NEWLIFE IVF - Key Persons


Alejandra (Alex) Castillo NURSE

Job Titles:
  • NURSE
  • Nurse Unit Clinical Manager
  • UNIT CLINICAL MANAGER
With an incredible 12 years of experience in IVF, Nurse Unit Clinical Manager Alex has supported many patients on their path to becoming parents. After working at Monash IVF for most of her career, Alex decided to bring her considerable skills to Newlife IVF. She also has extensive expertise in women's health nursing, having previously worked in the gynaecology/gynae-oncology wards at Monash Health.

Amanda C EMBRYOLOGIST

A New Zealand native, Amanda Collins first began her career in reproductive medicine in 2005, becoming an embryologist three years later. Since joining the Newlife team, Amanda has made quite the impression with patients. This is no doubt due to her stories about eggs of another kind - those of her chickens! If you come along to see Amanda, be prepared to hear about her three Silkies (Snowflake, Custard and Pungu) and two Big Browns (Favourite and Honey). You might say that she's very eggs-perienced (sorry, we just had to).

Amanda Giandinoto

Job Titles:
  • Patient Finance Manager
  • PATIENT FINANCE MANAGER BBUS
Amanda Giandinoto is our Patient Finance Manager. She has worked in IVF for over a decade co-ordinating and managing HR and finance services. Amanda graduated from LaTrobe University with a Bachelor of Business and has worked in the medical industry ever since. "I'm really passionate about using my skills in business and finance to help patients access the best possible medical treatments. "I feel very privileged to be part of the Newlife IVF team and being able to help patients in a very practical way, as they pursue their dream of having a family. It's my job to keep patients well-informed about treatment costs and what to expect. I'm very open and transparent with our patients because financing the treatment journey shouldn't be a source of fear or confusion." When not helping people to manage their finances, Amanda enjoys reading, travelling, and catching up with friends and family.

Bernadette Hyland

Job Titles:
  • Co - Ordinator and Head of Cryostorage
  • DONOR CO - ORDINATOR & HEAD of CRYOSTORAGE
Bernadette Hyland is our Donor Co-ordinator and Head of Cryostorage (freezing). She has been providing andrology, embryology and donor services to some of Melbourne's most well-known IVF providers for nearly 20 years. Having originally studied biomedical science, Bernadette maintains a keen interest in human biology and how newer technologies (like cryopreservation) can give our biology a helping hand. Organised, methodical and nerdy (her words, not ours!), Bernadette is well-suited to her role in co-ordinating the logistics and technical aspects of our donor and freezing services. She says: "Like many women, I always saw myself as being a mother one day and all that comes with it. As a mum of two identical twin boys, I fully understand the desire and yearning to be a ‘mum'. But as a woman and scientist, I also appreciate the options and choices that donor and egg freezing services provide for women who want to delay, or have had to delay, motherhood." Outside of work, Bernadette enjoys holidaying with her family in Port Fairy, going to the beach and remembering to go to Pilates.

Carolyn C PATIENT

Job Titles:
  • FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCDIP ( ARTS )
Carolyn loves being part of the team and being a small piece in the journey of changing someone's life by helping their dream to become parents come true: "I wake up and come to work each day hoping I can make a difference in the patient journey." Aside from her mission, working with her friends at Newlife IVF excites her to come to work every day. When she's not working, Carolyn indulges in her hobbies and passions, such as ceramics and interior design - she's currently undertaking a course in interior decoration and has earned a Certificate of Clothing and an Associate Diploma of Arts. She's into working out, travelling and shopping too! Carolyn likes spending her free time with her family, friends and pet Moodle named Ms Wilson. She also is a big fan of the Collingwood team.

Cassy F FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Nurse
  • NURSE & ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN RN BNURS
Ultrasound Technician and Fertility Nurse Cassy believes family is everything. This may be why, after pursuing a rewarding career at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as a theatre nurse, she moved to fertility care. Before joining the team at Newlife IVF, Cassy worked as a Scanning Technician and IVF Nurse at Monash IVF for 7 years. Naturally kind-hearted, Cassy provides patients with the highest level of support throughout their IVF journey: "I am passionate about providing genuine, compassionate care to my patients. I love the time I spend with them during their ultrasounds, helping them understand their progress and results and, at times, easing their concerns." Cassy also feels privileged to be part of a team that truly values its patients and staff. Although known for her love of Disney films, Cassy is also a fan of an amazing dramatic performance - The Green Mile and Joker are among her favourite movies. She also enjoys watching repeats of the crime drama series The Sopranos. However, when Cassy does have a bit of time up her sleeve, you're likely to find her practising her singing or brunching with her husband and kids. That is, when she's not chasing after her energetic and boisterous three-year-old Beagle, Zahli.

