Caboolture Team

Dr Moir qualified in medicine in Aberdeen, Scotland, in June 1975. Early in his career, he spent 7 years working as a medical officer and scientific research officer in Papua New Guinea.  After completing an MSc degree at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1986, he returned to the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, obtaining his specialist qualification in December 1994.  He has been associated with IVF Sunshine Coast since 1996, and clinical director from 1999.

Website: www.moirmedical.com.au

Phone: 5444 0799

Dr Jeff Tarr - Fertility Specialist

Dr Tarr graduated in medicine at the University of Queensland in 1972. He obtained his Diploma in Obstetrics in 1975, and the specialist MRCOG qualification in London in 1980, the FRACOG following in 1982.

Dr Tarr has worked on the Sunshine Coast since 1982, initially as visiting medical officer at Nambour General Hospital . He has worked at the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital since 1990 and been with the IVF group since 1997.

Website: www.ivfprocedures.com.au

Phone: 5444 0369

Dr Petra Ladwig - Fertility Specialist

Dr Ladwig graduated MBBS University of New South Wales 1990 (Honours), followed by FRANZCOG January 2000. Petra commenced private practice at the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim in September 2000. She was invited to join the IVF Sunshine Coast team soon after.

Phone: 5437 7244

Dr Mahilal Ratnapala - Fertility Specialist

Dr Ratnapala is Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Caboolture Hospital, Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland, Gynaecologist, Caboolture Private Hospital, a Director of IVF Caboolture, is the Training Supervisor for ITP RANZCOG Trainee Registrars, Examiner for Membership & Diploma Examinations of RANZCOG, and also Examiner for Australian Medical Council. His special interests include urogynaecology, pelvic reconstructive surgery, laparoscopic surgery and fertility issues.

Phone: 5495 9440

Dr Pravin Kasan - Fertility Specialist

Dr Pravin Kasan graduated from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 1972. After post graduate studies in the UK he attained his MRCOG in 1977 and qualified as a fellow of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1981. He was appointed as Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Redcliffe Hospital in 1981 and branched out into private practice in 1989.

Phone: 3284 4211

Brenda Bimrose - Nurse Manager

Brenda completed her nursing training in 1981. She had her first insight into IVF from working in operating theatres and being involved in egg pick ups as early as 1984. In 2002 she started work part time as a nurse coordinator at IVF Sunshine Coast. She continued in this role until 2007 when she took on the role of IVF Sunshine Coast Nurse Manager. Outside of work Brenda enjoys participating in ‘ mini triathalons’, riding her motor bike and drinking wine with family and friends.

Johanna O'Hara - Nurse Manager 

Johanna graduated with a Diploma of Higher education in adult nursing from the University of Plymouth located in the pretty coastal County of Devon, England in 2006. She commenced her nursing career as a staff nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital. Following this she began working as an IVF specialist nurse at the Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine in 2007. With a love of travelling and experiencing different cultures she moved to the Caribbean to work for Barbados Fertility Centre as an IVF nurse manager involved in the set up of their new Trinidadian satellite unit in Jan 2009.  She then moved to sunny Australia in Jan 2010 to work as a senior nurse in a large Brisbane clinic, moving to IVF Caboolture in March 2011. She enjoys camping, travelling, boating, attempting to fish, and a nice bottle of Chardonnay with my husband.  

Michelle Gall - Nurse co-ordinator/Donor co-ordinator

Michelle completed her registered nursing training in 1989 at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.  Since then she has also completed a Bachelor of Nursing, specialising in Midwifery.  After working with Nambour General Hospital for 8 years Michelle took up the opportunity to work as a Nurse Co-ordinator at the IVF Sunshine Coast clinic.  During the 6 years she has been with IVF SC she has also taken on the role of donor co-ordinator as her specific interests lie in donor issues and the potential opportunities they can create for infertile couples.  Outside of work Michelle enjoys time with family and friends.

Ashley Stevenson - Scientific Director

Ashley's interest in human reproduction began with his Bachelor of Science degree and Honours thesis on "Antisperm Antibodies and Infertility", completed in 1981 at the University of Newcastle.  After working on a variety of research projects, he then started to specialise in human IVF.  This involved initial training with Professor Carl Wood and the Monash IVF group in Melbourne in 1987.  He has since moved on to manage and establish IVF Centres in New South Wales and Queensland.  Ashley has been with IVF Sunshine Coast since its inception.  Outside of work Ashley enjoys horse riding and travel.

Jacintha Luermans - Laboratory Manager

Jacintha completed her Bachelor of Science (Hons) at Monash University and her Masters in Clinical Embryology at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development.  She then left Melbourne and worked as an embryologist in Brisbane for 4 years.  After returning to her home town of Melbourne for just one year to work in the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory, she decided to return to Queensland – it was a little to cold!  She then began work with IVF Sunshine Coast in 2006 just prior to our move from Nambour to Lake Kawana.  She has a keen interest in genetics and preimplantation genetic screening and loves to share her scientific knowledge with patients.  Outside of work Jacintha enjoys travelling, spending time with friends, being active and beach walks with her dog Pino.

Christine Lucas - Laboratory Supervisor

Christine graduated from the University of Queensland in 2000 with a Bachelor of Applied Science.  She joined IVF Caboolture in September 2008 after beginning in administration in 2005 in a large inner-city Brisbane IVF clinic and then moving into their lab in 2006 to begin her embryology career.  She also enjoys working in a small personalized team where all staff members get to know each and every patient, and especially looks forward to patients returning with their new bundle of joy.  In her spare time Christine likes relaxing with family and friends, photography, and always has a book on the go.

Jasmine Gutzke - IVF Scientist

Jasmine completed the first 2 years of her Bachelor of Science (Hons) at the University of Sydney before relocating to the Sunshine Coast to finalize her degree.  She was delighted with the opportunity to train as an Embryologist with the IVF Sunshine Coast clinic where she has been working since 2008.  Outside of work Jasmine enjoys catching up with friends, eating out and going to the beach.

Anita Trendle - Counsellor

Anita graduated with Honours (Psychology) from the University of Southern Queensland in Psychology in 1993, and completed a two year internship to obtain full membership to the Australian Psychological Society.  She has worked as a Counselling Psychologist for 14 years, and now manages a team of five psychologists in Caboolture.  Outside of work Anita enjoys bushwalking, spending time with family and learning to play the piano.

Website:  www.atpsych.com.au

Leanna Heffernan - Counsellor

Leanne graduated with a Masters of Applied Psychology from Macquarie University Sydney in 1995.  She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health from Queensland University and is an Associate Member of the Australian Psychology Society.  She has been working in the psychology field for over 15 years, the last 3 and a half years in private practice.  Out side of work Leanne enjoys playing and watching a variety of sports, reading and spending time with her family.

Website: www.atpscyh.com.au

Carol joined our team in 2010, having previously worked across all areas of Medical administration.  She is passionate about her work and empathetic to our patients, happily assisting with account and Medicare enquiries.  Outside of work Carol enjoys spending time with her two sons and her friends.