Doctors

The doctor, or general practitioner, is usually the first person you would see if you are unwell or have a health problem.

The doctor can:

A female doctor, smiling, checks the heart rate of her patient.
  • provide an overall health check-up
  • diagnose and treat short-term illnesses like the flu or a fever
  • provide referrals to other professionals like skin specialists or the respiratory nurse
  • prescribe vaccines and immunisations (which may be administered by a clinic nurse).

Our doctors also have areas of special interest, including pain management, travel medicine, children’s health and managing long-term diseases like diabetes.

There are also female doctors who can provide advice on women’s health and perform pap smears.

There are four clinics in Gippsland that operate during business hours, in Warragul, Morwell, Traralgon and Churchill. The clinics operate from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays.

Book a Gippsland GP appointment

Doctors

If you need to see a doctor after-hours, the Latrobe Priority Primary Care Centre (PPCC) is open seven days a week, including public holidays. It is a walk-in service, so no appointments are necessary.

And if you are in Melbourne, we operate a GP clinic for staff and students of La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus. The centre is located on Level 1, Health Sciences 1 Building and is open from Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm, and on Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Book a La Trobe University GP appointment

Our Doctors

Dr. Kathy Brotchie

Dr. Kathy Brotchie
MBBS. FRACGP, FACRRM, FARGP, Grad Dip Rural GP (Aboriginal Health), DRANZCOG, Mast Clinical Education, CHIA.

Dr Kathy Brotchie is an experienced General Practitioner who has worked in the Gippsland Region since 2009.

Her medical qualifications include a M.B.B.S. from Monash University, FRACGP, DRANZCOG and Graduate Diploma in Rural General Practice specialising in Aboriginal Health. Kathy also holds a Masters in Clinical Education from Flinders University.

Having been in Medicine for more than 30 years, Dr Kathy graduated in 1989, and has worked all over Eastern Australia, including North East Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. She has previously worked as a Flying Doctor out of Broken Hill, done house calls on a skidoo at Falls Creek and has taken the ferry to work on North Stradbroke Island.

Dr Kathy has special interests in mental health, aboriginal health and musculoskeletal medicine. Outside of clinic hours, she has an interest in medical education and health informatics.

Dr Hajira Niazi

Dr. Hajira Niazi
MBBS

Dr Hajira Niazi is a General Practitioner with a special interest in women and children’s health, antenatal care, contraception, chronic disease management and mental health.

Dr Hajira completed her MBBS and training in women’s health in Pakistan before moving to Australia.

In addition to her special interests, Dr Hajira is also skilled in conducting minor dermal procedures including excisional biopsies and the removal of small skin lesions.

Languages
English, Urdu/Hindi and Punjabi.

Dr Nadun Bandara

Dr Nadun Bandara
MBBS

Dr Nadun Bandara is a General Practitioner who has an interest in paediatric medicine, dermatology and chronic illness. Dr Bandara graduated from a medical college in Sri Lanka, and has worked at various Australian hospitals in emergency medicine. In his spare time, Dr Bandara enjoys watching sports, going to the gym, and travelling.

Dr Chaitanya Balle

Dr Chaitanya Balle
MBBS. PG Diploma in HSc

Dr Chaitanya is a skilled General Practitioner who graduated from NTR University Andhra Pradesh, in a southern state of India. Dr Chaitanya completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences at a New Zealand university.

With a special interest in acute health, chronic disease management, women’s health and minor surgical procedures, Dr Chaitanya has plans to expand her skills to include skin cancer removal and cosmetic medicine.

In Australia, Dr Chaitanya has worked at Peninsula Health Victoria as a medical registrar. She also has experience in emergency, surgical departments, rehabilitation and Intensive Care Units (ICU).

Languages
English, Hindi and Telugu

Dr Suzi Mikhail

Dr Suzi Mikhail
MBBch (Hons), FRACGP

Dr Suzi Mikhail is an experienced General Practitioner who has been working in Latrobe Valley since 2007.

She has obtained her medical degree, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) from the University of Cairo, Egypt. After finishing her internship year in Cairo, she migrated to Australia calling Adelaide home.

Upon completing the AMC exam, Dr Mikhail moved to Sydney where she worked in metropolitan hospitals for two years and completed her general practice training across NSW becoming a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2006 (FRACGP).

Settling in Traralgon in late 2006, she has worked in general practice since early 2007 developing special interest in women’s health, children’s health, mental health, chronic disease, common skin conditions, nutrition and weight management. She is a passionate and caring GP who believes in holistic patient care. She was also involved in teaching and mentoring of medical students and GP registrars.

Languages
Dr Mikhail is fluent in English and Arabic; understands French and some Japanese. Outside General Practice, she enjoys writing, gardening, travelling, and learning languages.

Dr Paul Brougham

Dr Paul Brougham
MA,MBBS, FRACGP, DRANZCOG(Adv)

After relocating to Australia nearly 30 years ago after training in the UK, Dr Paul Brougham owned and worked in a GP Clinic in the Latrobe Valley. During this time, he was involved in the provision of antenatal care and helped deliver hundreds of babies.

Dr Brougham joined Latrobe Community Health Service in January 2023 and is working two days a week in support of medical students attached to LCHS, as well as GPs in professional training. He teaches medical students at Monash University’s School of Rural Health in Gippsland, has an interest in women’s health, and can still provide shared care to pregnant women at the local hospital. He enjoys Rugby Union and still supports England – or anyone playing Australia!