Catherine K FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE RN BNURS
With an amazing 15 years' experience in women's health nursing, Registered Nurse Catherine has helped many patients navigate their fertility treatment. She began her nursing career at one of Melbourne's largest hospitals (St Vincent's Hospital), followed by a stint at Monash IVF as well as a year abroad at a notable fertility clinic in London. When asked what motivates her to work at Newlife IVF each day, Catherine responded: "One of the things I love most about being a fertility nurse is being able to help others through the very private and emotional journey to parenthood. Being able to tell a couple they are having a baby, and that their dream has become a reality, is so very rewarding." On the weekends, Catherine loves spending time with her husband and kids, and cheering on the mighty Geelong Cats. She also keeps herself busy going for runs and cooking up a storm. However, if Catherine does put her feet up, you can bet she'll be watching her favourite tear-jerker, The Notebook.

Catherine V FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • COUNSELLOR & PSYCHOLOGIST BA, GradDip ( Psych )

Charlotte Fox

Job Titles:
  • NURSING SERVICES MANAGER BNURS DIPBUS & MGT
Family is very important to Nursing Services Manager, Charlotte. This may be why, after working in two other rewarding fields (oncology and palliative care), she has found her home in fertility care. When asked about her favourite part of the job, Charlotte immediately replied, "getting to help my amazing, resilient patients achieve their dream [of having a family]!". Her coworkers are also a highlight: "I love working with such a dedicated, experienced team." In her free time, Charlotte loves being with her beautiful boys and watching them play with Bobby, their puppy. She also enjoys catching up with friends and family, whether that's here in Melbourne, or on her visits to Ireland and New Zealand (travel is one of Charlotte's passions). As for culinary adventures, Charlotte loves to experiment with fresh, Mexican flavours and serve her creations to friends and family.

Chloe D FERTILITY NURSE

Job Titles:
  • NURSE RN BNURS
Chloe started in the industry by working in Oncology and Haematology. She's now part of Newlife IVF as a fertility nurse and credits Newlife as being a happy and positive place to work. Helping people create a family is what motivates her each day and she looks forward to giving patients their positive results the most. During her downtime, she likes trying out new restaurants with her friends and family or going to the gym. She has a Blue Heeler named Luna and follows Richmond in the AFL. Her current Netflix show of choice is Stranger Things, and as someone who loves to relax by the beach, her favourite holiday destination is Inverloch.

Denise Castro

Job Titles:
  • Marketing Manager
  • MARKETING MANAGER MC - MKTCOMM
Denise is a Marketing Manager who earned her Masters in Marketing Communications at the University of Melbourne. She has five years of experience working in publishing and a few years of experience in brand management/marketing in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).

Dr Amber Kennedy

Job Titles:
  • Obstetrician
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist MBBS FRANZCOG MREPROMED
Dr Amber Kennedy is an obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist, well known for her attentive approach to patient care, as women journey with her from pre-conception to birth.

Dr Chris Russell

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist Consultations
  • Fertility Specialist MBBS FRANZCOG MRMED
Dr. Chris Russell is a ‘unicorn' among fertility specialists. As a gynaecologist, fertility specialist and practising obstetrician, he is uniquely placed to care for women at every life stage. Outside of work, Chris is an avid follower of the NBA and swears he was a fan of the Golden State Warriors before they won back-to-back tournaments. It's not surprising then that the highlight of his weekend is coaching his daughter's U13 basketball team, or that his claim to fame is being the exact same height as six-time NBA All-Star "Steph" Curry - although that's clearly where the similarities end. Fertility specialist consultations: Dr Chris Russell, Dr Sameer Jatkar and Dr Amber Kennedy (Note: Newlife IVF's other doctors consult from our other sites and/or from their private rooms in and around Melbourne. See our online booking page for each doctor's consulting locations.

Dr Hugo Fernandes

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist MBBS FRANZCOG MRMED
Dr Hugo Fernandes is a consultant gynaecologist and fertility specialist known for his caring and easy-going clinical manner.

Dr Lauren Hicks

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist MBBS ( Hons ), BMedSci, MRMed
  • Specialist
Dr Lauren Hicks is a gynaecologist and fertility specialist providing fertility consultations from Newlife IVF's Box Hill and East Melbourne locations.

