are involved in fundraising with local charities, volunteering, local theatre, mentoring and are ACTIVE in their approach to their treatment programmes.
Lucy graduated as a Physiotherapist in the UK in 1986. She has worked in both private practice and the public sector in the UK, gaining valuable experience in all areas of Physiotherapy.
Lucy has worked at the Southern Highlands Private Hospital, before opening Active Therapies. Lucy enjoys a longstanding and excellent professional relationship with local GP’s and specialists.
Lucy graduated as a Physiotherapist in the UK in 1986. She has worked in both private practice and the public sector in the UK, gaining valuable experience in all areas of Physiotherapy.
Since arriving in Bowral, Lucy has worked in private practice in Goulburn, and at the Southern Highlands Private Hospital, before opening Active Therapies in 2003.
Lucy’s motto is “go the extra mile”
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Lucy is passionate about all aspects of Physiotherapy but has a special interest in Women’s Health and Men’s Health and is qualified to address and treat pelvic floor conditions, incontinence (bladder & bowel), pelvic pain, and prolapse. She recently completed a year at the University of South Australia, gaining a postgraduate certificate in the Conservative Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Lucy fits pessaries at the Active Therapies clinic in Bowral. She works in close consultation with many local gynaecologists and urologists.
In addition to Women and Men’s health Lucy treats all areas of the body: she enjoys treating difficult neck, back pain and persistent pain, using a biopsychosocial approach to her treatment.
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH SPECIALIST
She takes special care of each and every patient to optimise their well being. She feels strongly about empowering her patients by enabling them to fully understand their condition, giving them the knowledge and skills to help them recover and self manage using education, treatment and exercise programmes specifically designed for them.
Every patient is an individual and is respected, assessed, carefully and thoroughly to ensure the very best outcomes for their individual requirements
Lucy is proud to be Frensham’s School’s Physiotherapist, which she visits every week.
When not at work, Lucy loves spending time with family and friends, is a keen gardener, walker, theatre-goer, and she loves to travel
Andrew Forbes,
Osteopath and Director
Andrew Forbes has been a practising clinical Osteopath in Australia for more than 20 years. Andrew trained as an Osteopath in the UK at the London School of Osteopathy, where he graduated in 1995. He then did locum work in the South East of England until migrating back to Australia in 1998.
Andrew completed his Australian registration exams at RMIT Melbourne in 1999, and began practising in Bowral in November of that year as the Bowral Osteopathic and Sports Injuries Clinic. He also worked from 1999 to 2005 as an associate lecturer, clinical supervisor, and examiner on the Osteopathy Masters course at Western Sydney University’s Campbelltown Campus in the School of Exercise and Health Science.
In 2003, Andrew set up Active Therapies at Suite 15/70 Bowral Street, with his partner, Lucy. Together they have developed the longest established manual therapy practice in the Southern Highlands.
The Dizzy Clinic in Bowral
In 2017, Andrew commenced additional training for the treatment of vertigo and dizzyness. In 2019 he set up The Dizzy Clinic, a sub-clinic of Active Therapies, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and dizzyness.
Andrew’s other main interests are spinal and joint pain and concussion.
Outside work, Andrew’s other interests are board work as a non-executive director, cycling, paragliding, community theatre, sailing and gardening.
The Dizzy Clinic in Bowral
Andrew’s other main interests are spinal and joint pain.
Outside work, Andrew’s other interests are board work as a non-executive director, cycling, paragliding, community theatre, sailing and gardening.
Tanya O'Sullivan, Physiotherapist
Tanya O’Sullivan has been practising as a physiotherapist for 33 years in New Zealand, England and for the most recent 21 years, Australia. Tanya trained in Otago, New Zealand and returned to the university there in 1997 to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapies in 1998. She later completed a Diploma in Pilates at UTS Sydney in 2006.
Tanya has a keen interest in the use of movement and strengthening in treatment and management of physical ailments and restrictions. She also keeps abreast of current scientific trends on the place of basic day to day nutrition in the optimal management of pain, injury and dysfunction.
Outside of work Tanya is a keen walker and hiker. She has completed many multi-day hikes around the world and is always looking forward to the next one.
Maria Olegario,
Physiotherapist
Maria Olegario graduated from the University of the Phillipines, Manila in 2002. She completed her Australian Accreditation in 2004 and has been working as a private practice physiotherapist for 17 years. She initially started with a strong focus on musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy, working extensively with high school boys rugby and basketball teams, state Age netball and at the Ann Clarke Centre. Maria also worked in Aquatic physiotherapy, served in the APA special interest, tutoring in aquatic hydrotherapy courses.
Maria completed a Graduate Certificate from La Trobe University in Sports Physiotherapy.
Subsequent to having her children she developed a strong interest in Women’s Heath physiotherapy, attending courses with the APA and Women’s Health Training Associates to further her post-graduate training.
Maria is very committed to helping all women during pregnancy, after childbirth, with pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and dyspareunia (pain with sex), and other related pelvic health conditions. She is a certified Babywearing Consultant (Advanced course at Die Trageschule, Dreden Germany).
Maria is particularly passionate about assisting breastfeeding mothers with mastitis, helping with the postural pain that often accompanies breastfeeding and supporting all mothers on their journey.
Maria is enjoying spending time exploring the beautiful Southern Highlands region with her husband and young family.
![Maria_2[12108]](https://activetherapies.com.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Maria_212108-scaled-pkonsntr1yf59fjtzoehznl2weyxaubvhjixxfp8dw.jpg "Maria_2[12108]")
Kim Crawford,
Reception
Kim has been with Active Therapies since late 2022 and works at reception from Tuesday to Friday.
Having recently moved from Texas to spend more time with her family, Kim takes pleasure in being environmentally sustainable
Outside of work, Kim enjoys gardening, growing veggies, raising chickens and teaching her children how to work for a sustainable future.
Lisa Long,
Reception
Lisa has been with Active Therapies since early 2024 and works at reception on Thursday and Friday.
