Dr. Coralie Wales 
(Ph.D. (CommBehavHealth), MRehabCouns, BA(Psych))

Facebook Live Panel Moderator

Coralie is a highly experienced community advocate with a deep understanding of the challenges associated with models used in practice to help people living with chronic pain. She is the founder of Chronic Pain Australia and is a Community & Consumer Engagement Manager at NSW Health. Coralie believes in collective power and works to address the social determinants of health for improvements in health and wellbeing in communities.

Akii Ngo 
(GradDipCCM, B.HumNut(Nut&Diet),DipProjMgmt,CertIVTAE) 

 Dr. Tamara Nation
(MBBS, Ph.D., FRACGP)

Medical Professional
Tamara is a medically trained but naturally focussed integrative GP.  She graduated from the University of Melbourne medical school in 2002 and has over 15 years of experience as a medical practitioner and has a special interest in chronic pain management, gut health, women’s and children’s health and is a TGA authorised medicinal cannabis prescriber. She believes in providing a holistic approach to care and aims to give patients the highest standards of modern medicine and evidence-based integrative therapies. Tamara has undertaken extensive training in cannabinoid medicine nationally and internationally and was an early adopter of medicinal cannabis therapy for patients in Australia. This has enabled her to provide experienced and considered care for patients seeking medicinal cannabis for a range of illnesses.

Megan Kuelas

Faces of Pain video participant from Canberra, ACT.

Megan lives with Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, and a heart condition caused by her chronic pain. Megan is thankful to be currently treated by a pain specialist who values and respects her but admits that good health professionals are not easy to come by. Megan is grateful to her family, friends, and work colleagues who have been an incredible support network for her. Megan says she is lucky to be able to maintain a full-time job but often feels guilty when her health gets in the way. Her mental health is always at the forefront of her mind and she takes active steps to manage it. Megan hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage others to share their stories too.

Daniel Monteleone 

Faces of Pain video participant from Geelong, VIC.

Daniel is the founder of an interdisciplinary health clinic, Proactive Health, and Movement, which he was inspired to create based on his own firsthand experiences of living with chronic pain. After an injury where he broke 8 bones in his right foot and then required hip surgery, he realised that recoveries are not always easy and that navigating the health care landscape as a client can be a difficult, confusing and isolating task for many. Daniel is grateful that firsthand experience has provided him with empathy and compassion that is hard to find in a practitioner and that he now gets to help others living with ongoing pain. While Daniel is no longer living with constant pain and is mainly pain-free, he knows his body has heightened sensitivity to pain, particularly in certain areas and recognises the best thing to do when that happens is to listen to his body, don’t ignore the pain messages and work with, not against his body.

Kate Gill

Kate is a Faces of Pain video participant from Cairns, QLD. 

Kate is a proud single mother of two daughters and has lived with neuropathic chronic pain for over 10 years. She receives twice yearly nerve block treatments to help manage the pain symptoms. She is a former nurse, turned community pharmacist who recognises her own personal experiences with chronic pain has given her important insights when supporting, educating and communicating with patients who come in seeking analgesia (pain relief). Kate accepts that chronic pain will likely always be a part of her life but is proud of herself for accepting and acknowledging that she can still live a fulfilling and worthwhile life in spite of the pain.