Dr Nicole Hope

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist MBBS ( HONS ) FRANZCOG CREI
Dr Nicole Hope is a highly experienced and compassionate fertility specialist, who has been assisting couples to conceive for over 15 years.

Dr Sameer Jatkar Fertility

Job Titles:
  • Specialist
  • Well - Liked Fertility Specialist
Dr Sameer Jatkar is a highly accomplished and well-liked fertility specialist.

Dr Sarah Nowoweiski

Job Titles:
  • COUNSELLING & DONOR SERVICES MANAGER, FERTILITY COUNSELLOR BAPPSC ( PSYCH / BIOCHEM ) PGRADDIP ( PSYCH ) DPSYCH ( HEALTH )
Sarah Nowoweiski is Newlife IVF's Counselling and Donor Services Manager. A clinical and health psychologist and fertility counsellor, Sarah has worked in the fertility setting for 18 years. She was formerly the Counselling Manager at Number 1 Fertility and has previously worked as a Senior Counsellor at Melbourne IVF, Monash IVF and The Austin Parent Infant Research Institute.

Dr Stephanie Sii

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Specialist
  • Fertility Specialist MBChB, DRANZCOG, MRMed
  • Specialist
Dr Stephanie Sii is a Melbourne-based fertility specialist, gynaecologist and obstetrician who is passionate about holistically supporting women from preconception through to delivery. Stephanie is a highly experienced fertility specialist with core training and fellowships in Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Paediatric Adolescent Gynaecology. Stephanie is passionate about helping all patients achieve their dream of becoming parents, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. Helping patients become pregnant and being the first person to tell them the good news is her favourite part of being a fertility specialist. Outside of her work life, Stephanie is a salsa dance enthusiast and enjoys being social and hosting dinner parties for friends and families. She's also a homebody at heart and loves spending time with her twins and watching movies - a confessed romantic, her favourite movie is Serendipity.

Dr Tiki Osianlis

Job Titles:
  • Scientific Director
  • MANAGING DIRECTOR & SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR BSC PHD, IVF & EMBRYOLOGY
Dr Tiki Osianlis is our fearless leader. With a long and formidable pedigree in embryology and IVF, her reputation often precedes her. She has served some of Melbourne's most well-known IVF providers for the last 18 years, most recently as the Group Scientific Director for Monash IVF. She is regularly invited to speak and consult internationally, particularly throughout Australasia. Tiki's career in embryology and IVF began after completing her PhD at Monash University. As an adjunct Senior Lecturer with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Monash Health, she particularly enjoys supervising the research of Honours and PhD students, and maintains a special interest in projects exploring sperm and egg interaction, as well as optimal embryo selection. As Scientific Director for Newlife IVF, Tiki oversees our state-of-the-art laboratory, driving our commitment to and implementation of best scientific practice: "Robust scientific strategies can help couples achieve a healthy family sooner rather than later. As science and technology evolves, so too should the way we care for eggs, sperm and embryo in the laboratory setting - advances in science can lead to significant advances in care but only if we truly invest in applying that research to day-to-day practice." Tiki humbly describes herself as ‘very boring' and ‘hobby free' but we know better. Her guiding mantra is ‘per angusta ad augusta' (through trial to triumph) and this is apparent in everything she does, from taking part in fundraising challenges like Melbourne Coastrek to generously sharing her know-how with others in order to help them achieve their hopes and dreams.

Emily Montalto NURSE

Job Titles:
  • Nurse Unit Manager / Nurse
  • UNIT MANAGER & NURSE QUALITY MANAGER RN BNURS CERT ( SEXUAL HEALTH NURSING )
Emily is Newlife IVF's Nurse Unit Manager/Nurse Quality Manager who is also a professional member of The Fertility Society of Australia and Fertility Nurses of Australasia. In addition to her bachelor's degree in nursing, Emily has completed the Comprehensive Reproductive and Sexual Health Nursing course and has extensive experience working in fertility and IVF clinics. She is very honoured to have helped many women and couples achieve their dream of having a baby: "Reproduction has fascinated me for as long as I can remember, so after finishing my nursing degree and completing my first two years working at a busy Melbourne tertiary hospital, I then went on to specialise in fertility nursing in 2014 and haven't looked back since." Emily's motivation for getting up and coming to work each day is providing support and making a difference in the lives of women and couples having a challenging time. She also loves how Newlife IVF is an incredibly experienced team: "Most of us have a long working history together and are like-minded in our values and priorities - to provide the highest quality of care to our patients." Like many, delivering the wonderful news of a positive pregnancy result has always been and will always be Emily's favourite part of the working day: "Hearing updates from patients once their precious baby has arrived is equally wonderful and special." Emily's family is her passion and she loves spending time with her husband and young son during her free time. Together, they love to bond over a long walk along the Merri Creek Trail. She also enjoys baking sweet treats like cakes, desserts, muffins and biscuits, as well as keeping active and reading (mostly through Audible when she's on the work commute). Emily is a big Richmond fan, and her favourite movie is La La Land. Currently, she's streaming Jane the Virgin, as recommended by Dr Nicole Hope.

