Meet The Team
Compassionate and competent health
care professionals
unique approach
Combining chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy in Castle Hill.
As one of the few multidisciplinary clinics in Sydney, Active Back Care offers a unique approach to chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physiotherapy. By combining the three essential disciplines in one facility, we’re able to offer a comprehensive perspective to enhance whole-body health.
Each of our highly skilled health care professionals and therapists offers a distinctive skill set, contributing to the cohesive team that is Active Back Care.
Chiropractor
Dr Cherine is the co-founder and clinical director of Active Back Care. She puts a strong emphasis on serving patient needs, clinical excellence, community involvement and empowering team training that builds the spirit of excellence that drives Active Back Care. Her goal is to bring you a truly dedicated team of professionals with skills and experience to help and guide you to better health and function.
With a background in Chiropractic Science, Cherine has a passion to promote health and well-being by optimizing spinal biomechanics and neurological function. After graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988, Cherine earned her Masters degree in Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 1990. Early in her career, she developed an interest in identifying and addressing structural dysfunctions that can lead to chronic back pain conditions. By performing gentle spinal adjustments and prescribing active spinal rehabilitation exercises, Cherine was successful in relieving mechanical back and neck pain symptoms and improving spinal strength. Further postgraduate studies in neurology enhanced her ability to address more complicated spinal and neurological conditions, such as various headache, migraine, and benign vertigo symptoms.
In addition, Cherine developed interest in Sports Chiropractic where she has had the privilege to accompany the Men’s Australian Ice Hockey teams at the U18 and U20 levels providing Chiropractic and Recovery care, addressing player fatigue and injuries and providing on and off ice care to promote and achieve high performance goals.
Cherine is a member of the Australian Chiropractors Association, the Chiropractors & Osteopathic College of Australia, and the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association.
As a clinical director of Active Back Care, Cherine manages the in-house training for all practitioners and support staff, empowering the spirit of excellence that drives our clinic.
Chiropractor
Dr Van Dinh is a graduate of Macquarie University, holding a Bachelor and Master of Chiropractic Science degree. As a valued member of the Active Back Care team, Dr Van has a passion for helping patients who are suffering from acute or chronic pain caused by spinal dysfunction.
Dr Van has a special interest in a postural correction technique called Advance Bio-Structural Correction (ABC), which is highly effective in addressing postural distortions. Dr Van understands the importance of maintaining proper posture and how postural strain can lead to joint, ligament and muscle strain resulting in frequent and persistent muscle tension, pain and stiffness.
In addition to the ABC technique, Dr Van is highly efficient in manual adjustments of the spine and peripheral joints, soft tissue muscle releases, stretches and Dry Needling . Using her vast skills in manual therapy, Dr Van Dinh has great success in relieving back pain, neck pain, headaches and vertigo as well as successfully managing shoulder, hip, knee and foot injuries.
In addition, Dr Van is skilled and experienced in assessing and fitting heat moulded orthotics to help support tired aching feet and relieve chronic foot pain.
Dr Van’s skills and years of experience coupled with her strong work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, help her provide effective and thorough treatment for every patient.
Chiropractor
Hea Li is a dedicated Chiropractic practitioner who is fluent in both English and Korean. Her bright, respectful, friendly and caring nature will put you at ease immediately.
After gaining her Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and then her Masters of Chiropractic from Macquarie University, Hea Li began her Chiropractic career, honing her skills, working in our busy Sydney CBD. Always looking to extend her interest and care in a family-based practice, Hea Li has joined our team at Active Back Care to serve our awesome Hills community.
Hea Li provides professional, personalized treatments to patients using manual adjustments and a variety of pain relieving and recovery techniques such as muscle releases, dry needling, cold laser, ENAR and shockwave therapy. Hea Li pursues the highest standard of Chiropractic care and has great success in treating headaches, neck and back pain in young and old.
Hea Li is also a qualified Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer Instructor. She skilfully combines her clinical knowledge and experienced practical skills to address spinal and peripheral pain, stiffness and poor function. In addition to providing excellent ‘hands on’ treatment, Haley also extends her care to designing targeted rehabilitation exercises for long term recovery along with valuable advice in ergonomic settings and postural correction at work, school, home and sleep.
