In person and online live courses
*Pre-requisite for INTERMEDIATE for people who have not done rectal exams previously, or for those who want a refresher.
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Do you want to learn more about pelvic health but you don't want to learn how to do internal examinations?
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Do you want to advance your knowledge of both women's and men's pelvic health?
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Do you feel you are missing a piece of the puzzle when it comes to patient care?
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Do you treat both female and male patients for general musculoskeletal issues?
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This course is now offered in-person and online live.
Click on the image to see full details of the course
What people are saying about this course:
As a male full time MSK outpatient physio, I found this course really valuable, and will definitely look to bring what I have learned into my practice. I'd strongly recommend this course to any MSK physio, as it's an area of practice where we need to address more directly and become more competent - Conor
The focus of this course is learning how to do internal vaginal and rectal examinations safely and competently to current international standards. This includes learning how to diagnose pelvic organ prolapses, levator ani avulsions, perineal tears, coccyx injuries, and more. At the end of this course you will be able to call yourself a pelvic health therapist.
The course is very clinically focused and will give you tools to enable you to branch into the field of women's and men's pelvic health practice, including treating women for birthing injuries. Both female and male registered health practitioners are welcome on this course.
Incontinence (urinary and faecal), pelvic organ prolapse, levator ani avulsion, bowel issues, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain conditions in females and males will be introduced at a basic level.
Click on the image to see full details of the course
What people are saying about this course:
The best course I have been on in a long time, a relaxed environment for learning a new topic. Melissa has a great personality for teaching such a taboo topic and the whole weekend was the right balance of presentations and practical, highly recommend!! - Laura
The focus of this course will be on up-skilling your pelvic health practice, ensuring your ongoing competently and challenging you to the next level.
We will cover common clinical conditions in detail, advanced assessment techniques, and review the different treatment options you can offer your patient. The course is designed to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and advance your pelvic health practice.
Pre-requisite: INTERNALS (or equivalent). Recommended: INTEGRATION
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What people are saying about this course:
An absolutely incredible course full of laughter and knowledge. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking at advancing their basic internal and pelvic health skills. I gained so much from the course and feel a lot more confident with my rationale and skillset than I did before and I am so ready to put this in to practice with some of my more complex patients. Two cute black labs, the delicious food and the beautiful calming venue were bonuses! - Aimee
This short course is an introduction/refresher on how to do rectal exams and includes how to assess the coccyx (important for birthing injuries). It is suitable for health professionals who are doing vaginal exams but with no prior experience in rectal exams or who want to have a refresher session on rectal exams. If you have done our INTERNALS course already, you don't need to attend this course unless you would like a refresher and review of your skill set.
The course is scheduled for the afternoon before the INTERMEDIATE course as prep for those who have not done rectal exams previously or who need a refresher. The course can also be taken on its own; you don't need to book for INTERMEDIATE. But if you're in Taupo anyway, why not stay for the weekend and do both!
We will focus on subjective and objective rectal examinations, with theory and practical components.
Pre-requisite: Already practicing as a pelvic health therapist*
Click on the image to see full details of the course.
What people are saying about this course:
I found the course very helpful. Melissa has a great way of making you feel comfortable and able to learn in a casual and very non intimidating way. She makes the difficult seem so much easier.Great organization and resources. I'm looking forward to getting back to work and putting what I learnt into practice on Monday. - Jo
Business - 1 day in-person or online with 1 hour online follow-up Q&A
In this one-day course you will learn how to set yourself up confidently as a pelvic health professional, how to take your set of unique skills, and grow your business to maximize your income while staying true to your values of helping others in the field of pelvic health.
We will also cover how to develop your career pathway in the field of pelvic health.
The course includes a group 1 hour on-line follow-up session 4 weeks after the course to check in on your progress and answer any questions you have once you have returned to clinical practice.
Click on the image to see full details of the course.
What people are saying about this course:
This course is fantastic for all healthcare professionals who want to increase their knowledge of self promotion, and to increase business knowledge. It made me take a look at how we run our business and more specifically how I want to run my room, my side of the business. I am looking forward to implementing the changes in the very near future. - Renee
New for 2023 - Pelvic Pain - 2 day in-person
Join two of New Zealand's Specialist Physiotherapists for the first ever course of its kind! This practical and informative 2-day course will equip you on how to address the difficulties of persistent pelvic pain. Both Dr Jacqui Clark (Pain Specialist Physiotherapist) and Dr Melissa Davidson (Pelvic Health Specialist Physiotherapist) have a wealth of international teaching experience, PhD research knowledge, and specialist clinical skills to share with you.
