We acknowledge and honour the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people and all First Australians as the traditional custodians of this beautiful continent. Their cultures stand among the oldest living cultures in human history, a testament to their resilience and wisdom. We pay our deepest respects to them and their Elders, past, present, and future, and express our gratitude for the privilege of living and working in Nillumbik.
In the realm of complementary health, we pay particular respect to Indigenous people as the original healers of this land. For millennia, they have nurtured the wellbeing of the country and its inhabitants. We recognise the profound knowledge and practices of First Nations people and are inspired to listen to, learn and grow from their teachings.
As we live and work on unceded Wurundjeri land, we pledge our ongoing commitment, however modest, to bridging the gap and fostering genuine reconciliation.
Hi there! My name is Dr Kathrin Schmieder. I am the founder and owner @ unwind & recharge | Hurstbridge Healing Space for Women. I work as a Remedial Therapist in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia), specialising in stress, anxiety and pain management.
Many years ago, after a life-changing experience as a young girl, I promised myself I would live a fulfilling and meaningful life. My work as a remedial therapist is part of this aspiration. I am passionate about my work and believe deeply in the power of touch to help women feel better and reconnect with their bodies.
I was drawn to this modality because I felt the urge to counteract the demands of our busy lifestyles and contribute to a healthcare system where touch is often undervalued. I have high ethical standards, an intuitive mind, academic skills, and five decades of life experience. I genuinely believe in the healing power of safe, compassionate touch and the benefits of regular bodywork. It is a gentle way to address mental and physical health holistically. Through manual therapy and somatic coaching, I strive to empower women, enhance their body awareness, help them listen to their needs, help break unhelpful habits, and encourage active participation in their wellbeing.
My vision is to see a shift in how medical professionals and policymakers view Massage Therapy and other valuable complementary health practices. I believe they should be an integrated part of public healthcare rather than separate from it. I also believe that manual therapies, such as massage, should be accessible to everyone. As a visiting research fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a member of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, I actively contribute to projects that support and advance this vision.
Qualifications, awards and affiliations:
- Somatic Life Coach & Nervous System Regulation Practitioner in training, MBF Institute, 2025-2026
- Nillumbik Community Fund for community initiative ‘Caring Touch – Safe, supportive touch and massage guidance for carers and care recipients’, 2025-2026
- Massage & Myotherapy Australia Ethics in Practice Award, 2025
- Certificate of Oncology Massage, Oncology Massage Global, 2025
- Massage & Myotherapy Australia National Conference Scholarship Scheme Winner, 2024
- Participant of the Nillumbik Leaders Community Leadership Program, 2024
- Participant in the International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program at ARCCIM, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 2020-2024
- Visiting research fellow at the Australian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), since 2020
- Doctor of Philosophy, Swinburne University, Melbourne, 2015
- Member of the Association of Professional Therapists, Massage & Myotherapy AUS, since 2016
- Diploma of Remedial Massage, Melbourne Institute of Massage Therapy & Myotherapy, 2019
- Certificate IV in Massage Therapy, Holistic Education College, Melbourne, 2015
- Certificate of Pregnancy Massage, Pregnancy Massage Australia, 2019
- Reiki training (Level 1 and 2) in the Usui System of Natural Healing, Melbourne, 2020
On a personal note:
I am also a mum, second (bonus 🙂 mum, partner, and lover of contemporary dance, music, photography, art, nature and travelling. I value kindness, respect, and a community where people care and look out for each other. I feel grateful to live and work in Nillumbik.
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