Hannah L FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • Fertility Nurse
  • NURSE RN BNURS
With a solid working experience as a Registered Nurse in various wards, Hannah is a passionate Fertility Nurse who loves working with the enthusiastic team at Newlife IVF and looks forward to learning something new every day. She enjoys getting to know patients and being a source of support and information during a very important time in their lives; hence, her favourite part of a workday is congratulating patients with exciting pregnancy news. In her free time, Hannah likes to walk her Shih Tzu-Poodle named Poppy, go to Pilates, catch up with friends (especially at wineries) and visit her friends and family in Geelong. Her other hobbies include gardening, attempting home DIY projects and upcycling old furniture. Another interesting fact about Hannah - she worked as a flight attendant before becoming a nurse!

Jessica G EMBRYOLOGIST

With a staggering 25+ years of experience, Senior Embryologist, Jessica Galea, has worked for a range of IVF providers, including Melbourne IVF, Monash IVF, Sydney IVF and Fertility First. After all these years, she still can't see herself doing anything else: "I get to do what I love every day with a group of people who are driven by the same passion as I am - helping couples achieve their dream. That's what gets me out of bed in the morning."

Lauren F FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE RN GRADDIPNURS
Don't let Registered Nurse, Lauren Frail's last name fool you! With a background in Emergency Department nursing, Lauren is the strong and hardy type, and incredibly adept at providing care and compassion to our fertility patients. Known for making a mean carrot cake, she spends her spare time whipping up delicious creations for her family, friends and cake-loving colleagues. Lauren balances her love of baking with keeping fit, cycling to and from work every day, and swimming and running whenever she gets the chance. A footy fan, Lauren follows the Richmond Tigers and enjoys watching the footy while hanging out with her ‘house tiger' Gibson (otherwise known as her pet cat!). She loves getting away with family at the Murray River, and having a laugh with fellow fertility nurse and fitness fanatic, Sharyn Lanham (‘planking' competition, anyone?).

Maria Diamente

Job Titles:
  • IVF Manager
  • OPERATIONS MANAGER BSC ( HONS )
Maria Diamente is a highly accomplished IVF manager and clinical embryologist with over 20 years' experience in the field of ART. She has held many roles during her long career in IVF including IVF Laboratories Manager, Operations Manager, Satellite Manager, National Health and Safety Officer, and National Risk Manager. She has worked with local providers such as Monash IVF and Number 1 Fertility. She has also been a trainer and consultant for a range of other IVF clinics, both nationally and internationally. Maria specialises in commissioning and establishing laboratories, with a focus on efficient and effective laboratory design and construction. She has extensive experience in training staff and managing clinic accreditation. As a trained auditor, Maria also has a wealth of expertise in implementing and overseeing quality management systems in the IVF clinic, successfully integrating her broad expertise into clinics both large and small. With a Bachelor of Science with Honours from LaTrobe University, Maria is passionate about giving every patient the best possible chance of achieving their dream of having a baby: "The most rewarding aspect of my job is working as a team with people who genuinely care and who have come together to help others and make a small difference in someone's life." Outside of work, Maria loves all things food-related - from creating to consuming - as well as travelling and enjoying time with loved ones. A firm believer in giving back, she also volunteers in house-building programs across Cambodia, helping to improve family life and enabling children to have access to clean water and education.