Dr Sivappriya Gunaratnam

Dr Priya
MBBS

Dr Sivappriya Gunaratnam (Dr Priya) completed her medical degree at the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka. She brings years of experience to Latrobe Community Health Service, having worked in hospitals in Sri Lanka and Australia in the spheres of general medicine, obstetrics, gynaecology, emergency medicine, intensive care, and general practice.

Dr Priya chose to pursue a career as a GP because she enjoys the diversity and challenges found in the field of General Practice.

Languages
Dr Priya is fluent in English, Sinhalese and Tamil.

Dr Edward Lam

Dr Edward Lam

Dr Lam graduated from Monash University in 1992 and transitioned directly into the field of General Practice, he has practiced in many locations both rural and metropolitan during his career.

Diabetes, heart disease and preventative health are special interests of Dr Lam’s.

In his personal time Dr Lam enjoys travel and has recently embarked on a new hobby of drone photography.

Languages
Dr Lam is fluent Cantonese.

Dr Farid Alam

Dr Farid Alam

Dr Alam graduated from Alexandria University School of Medicine in Egypt in 1982 and continued General medical training in USA after passing the board examination, working in Boston Beth Israel and New York Methodist Hospitals.

After moving to Australia in 1989 continued his general medicine training at Repatriation/Austin hospital, pursued his interest in Emergency medicine and critical care training, with interests in poisons and toxins.

In 2009 worked at Monash Medical Centre Paediatric emergency, followed by Austin Health.

In 2016 pursued his interests in community medicine and General practice, by joining the team at LCHS -Bundoora.

In his personal time, Dr Alam enjoys Jazz & soul music and travelling.

Languages
Dr Alam is fluent in Arabic, and speaks little French.

Dr Rafiq A Memon

Dr Rafiq A Memon

Dr Memon graduated from Sindh University in Pakistan in 1992 and transitioned directly into the field of General Practice, working in Victoria as a GP since 1999 he has practiced in both rural and metropolitan areas throughout his medical career.

In his personal time Dr Memon likes to travel and enjoys gardening.

Languages
Dr Memon is fluent in Sindhi, Hindi, Urdu and fully understands but does not speak Punjabi

Dr Michael Yuen

Dr Michael Yuen

Graduating in Adelaide in 1977, Dr Yuen then worked overseas from 1980-2011 in the field of gynaecology and anaesthesia, upon returning to Australia he entered into Emergency Department work and General Practice.

Dr Yuen has a special interest in Paediatrics and Family Health.

In his personal time Dr Yuen enjoys tinkering with electronics and is an avid cycler.

Languages
Dr Yuen is fluent in Chinese language.

Dr Tanusha Cardoso

Dr Tanusha Cardoso
MBBS PDCR FACSEP

Dr Tanusha Cardoso is a specialist in sport and exercise medicine, and is accredited by the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. Dr Cardoso previously worked at the Lifecare Latrobe Sports Medicine clinic and recently moved to the consulting rooms at the La Trobe University Medical Centre at La Trobe University.

Dr Cardoso offers her consulting services to the general public, the Australian Defence force, WorkCover and Transport Accident Commission (TAC) patients.

She enjoys the diversity of her specialty and has worked across many sports in terms of consultation and event coverage. They include the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Arafura Games 2011, and the Alice Springs Masters Games (2010, 2012, 2014).

Dr Cardoso has worked as the team doctor for the Young Matildas (2019 – 2021), the Matildas (home series medical coverage in 2021 and 2022), the Opals (2018 – 2019), the Collingwood AFLW team (2018), the Melbourne Storm U20 rugby league team (2014), and the Rumbalara Football Netball Club (2011). She has toured internationally with the Young Matildas; the Opals; the Pararoos, the Australian men’s Paralympic soccer team; and the Joeys, the Australian U17 men’s soccer team. Since 2017, Dr Cardoso has served as the match day doctor during the national cricket season.

Dr Cardoso has worked at the Australian Institute of Sport, the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, the Ballarat Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine clinic, and the Melbourne Sports Medicine Centre.

Topics in her published research include tendinopathy, iron supplementation and AFL injuries.

Dr Romey Giles

Dr Romey Giles
MBChB FRACGP MForenMed

Dr Giles (she/her) is a Gippsland-based GP with a special interest in sexual health and wellbeing. She can support with medical abortions, contraception, STI screening and treatment, HIV PreP, cervical cancer screening, vulval health, and general women’s health issues.

Dr Giles can perform insertion and removal of Implanon®, a small implant under the skin that prevents pregnancy. She will be performing IUD insertions very soon, which are small contraceptive devices that also prevent pregnancy.

All appointments are 30 minutes as standard. Health Care Card holders will be bulk billed.

Find out the cost and eligibility criteria.

Who is eligible?

Anyone with a health concern can phone Latrobe Community Health Service to make an appointment to see a doctor.

In an emergency, you should dial 000 or go to a hospital emergency ward.

How much does this service cost?

We bulk-bill doctors’ appointments for:

Children under the age of 18.
Veteran Gold Card holders.
Pensioner and Concession card holders.

If you are in one of these groups, please bring the relevant card to your doctor appointment. If you’re not in one of these groups and have a valid Medicare card we will ask for a co-payment.

In some cases, you may need to pay for medicines or immunisations. You will be written a prescription to take to the pharmacy.

If you cannot attend your appointment, please phone us up to two hours before your appointment time to reschedule or cancel. Otherwise, we may charge a failure to attend fee to cover the cost of your missed appointment.