Chiropractor
Dr Jordan Suen holds a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Masters of Chiropractic degree from Macquarie University. Having experienced past sporting/gym injuries and receiving relief through chiropractic care, Jordan has a particular interest in functional movement and sports. By studying and understanding how the body works as a whole unit, Jordan works on the “big picture”. He will work on the whole body to seek out the root cause of his patient’s problems, find fast and effective relief then correct and restore maximal function and boost recovery. Jordan provides detailed assessments, explanations and treatment plans that are worked out with careful consultation with his patients to get the best results.
Jordan is an experienced and skilled practitioner who delivers quality, evidence-based treatment that is comfortable and effective. Jordan may incorporate a range of musculoskeletal care including manual mobilization, manipulation and spinal adjusting, soft tissue work, muscle releases, dry needling as well as individualised rehabilitative exercises to successfully relieve back pain, neck pain, headaches, disc injuries, sporting injuries and postural strain.
Jordan’s goal is to help his patients to live pain free and perform at their best.
Chiropractor
Dr. Kelvin Fai is a highly dedicated chiropractor with a strong academic background. He graduated from Macquarie University with both Bachelor of Science and Masters of Chiropractic degrees. His passion is for helping individuals overcome pain, regain mobility, and enhance their overall quality of life. With a deep-rooted commitment to providing the highest standard of care, he is dedicated to helping his patients achieve their health and wellness goals.
Dr Fai has experience in treating patients from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of conditions. These include lower back pain, neck and jaw pain, chronic headaches, as well as knee, hip, and shoulder pain or injuries.
He is highly skilled in joint manipulative techniques, muscle releases, and coaching rehabilitative exercises and stretches. His commitment to patient centred care and his comprehensive approach to clinical presentations allows him to provide effective and individualized treatment plans to address the unique needs of each patient.
By focusing on improving the body's structure and function, he aims to enhance overall biomechanics, resulting in improved well-being for his patients.
Outside of his professional life, Dr. Fai is a true advocate for an active and healthy lifestyle. He is an avid snowboarder and gym enthusiast, and his upbringing as a track athlete, along with training in multiple martial arts disciplines, has provided him with a deep understanding of the human body and its capabilities. This firsthand experience with physical activities and sports has further enriched his ability to address the unique needs of athletes and active individuals. Dr Fai is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their physical well-being and regain their vitality.
Dr Fai is fluent in both English and Cantonese and can communicate effectively in Mandarin.
Chiropractor
Dr. Tristan Foo was initially introduced to Active Back Care as a patient after a sports injury. That experience piqued his interest in manual therapies which he pursued in a Chiropractic Masters degree from Macquarie University.
As an elite athlete himself, having represented NSW and Australia in ten pin bowling, Dr Tristan has a strong interest in sports and functional biomechanics. He is a certified Level 1 Sports Trainer and has worked as a sports trainer for the Phoenix Recovery Centre, where he provided injury assessment and assisted in providing soft-tissue and other manual therapies to the athletes. As a Chiropractor at Active Back Care Dr Tristan has furthered his skills and experience in sporting injuries by being part of the medic team for the Australian National Men’s U20 Ice Hockey Team as well as Sports Trainer for the junior teams in Indoor Cricket NSW and the Tasmanian Mixed Netball Team.
With his hard earned skills and experience, Dr Tristan’s focus lies in continuing to pursue the latest in biomechanical, neurological and functional research so he can apply strong evidence based techniques in musculoskeletal care for his patients.
Tristan has further participated in over 90 hours of post graduate training focusing on Functional Neuro-Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (FNOR) which is an integrated approach using the latest in neuroscience and rehabilitation techniques to target pain and orthopaedic conditions such as ( but not limited to) back pain, ankle injuries, rotator cuff injuries. With an indepth understanding of the nervous system in function and dysfunction, Tristan can tailor specific adjustment and rehabilitation techniques to efficiently target and treat the cause of his patients’ problems.
Chiropractor
Jacob Ryan is a graduate of Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and a Masters of Chiropractic. He has a special interest in rehabilitation, sports chiropractic, and postural care, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. His work with the Macquarie Student Rugby Team has honed his skills in helping athletes recover quickly and return to peak performance.
