ADVANCED: Advanced Level Pelvic Health
Content
Advance your pelvic health skill set with this two day course (1 day theory on-line and 1 day practical in-person).
- Update your subjective and objective examination skills (vaginal and rectal) to ensure you are working to the highest standard.
 
- Review specific techniques to assess and treat different maternal birth injuries including perineal and vaginal tears, levator ani avulsions, and coccyx injuries.
 
- Learn objective assessment techniques to stage pelvic organ prolapse using POP-Q measurements
 
- Expand your objective assessment skills by learning standing and sitting vaginal examinations.
 
- Test your advanced palpation skills including assessing scarring, muscle tone, and different muscle contraction states.
 

- Bladder, bowel, and food diaries will be critically appraised, as will common outcome measures used in pelvic health.

- Adjunctive therapy such as pelvic floor training devices and apps will be discussed in detail, including where to access them. 

- The importance of gut disorders and the gut microbiome, sleep, nutrition, breathing, stress management, and exercise will be reviewed as they affect pelvic health.

- Other pelvic health conditions and treatments covered include pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunctions, menopause, prostate surgery, and hard flaccid syndrome. Common dermatological conditions and cancers of the pelvic region will also be reviewed.

Throughout the course we will also be discussing in small groups complex case studies and challenging you to think critically at all stages of the patient management process. This is alongside multiple practical sessions for you to practice your assessment and treatment skills in a supportive environment.

If you combine the ADVANCED course with the PELVIC PAIN course, you will complete the     
PART B: Pelvic Health Proficiency Certificate.
Format

To give busy health professionals more flexible learning options and to reduce travel costs, we have split the ADVANCED course into two parts: a Theory Day and a Practical Day. The Theory day is On-Demand for self-paced learning. You must complete the Theory Day before attending the Practical Day. The Practical Day will be In-Person in a variety of locations in 2026 (to be confirmed shortly!).

Participants
To attend this course, you must already be practicing as a pelvic health professional and have some experience in performing internal vaginal examinations with patients.
 

Female, male and gender diverse people who are registered health professionals in good standing in your home country are invited to enroll in the course.  Health professional registration must be with the appropriate health professional board in your country such as Physiotherapy Board of NZ, AHPRA boards in Australia, Osteopathic Council of NZ, The Nursing Council of NZ, Medical Council of NZ, etc.

This course includes multiple practical sessions:

- We have advanced realistic silicone vaginal models (called 'Lily', after the Mt Cook native wildflower) available to practice vaginal examinations, levator ani avulsion assessments, and POP-Q measures.

- If you wish to do peer-to-peer learning, it involves internal examinations with participants practicing on each other during the practical sessions. By using peer-to-peer learning, participants gain vital learning on how it feels to be a patient, as well as a health professional, ensuring you gain well rounded experiential learning. This course allows people of all genders an opportunity to learn from each other and gain vital, practical clinical skills. If you have specific requirements around genders, culture, trauma history, or something else during peer-to-peer learning, this will be taken into account so you are completely comfortable if you wish to take part. Informed consent is discussed in detail on the course, and you will have the ability to consent or not consent to internal examination at the time of the assessments if you choose to take part in peer-to-peer learning.

You can also choose to combine using the silicone model and peer-to-peer learning, its up to you. 

Pre-requisites
Pre-requisite: INTERNALS: Introduction to Pelvic Health Internal Exams. Or equivant with a different provider.
 
 
If you have attended courses with other reputable trainers, please get in touch with Melissa to see if you qualify to attend this course.
Presenter
Dr Melissa Davidson is the only registered Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health in New Zealand. Alongside more than three decades of clinical practice, Melissa has extensive post graduate qualifications including a PhD in Bioengineering, research Masters from The University of Melbourne, a Diploma in Advanced Orthopaedic Manipulations from Canada, and Post Graduate Certificates in Physiotherapy in both Pelvic Floor and Acupuncture. She also has a Certificate in Health Science and is a Certified Health Coach. She is registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand under Specialist Scope of Practice and is a long-term member of Physiotherapy New Zealand. She is the immediate past President of the International Organisation of Physiotherapists in Pelvic and Women's Health.
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, Physiotherapist
 
"Melissa presents and delivers a totally relevant course which sets you up so well with techniques and knowledge you can use immediatley on returning to work on Monday. She makes attending a course an absolute pleasure and inspires you to continue improving and learning in a fun and informal way. Oh yes - also great location and food." 
 
- Jo, Physiotherapist
 
"Melissa is able to really keep you engaged delivering a fantastic learning experience. A very well put together course."
 
- Glenn, Osteopath
 
"Great course! I really felt it cemented the knowledge learned on the internals course to make me more confident as a pelvic health Physio"
 
- Jenny, Physiotherapist
 
"I work as an Osteopath and I have done 2 of Melissa's courses in Pelvic Health. The course has increased my anatomical and palpatory knowledge, the objective practical internal vaginal / rectal examination and treatment for pelvic health issues in men and woman. The missing link in this area for us Osteopaths who are treating pelvic health issues."
 
- Anne, Osteopath
 
"This is a great course to consolidate the learning from the integration and internals courses. Melissa provides an awesome learning environment and makes a situation that can be quite confronting, comfortable for all participants (from my perspective as the only male on the course!)"
 
- Derek, Physiotherapist
 
"The course was really valuable and helped me consolidate so much information. The amount of practical time we got was great and helped me gain a lot more confidence with my assessment and treatments. This course has given helped me elevate my pelvic health knowledge and skills!!! Food and venue were beautiful!! Melissa and Simon create such a comfortable and supportive space to learn and hone your skills!"
 
- Anneka, Physiotherapist
 
Additional Information:

Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea will be provided on the Practical day. If you have specific food requirements or allergies, we recommend you bring your own food with you.

Please note, if the Practical day is held at Melissa and Simon's home in Kinloch, Ripley and Strider, our two black labs, are ready, willing and able to provide cuddles as a key ingredient to a successful learning experience. It is recommended that you don't wear white and don't take a ball from Strider if he offers you one 🙂. If having dogs present on the course in the main teaching room is going to be an issue for you, I suggest doing the course in a different location.

Pre-reading and Evaluations:
Three weeks before the course, we will be in touch with details of pre-reading and tasks to be completed prior to the course.
 

You will also need to complete a short pre-course test prior to the course to check your understanding of the pre-reading.

During the course there will be practical assessments testing clinical assessment skills learned on the weekend to ensure that by the end of the course you are competent. These are completed throughout the day and done in a relaxed, comfortable fashion. You will need to pass these assessments to complete the course.

You will also need to complete a post-course test and evaluation within 2 weeks after the course to receive your completion certificate.

Investment:

Full course fee: NZ$945 including GST for the two-day course. 

Advanced Theory Day only: NZ$495 including GST for one day.
 

Advanced Practical Day only: NZ$495 including GST for one day.

Join the waiting list for 2026
This course will next be running in 2026. Register for the waiting list below.
Click here to register for the waiting list