In a relaxed teaching environment, this course is appropriate for musculoskeletal physiotherapists/health professionals and pelvic health physiotherapists/health professionals who want to advance their skills in the comprehensive care of individuals with persistent pelvic pain.
Click on the image to see full details of the course.
What people are saying about this courses:
As a gynaecologist, I have never fully appreciated the work and expertise of the pelvic health physiotherapist. My eyes have been opened at this course, what a privilege it has been to watch experts at work, with compassion, empathy and finesse. I have learned so much, and encouraged by the hope that there are others who can help my patients on their chronic pain journey. - Alice
This is a fantastic course to get your head around practical ways to manage complex pain. I feel a lot more confident now with my management of pelvic pain. - Ashley
New for 2023 - Pessaries - 2 day in-person
So new, Melissa hasn't had a chance to write the blurb for the course yet. For now we are taking expressions of interest for a proposed date in December 2023 with details to be confirmed.
These courses are focused on providing training to physiotherapists. However they are open to other registered health professionals with an interest in the field of pelvic health.
If you have any conditions on your scope of practice with your registration board, please contact Melissa prior to enrolling to ensure you can attend.
🐾 Please note: 🐾 Any courses held in our Kinloch location (near Taupo) will have two black labrador dogs present (Ripley and Strider) - its their home 😊. If this is going to be a issue for you, I suggest doing the course in a different location.
International health professionals: Physiotherapists can attend our courses in New Zealand without having to be registered by the Physiotherapy Board of NZ while training with us. While in NZ you are restricted from calling yourself a 'physiotherapist', but you can say you are a 'physiotherapist registered in .......'. Other health professionals, please check with the relevant professional board in NZ. Any questions regarding this, please contact Melissa prior to enrolling.
Professional Support
Engaging with mentors, supervisors, and peers has helped me achieve success in my career and in my business. Let me share my knowledge and experience to help guide you professionally.
Professional support to accelerate your professional career - we have three options for you to choose from:
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Pelvic Health DIRECT. Online forum to ask Melissa your Pelvic Health questions. Join for FREE.
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Pelvic Health CONNECT. Private members group with forum, live group mentoring and training with Melissa and access to resources for your Pelvic Health business. Paid membership.
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Pelvic Health PRO. One-on-one mentoring, training, or supervision with Melissa. Priced per hour. Discounts for Pelvic Health CONNECT members.
Click on the image for details of our professional support options
What people are saying about our mentoring:
Thank you Melissa... for all your support and advice, I could really feel how much you genuinely want us to succeed and improve our profession as a whole. It is inspiring and makes me want to be a better physiotherapist. – Anna, Pevlic Health Business Course 2021
Pelvic Health Directory NZ
Be found on the web where Kiwi referrers and patients are looking for Pelvic Health Professionals who can help with appropriate assessment and treatment for their pelvic health concerns.
Cancellation Policy for In-Person Courses
If you cancel more than 8 weeks before the course, you will receive a full refund less a $50 admin fee.
If you cancel up to 4 weeks before the course, you will receive a 50% refund less a $50 admin fee.
No refund will be given if you cancel with less than 4 week's notice. There are no exceptions to this.
If Melissa is unable to teach due to sickness, the course will be moved to an alternative date. If we have to move the course due to this, you will be offered a refund or spot on the alternative date course, whichever suits you. Please take this into account if you are flying in for the course or booking accommodation, make sure you have flexible arrangements in case of the course having to be rescheduled.
Q. What can I do if I can't attend and it's less than 4 weeks to the course?
We know that sometimes life happens and people can't attend a course due to illness, a family situation, or other last-minute reasons. In this case, we give you the option to find a suitable health professional to take your place on the course. Let us know their contact details (name, email, mobile number) so we can transfer your enrollment to them. And you sort out payment directly with them. Our Cancellation Policy applies to your replacement as well.