Jacob’s primary focus is on helping patients regain their full capacity and ability to function as quickly as possible. Whether it’s getting you back on your feet fast or assisting in a full recovery, he is dedicated to delivering the best outcomes for every patient.
In addition to his hands-on experience, Jacob has a keen interest in neurophysiology, recognizing the critical role of the nervous system in effectively targeting and treating musculoskeletal conditions. This deep understanding allows him to offer a comprehensive approach to patient care.
Jacob’s passion for chiropractic care began in childhood when he experienced first-hand the life-changing benefits of improved posture and overall well-being through chiropractic treatment. Now, he is driven by a desire to help others experience similar recoveries and improvements in their lives. Jacob’s dedication, knowledge and skill is always expressed through his warm caring nature, ensuring his patients’ comfort and well being in all stages of their care.
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Michael Brierley is an APA-titled Sports Physiotherapist who completed his Bachelor and Master of Sports Physiotherapy degree from La Trobe University and holds a Level 3 Sports Physiotherapy certification from the Australian Institute of Sport.
As a senior physiotherapist at Active Back Care, Michael Brierley specializes in spinal and musculoskeletal conditions, sports rehabilitation, post-operative rehabilitation, neurological issues, cardiopulmonary conditions and more. He is skilled in a variety of effective techniques, including dry needling, ENAR electrotherapy, cold laser therapy, cardiopulmonary conditions, real-time ultrasound diagnostics and compression therapies, among others.
Michael also serves as the dedicated physiotherapist for several sports teams, including Ice Hockey Australia – Mens and U20 Australian Ice Hockey Teams, Western Magic AFL, Indoor Netball NSW and Australia, Netball NSW, Evolve Gymnastics, the Brisbane Lions AFL Club and most recently our Australian Olympic teams at the Pacific Games Samoa 2019. Previous teams Michael has provided his skills and experience with are the Commonwealth Games 2018, Netball Australia, Basketball Australia, Cricket NSW, Sdyney Swans AFL, St George Illawarra Dragons NRL Hills District Tennis Association. In working with these teams, he provides pre-season screening, pre game strapping and warm ups, acute injury diagnosis and management and rehabilitation and treatment of injuries, return- to-play assessments and also works with the coaching staff to create and implement injury prevention programs. Michael is also proud to have been awarded the specialist title of APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist from the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Since 2012, Michael has been a clinic educator at such venues as the University of Sydney, Australian Catholic University, the University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University. He has also worked with disabled children in Thailand and served as physiotherapist at Mt. Druitt District Hospitals.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Katelin has a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, majoring in Movement Science (Sydney University) and a Masters of Physiotherapy (University of Technology Sydney), where she completed a research paper on tests for low back pain. She is also a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA).
Katelin is passionate about helping others and does this by assisting her patients to return to active lifestyles and participating in activities that were once limited by pain or injury. Katelin utilizes a variety of hands-on techniques (including dry needling), exercise prescription and education to ensure her patients get the most out of each physiotherapy session. She will work with you to achieve your individual goals to maximize function and return to work/play.
Katelin is currently employed as the head physiotherapist for the AFL/AFLW umpires based in NSW. Previously she has had the opportunity to work with the Port Melbourne and Footscray Bulldogs VFL teams, Western Magic AFL, Glenhaven Football club and Evolve Gymnastics Rousehill. As a result, Katelin has worked closely with recreational and elite athletes. She is skilled in pre-game taping, acute injury diagnosis and management, return-to-play planning and assessment.
In addition to her interest in sports, Katelin really enjoys and has quite the knack for working with kids and adolescents. Her outgoing and bubbly personality allows her to engage and build rapport with both the children she is treating and their parents/guardians.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Richie Kumarage graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) from Western Sydney University. He has over 5 years experience as a physiotherapist, working in various private practices and with sporting teams including soccer, rugby union and rugby league. During this time, Richie has explored special interest training and certification in shoulder, hip, lower back and pelvic conditions. In addition he has 3 years experience working with orthopaedic surgeons as a research assistant to aid in the development of better clinical outcomes as well as over 4 years practical experience as a personal trainer and is currently a lecturer in Health Sciences ( Myotherapy). This exposure has helped Richie build extensive knowledge and practical skills as an excellent musculoskeletal clinician. .Richie is thorough in his assessments and explanations for a vast array of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions and implements a holistic, evidence-based approach to treatment. He utilises a combination of manual therapies, electrophysical agents and prescription exercises to help his patients achieve the best, long term results.