Maria Savva

Job Titles:
  • EMBRYOLOGIST & LABORATORY MANAGER BSC ( Hons ) MCLINEMB
Embryologist, Maria, has always had an interest in fertility. After completing her Masters, she did a further year of research on oocyte (egg) maturation, followed by almost four years at Monash IVF as a Clinical Embryologist. Her passion for her field, and her love of travel, took Maria to central London to work at the largest IVF company in the world. After 18 months overseas and plenty of weekends spent discovering Europe, Maria returned home to Melbourne and joined the team at Newlife IVF. Although Maria's favourite part of her working day is delivering good news to patients, she also loves her coworkers. "It is not always easy to create a culture at work that is passionate, collaborative, genuine and caring, with a culture of learning, but that is what we're blessed to have here at Newlife. We inspire one another to be the best every day, because we all truly believe in the work we do." When Maria isn't working, she loves to get out and about: catching up with friends, visiting museums and galleries, and indulging in a bit of retail therapy. Otherwise, you can find her at the beach, whether that's here in Melbourne, or on a sun lounger by the sea in Greece.

Mary D PATIENT

Job Titles:
  • FINANCE OFFICER
Mary is Newlife IVF's Patient Finance Officer. With an interest in the industry and all things health-related, Mary's career started in pharmacy, where she worked for seven years as a pharmacy assistant and then retail pharmacy manager. Afterwards, she became a practice manager at a private family-owned GP clinic before joining Newlife IVF.

May Y EMBRYOLOGIST

After earning her degrees, May entered the infectious disease industry as a research assistant before jumping to the world of clinical embryology as a lab admin and trainee embryologist. She now joins Newlife IVF as an embryologist who loves to challenge science itself to try and achieve the best result for her patients. May is a big foodie and, in her spare time, loves finding new places to try with her partner and dogs - two mini longhaired dachshunds named Gio, a.k.a. her expressive sassy miss, and Stitch the troublemaker. She also enjoys remaining fit and active and loves running, pilates or a gym session, and playing sports such as badminton and bouldering. Her favourite musicals are The Lion King and Hamilton. While Malaysia and Singapore are her top holiday destinations, where she can see her family and indulge in more good food.

Megan V FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE RN BNURS

Prof Martin Healey Fertility

Job Titles:
  • Specialist
Outside the clinic, Martin is a father of four children, a keen sports enthusiast and supporter of the Melbourne Demons. He also enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy novels, completing amateur woodwork projects, and playing with numbers and statistics (perhaps we should call him Good Will Hunting?).

Ruby FM

Job Titles:
  • FERTILITY NURSE
Ruby previously worked in Oncology and Haematology but has now joined Newlife IVF as a fertility nurse and loves how she is helping to make a real difference in people's lives alongside her amazing colleagues. She's a fan of musicals - she's seen Wicked four times and knows every lyric to every song of her second favourite show, Hamilton. She's currently streaming Peaky Blinders and loves anything ‘Disney' when it comes to the movies. An adventurous soul, she has recently spent nine months travelling around Australia with her partner. Her favourite spot is Cape York. On weekends, you'll find her outdoors, usually camping someplace far away with her friends. Coming from Tiger land, she follows Richmond in the football. She also has an eight-year-old Siberian Husky named Cooper.

Sally A FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE GRADCERTNURSING GRADDIPMIDWIFERY

Sally Ascui

Sally Ascui has worked in fertility for the last decade with nursing roles at some of Melbourne's most well-known IVF clinics, including Monash IVF and Number 1 Fertility. With a Graduate Certificate of Nursing and Post-graduate Diploma in Midwifery, Sally has extensive experience in Women's Health. She has also previously worked as a midwife, coordinating antenatal care and patient education. Sally provides our patients with the highest level of education and care as she guides and supports them throughout their IVF journey: "Compassion and kindness can make a huge difference to individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatment. These are incredibly sensitive issues for people to have to deal with while still holding down jobs and managing other life commitments. As a Fertility Nurse, my aim is to be a trusted advisor - I love connecting with my patients, helping them to make sense of any complexity, and in doing so, making their journey as easy as possible." Outside of work, Sally enjoys keeping fit, running and spending time with my family and friends. Her guilty pleasure is watching reality TV such as Survivor and Master Chef.

Sandra S EMBRYOLOGIST

With a remarkable 20+ years' experience as an embryologist, Sandra has worked at IVF clinics in Melbourne and overseas. This includes an 18-year stint at Monash IVF, and two years at a large IVF clinic in the UK. When asked what gets her out of bed each day, she said: "Being a small part of someone's journey to parenthood and getting to work with such a fun and dedicated team. That, and checking out how our tiny residents (embryos) have been developing overnight."