COVID-19 Information for In-Person Courses
We want to reduce the risk of ourselves and our course participants getting COVID-19, or passing it on to our whānau and community. All course participants will need to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Surgical or N95 mask wearing is not compulsory, however you may wear one if you wish.
If you are sick (either with Covid 19 or other viruses), you are unable to attend the course. On some courses (Integration and Business) we can enable joining the course remotely live - we need to arrange this in advance so get in contact with Simon to discuss this.
About us
Dr Melissa Davidson
Post graduate training has been an important part of Melissa's career development over the last 30 years while working clinically with patients. She completed her PhD at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland (researching the effects of pregnancy on the pelvic floor muscles and assessing the palpation skills of clinicians). She has a Master of Philosophy (researching pelvic floor muscle tightness in a population of pain patients) from the University of Melbourne, Post Graduate Certificates in Physiotherapy for the Pelvic Floor (University of Melbourne) and Acupuncture (Otago University), and an Advanced Diploma in Orthopaedic Manipulation from Canada.
As well as these formal qualifications, Melissa has attended many short courses in a variety of topics ranging from musculoskeletal, to acupuncture, to pelvic health, and sexuality. She has also tutored and examined at the University of Melbourne (in Pelvic Floor and Women's Health) and presents both nationally and internationally. She is an active member of the Pelvic, Women's and Men's Health SIG of Physiotherapy New Zealand and is the current President to the International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Pelvic and Women's Health. Melissa has also completed a Certificate in Health Science and PK206: Gut Health and Allergies, from the Faculty of PreKure.
Alongside her clinical training, Melissa's employment history includes working in hospitals and private practices in New Zealand and Canada, as well as running her own successful multi-location private practice for 14 years. For the last 5 years she has been successfully consulting as a specialist physiotherapist in Queenstown, Christchurch, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. As part of running her own businesses, Melissa has invested many hours in business training to enhance her private practice procedures, her income, and develop a strong niche market. This unique set of skills enables her to provide specific training and support in helping other health professionals be successful in pelvic health and business.
Dr Melissa Davidson
Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health
PhD, MPhil, Dip.Physiotherapy, B.Science, Dip.Manipulation,
Post Graduate Certificates in Physiotherapy (Pelvic Floor and Acupuncture)
Certificate in Health Science
Registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand under Specialist Scope of Practice
Member of Physiotherapy New Zealand
Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health
PhD, MPhil, Dip.Physiotherapy, B.Science, Dip.Manipulation,
Post Graduate Certificates in Physiotherapy (Pelvic Floor and Acupuncture)
Certificate in Health Science
Registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand under Specialist Scope of Practice
Member of Physiotherapy New Zealand
If you join us for a course in Kinloch (near Taupo), you will get to meet our 'fur-babies' as we run the courses out of our home. And you should not draw any conclusions about why their photos appear above Simon's ;-)
Ripley loves to greet everyone enthusiastically with her soft toys, and suckling her blanket or her teddy.
Strider loves giving everyone a ball to throw for him and snuggling into people for cuddles.
Simon Smith
Simon is the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) and Co-Founder of Dr Melissa Davidson Pelvic Health Training. He is not a physiotherapist but he had the good sense to marry one.
Simon has worked in accounting and IT for the Health and Disability Commissioner, nzski.com, and AJ Hackett Bungy. While he was business manager for our private physiotherapy business in Queenstown, Simon moon-lighted as a contract trainer for Gensolve, New Zealand's leading PMS provider.
In our Christchurch years, Simon worked with Motus Health on projects to launch a pain service, and a joint venture with ACC and private hospitals leading to an Escalated Care Pathway for knee injuries. When we moved to Taupo, Simon completed a stint as Regional Manager - Waikato for APM Workcare before re-joining the family firm.
While Melissa is the face of the business (and out collecting qualifications), Simon uses his business and management experience to work behind the scenes dealing with the web-site, the bean-counting, and course and membership support requests - all the stuff that Melissa thinks is boring. He also consults with private practice owners to improve their businesses processes, cash flow, efficiently, and at the same time reduce the owners (and employees) stress levels. This includes providing accreditation advice, documents, and support.
Simon Simon
CTO and Co-Founder
B.Com. Cert in Training and Human Resource Development
Course Locations