Richie has a very friendly and professional attitude with a passion for health and fitness. He believes that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving which drives his passion for helping others. All together Richie is a very knowledgeable, thorough, skilled and caring practitioner who will always have your best interest at heart.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Liam Toolan joins Active Back Care with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the Australian Catholic University along with practical clinical experience across a variety of healthcare settings. With 4 years work in private hospital rehabilitation, private practice and hands-on involvement with sporting teams, Liam has experience with a wide range of patients of all ages and conditions including musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, neurological and cardiopulmonary, helping him develop a comprehensive understanding of the diverse needs of patients and the importance of individualised care.
Liam has a deep passion for sports and rehabilitation and brings a personalized, patient centred approach to his physiotherapy care.
He utilizes hands on techniques with a variety of the latest pain relief and recovery equipment such as Cold Laser, ENAR, Shockwave, Dry Needling and Taping, to help his patients recover fast and well and achieve their health goals. He has helped patients recover from hip and knee replacements, ACL reconstructions, fractures, and soft tissue injuries.
Liam is committed to improving his patients' quality of life by working actively and compassionately with patients with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis & chronic low back pain. He promotes active rehabilitation through strength and conditioning training as well as implementing long-term pain management strategies to support patients on their journey to recovery.
With his own personal passions for swimming, football, gym training, and snow sports, nothing excites him more than helping people return to full function so they can enjoy doing the things they love, stronger and more confident than before."
Massage Therapist
Michael ( Lin) Li is a highly skilled massage therapist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. He achieved his Diploma of Remedial Massage from the Australian School of Remedial Therapies and his Traditional Chinese Medicine Certification from the Sydney Institution of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has over 7 years experience and continues to expand his knowledge in hands on therapies with ongoing study and workshops.
Michael is skilled and experienced in deep tissue massage, trigger point, sports and relaxation massage as well as traditional Chinese medicine massage. Michael’s ever enquiring mind will always work to find the source of your problem and how best to address it. His thoroughness and willingness to go the extra mile ensures he addresses his patient’s tension and pain and leaves them feeling amazing.
Massage Therapist / Personal Trainer
Vijay is a skilled and qualified massage therapist and personal trainer. He gained his certification as a group and personal trainer at the Australian Institute of Fitness in 2014 and followed this up with a Diploma of Remedial Massage in Rehabilitation of Movement in 2015. Vijay has honed his skills and gained valuable experience working in private practice and renown fitness centres always exhibiting a high degree of professionalism and care.
Vijay has a strong belief in excellence. He comes to Active Back Care with a willingness to give 150% to his patients. With an emphasis on remedial massage techniques and fitness Vijay can help reduce pain, muscle tension and joint stiffness in our patients.
Massage Therapist
Melisa Jang is a dedicated and skilled remedial massage therapist. with a specific focus on sports-related techniques. She has attained certification in Fitness and Allied Health Physiotherapy Assistance before completing her Diploma in Remedial Massage which included her other special interest of lymphatic drainage. . Her commitment to ongoing learning and professional development is reflected in her advanced certification in cupping therapy as well as her hands on involvement with a multitude of sporting clubs.
Melisa’s approach to massage therapy is deeply rooted in her passion for sports and her commitment to helping clients achieve their wellness goals. Her remedial massage techniques are carefully tailored to address musculoskeletal issues, promote injury recovery, and enhance overall performance. With cupping therapy, she employs traditional methods to improve blood circulation, alleviate muscle tension, and enhance the body's natural healing processes. Melisa’s proficiency in lymphatic drainage ensures that clients experience reduced swelling, improved circulation, and enhanced detoxification.
With her passion for sports, Melisa has taken the opportunity to work with many football teams including NRL- State of Origin Blues team, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans, NRLW – West Tigers, North QLD Cowboys, Canberra Raiders, Rugby Union – Wallabies, Argentina and AFL – GWS Giant. And in their off season, Melisa looks to work with soccer and cricket teams.