Sarah L FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE RN BNURS PGRADCERT ADVANCED NURSING ( NICU )
Before joining Newlife IVF, Sarah had 18 years of experience as a clinical nurse specialist and educator in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), three years as a nurse and nurse educator with another IVF provider in Australia, and another three years working in NICU in London. As a mother of two IVF children herself, she understands how incredibly challenging the fertility journey can be for the patient, partner and family. With this in mind, Sarah fervently works to give back to the fertility world and to try and make it just a little bit easier for each and every patient. Why work at Newlife IVF? Sarah says it's because it's a clinic that is really centred on patient care. She particularly likes the team's friendly energy and the encouragement they give to each other, as they all strive to make a difference in people's lives. Outside work, she loves to be creative - doing craft activities with her kids or experimenting with food in the kitchen. She enjoys cooking healthy paleo or LCHF (low-carb, high-fat) recipes. She's also passionate about travel, culture, exercise (pilates and swimming) and people.

Sharyn L FERTILITY

Job Titles:
  • NURSE & ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN RN BNURS
With an incredible 25 years of experience in fertility nursing and follicle scanning, Registered Nurse, Sharyn Lanham, has seen it all. She's also previously worked as a clinical nurse educator, nurse manager, paediatric emergency nurse and midwife, including stints at some of Melbourne's biggest hospitals (The Royal Children's Hospital, The Royal Women's Hospital). When asked why she loves working at Newlife IVF, Sharyn responded: "It's a privilege to work with like-minded, passionate individuals who go above and beyond to make the patient experience a positive one, during what can be a very challenging time for women and couples. I really enjoy getting to know my patients - we have a good chat during their follicle scans. My favourite part of the day is when I get to tell patients that they're pregnant." On weekends, Sharyn likes to relax with her Spoodles (Barney and Yogi), pretend it's still the 80s by watching The Wedding Singer or indulge in repeats of cult Australian TV show Offspring (‘I wanted to be Nina'). Sharyn has also obtained her Fitness Instructor Certificate 3 & 4 and loves completing the gruelling Coaching Zone fitness program at her local gym. This love of torturous exercise probably explains why she's noticed that fellow colleague and fertility nurse, Lauren Frail, can ‘plank' with the best of them.

Sophie A EMBRYOLOGIST

Sophie is a Trainee Embryologist who holds a graduate diploma in Reproductive Science and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. She finished her Masters in Clinical Embryology in 2021 with fellow Trainee Embryologist Charlotte Casey and has been friends with her since. Having a growth mindset, Sophie looks forward to learning new things and taking on challenges every day in her first-ever role. She takes pride in being part of a dedicated and caring team that puts patients first and works together towards a common goal. Being an Italian, she loves cooking Italian food, especially lasagne and bolognese, which her mum has taught her. Sophie is a coffee snob - always out for brunch and finding the best café during weekends. She also enjoys going to the market, working out at the gym and playing winter soccer.

Tamara R Fertility

Job Titles:
  • Nurse BSC MIDWIFERY
Prior to joining Newlife IVF, Tamara studied and trained in Melbourne, before relocating to Brisbane where she worked in bereavement services for four years. As a fertility nurse, she loves helping her patients to prepare for and manage the challenges of the fertility journey, and at the end of this experience, being able to celebrate a highly-anticipated positive result with them: "The joy of helping others during a very emotional and private journey to parenthood is truly rewarding." Outside of work, she loves to cook, spend time with her family, indulge in weekends away with her husband, discover new restaurants, or potter away at some craftwork. She's also an Essendon fan like Taylor! "You will catch me at every game!" she exclaims. She has a rescue Greyhound named Queenie and is a true Disney lover. Her idea of an epic holiday is one pent at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and being totally immersed in the magic of make-believe and animation. Her favourite musicals are Wicked and Mary Poppin s, and her favourite movie is anything produced by Disney or Pixar. And as for her fave Netflix pick? Tamara says she doesn't really watch TV and would rather be outdoors.

Taylor T Fertility Nurse

Job Titles:
  • Nurse RN BNURS
Taylor began her career as a cardiac nurse before becoming a fertility nurse. She loves the opportunity this unique role gives her to assist patients in creating their own families: "There is no better feeling in the world than being able to call a patient to let them know of a positive pregnancy test." Her favourite part is heading home after a successful day. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym and relaxing with family and friends. She also loves travelling to Bali describing the holiday destination as her second home: "I love the hot weather and the amazing food. Never a dull moment when in Bali!" A ‘fur mum', Taylor has a cat and a dog. She also follows Essendon in the football. As for other favourite past-times, she loves the musical Moulin Rouge and the movie Dirty Dancing. If you're a fan of Stranger Things, you can reach out to Taylor who's currently streaming the show.