Her dedication to these sports has given her valuable insights into the specific needs and challenges faced by athletes, which she integrates into her massage therapy sessions to offer tailored care.
With her happy demeaner and a proven track record of delivering results-oriented therapeutic care, Melisa has garnered a loyal patient following due to her exceptional skills and personalized approach to wellness.
Massage Therapist
Srimali Sedara holds a Diploma of Remedial Massage and brings a wealth of experience and skill to our team. With a warm, friendly, and caring nature, Srimali has a genuine passion for providing exceptional service, shaped by a background in customer service and aged care. This unique combination of skills and caring experience allows her to offer excellence in health and musculoskeletal care.
Srimali is highly skilled in various forms of massage including firm, deep tissue, remedial, and sports massage, as well as the unique experience in providing comfortable and relaxing massages for aged patients or those who prefer a gentler touch. Her signature massage is both firm and gentle, skilfully targeting tense, tight muscles and aching joints, easing pain and stiffness and leaving patients feeling relaxed, refreshed, and revitalized.
Srimali is committed to professionalism and excellence. She brings an exceptional attitude, diligence, and meticulous attention to detail to every session. Her goal is to build better lives and enrich the well-being of others with exceptional massage skills and experience and a positive, compassionate approach.
Massage Therapist
Vinnie Bartuccio is a highly qualified remedial massage therapists with a Diploma of Remedial Massage, Certificate IV Fitness along with other studies and certifications in Pregnancy Massage, Advanced needling, Advanced Sports Taping, IASTM ( Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization – Scraping / Blading) , Lymphatic Drainage, Grade IV joint mobilisation, Myofascial Cupping.
As a competitive body builder always looking to perform at his best, Vinnie developed a strong passion in human performance, anatomy and physiology. With a deeper understanding of the links between structure and function , Vinnie’s focus is to help his patients relieve pain and improve movement as quickly and efficiently as possible. Vinnie loves to share his knowledge of human form and function and can happily guide you to not just pain relief but higher performance and a better quality of life.
Techniques Vinnie uses include remedial massage, sports massage, deep tissue pregnancy massage, Active Release Technique, Muscle Energy Technique, IASTM, Arthrofascial Stretching ( Grade IV joint mobilisation).
Receptionist
Jen is our Senior Receptionist. She has the warmest heart and an awesome dry humour that will put you at ease as she takes care of all your front desk needs. Since joining Active Back Care Jen has stepped forward with her bold skills in technology to be a driving force in ensuring procedures and operations are constantly updated, providing our patients with the latest benefits in payment claims and administration.
Behind the scenes, Jen’s pleasant, yet efficient manner ensures all our practitioners needs are met and supported so they can focus on providing the excellent care our patients know and love.
Prior to joining Active Back Care, Jennifer worked as an insurance underwriter for 10 years (among other jobs), a role that fostered communication, attention to detail and teamwork skills that she brings to us every day. At Active Back Care, Jennifer enjoys getting to know our patients and seeing how the treatments make a difference in their lives.
Receptionist
Emma comes to Active Back Care with a retail background having 20 years experience in customer service and care. Emma will greet you with a friendly smile and welcome you with the warmth and care that she has provided for her clients over many years in retail. Emma enjoys getting to know our Active Back Care patients and serving them with attention to detail, personal interest and genuine care. With her warm and considerate nature, Emma nurtures our Active Back Care team so they can be at their best everyday.
Receptionist
Lidia is one of our weekend Receptionist who travels all the way from the Blue Mountains to be part of our Active Back Care Team. Lidia has studied maths and statistics at university level and is a whiz on the computer. Lidia shares her time at Front Desk as well as dedicating many hours in the back office ensuring all systems run smoothly. Lidia is the perfect mix of knowledge, efficiency, warmth and care.
Receptionist
Natalie joins us from SA, with over a decade of dedicated experience in chiropractic reception and four years as a practice manager, Natalie embodies professionalism and brings exceptional customer service, organizational, and management skills to our practice, ensuring smooth and efficient operations every day.
Natalie takes immense pride in her work, consistently prioritizing the well-being of our patients. She finds great joy in witnessing the positive transformations that our chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage treatments bring to our patients’ lives. Her warm, friendly nature and commitment to excellence ensures that every patient feels welcomed, valued and well cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.