Jacqui Fernandez Naturopath Ballarat

02/04/2026

Health Fund Rebates — Update

We have been advised today by the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) regarding the reinstatement of selected health fund rebates.

As a fully accredited member of both ATMS and PACFA (Clinical), I am registered with selected health funds across a number of approved modalities.

Psychotherapy (PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor)
Bupa, ARHG, Medibank Private, AHM, HCF

Clinical Nutrition
Australian Unity, NIB, AHM, CBHS, ARHG

Herbal Medicine
ARHG

Naturopathy
ARHG

Eligibility varies between policies and individual levels of cover, so I recommend checking directly with your health fund to confirm what applies to your consultations.

All consultations are conducted online, Australia-wide.

14/03/2026

I was honoured to be invited as a guest by the CEO of ATMS (Australian Traditional Medicine Society) on the “Let’s Talk Natural Medicine – Legends Series” podcast, sharing reflections from my clinical journey in integrative and personalised healthcare.

It felt like chatting with a girlfriend and perhaps having a little too much fun along the way.

Doing the podcast made me reminisce about so many early blunders. Early in my career, I once enthusiastically asked a patient for their history (I meant medical history)… and they proceeded to give me their criminal history.

Another time, slightly confused, I asked my lecturer what STDs stood for. Coming from a corporate accounting background, to me, it meant accounting standards — while in healthcare, it meant sexually transmitted diseases. Oops! We live and learn.

A few reflections from the podcast that resonated with me:

• When your life purpose taps you on the shoulder, the bigger risk is often not taking the risk.

• There are no shortcuts or magic bullets — only hard work, continual learning and passion for what you do.

• Sometimes the answer begins by turning down the noise and focusing on what genuinely supports your health journey.

• Long-term health improves when we learn to recognise our own symptoms, triggers and health patterns — and remain consistent over time..

• A patient-centred therapeutic alliance is built on commitment, mutual trust, empathy and collaboration.

• Embrace the experiences, the lessons, and the people who are genuinely in your corner.

• One of my favourite parts of the conversation was discussing the art of blending herbs — one of the great privileges of naturopathic practice and a way to create truly personalised care.

Grateful for the opportunity to share the conversation on integrative and patient-centred health.

🎧 The episode is now available on:
• Spotify: Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/19kR5xzZSSF3GRECuziThu?si=98b435473a6b4e28
• YouTube: Watch here – https://youtu.be/MxRJvJEIWdY?si=yN4XQ9fuSefh32x1

What does integrative healthcare really look like in practice?In this episode of Let’s Talk Natural Medicine – Legends Series, host Annie Gibbins speaks with...

07/03/2026

This morning, I collected a couple of baskets of nectarines from our little kitchen garden tree. 🍑 I’ll drop some off at the Food Is Free community centre over the long weekend.

Juicy, sun-warmed and bursting with flavour.

At our front door, we keep earthenware pots of thyme, rosemary and nigella, and in the kitchen garden we grow herbs like oregano, basil, peppermint, tarragon, lemon balm and coriander.

Through the seasons we harvest asparagus, kale, globe artichokes, tomatoes and a variety of greens, and our small orchard gives us apples, pears, cherries, nectarines, peaches and figs.

Each spring, we give the soil a little support with Epsom salts, boron and compost from our worm farm, and by summer, the trees reward us.

Moments like this remind me that food begins with soil, sunshine, rain and patience.

Health often begins one plate at a time.

Do you grow anything edible at home — even herbs in a pot?

28/02/2026

Some secrets don’t just stay hidden — they box us in.
They build quiet walls of fear, shame, or guilt that limit how freely we live.
Over time, we shrink ourselves to protect what feels unsafe to reveal.
The secret begins to hold the power.
Sometimes healing starts when we gently step outside the box.

22/02/2026

Gastrointestinal conditions can increase the risk of osteoporosis and are often overlooked. They may begin early in life (such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease), leading to long-term exposure to bone health risks.

Poor digestion and absorption can reduce the body’s ability to take in key nutrients needed for bone strength, which may weaken bones over time.

When combined with lifestyle factors like smoking, poor diet, and low physical activity, the risk of bone loss increases further.

The good news: simple, preventative steps can help protect bone health.

15/02/2026

Kintsugi — the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — reminds us that what is broken is not discarded, but honoured and restored. Similar to the art of self- healing.

This philosophy speaks deeply to my work in the clinic. Psychotherapy and counselling are not about masking or hiding our past experiences, but about gently facing them so healing can occur.

It’s about empowerment through self-acceptance — integrating the past, reframing what we’ve lived through, and embracing the whole, perfectly imperfect self.

Perhaps it’s time we look at those cracks differently… not as flaws, but as places where healing — and even strength — can begin.

If this resonates, please remember — nothing about you is broken, and you don’t have to walk this path alone.

01/02/2026

Social media has become the educational highway for mental health. There’s more information available than ever — and that can be a really good thing.

For some people, at certain times, this content can be validating and empowering. For others, the same information — taken out of context or applied too broadly — can be confusing or unhelpful.

As with most things in mental health, balance matters.
I think being attuned to your own circumstances is key.

24/01/2026

PALPITATIONS - There are many reasons your heart can go pit-a-pat-pat. If it suddenly flutters, thumps or skips, you’re not alone. Most palpitations are harmless, but persistent symptoms should not be dismissed without medical checks. Palpitations often involve the nervous system, hormones and electrolytes, and can be influenced by stress and other physiological changes.

Understanding how palpitations fit into your lifestyle, diet and overall health is key to supporting them naturally alongside medical care. With the right information, it becomes easier to know when to seek care — and what you can support.

10/01/2026

2026 has arrived with a different kind of energy.

Thank you to our CFA, volunteers, farmers, and community who have shown us what resilience really looks like — courage in real-time, action when and where it counts, and strength without fanfare.

It feels like this year, many of us won’t be shrinking to fit.
We’ll be owning our story — even against the odds.

29/11/2025

In a world that moves quickly, slow and simple living invites you to rediscover what truly matters. It’s not about drastic change — it’s about gentle shifts that help you create a life that feels more intentional, grounded, and nourishing.

A life where you say yes to what matters, no to what drains you, and choose small moments of presence over constant rush.
Here is a simple guide to living simply and loving fully — one mindful step at a time.

22/11/2025

Navigating changes in libido is something many women experience — but very few talk about.
Hormones, stress, relationships, energy, emotional well-being, medications, and physical changes all play a role.

If you’ve noticed a shift in your desire, you are not alone, and it is completely appropriate to seek support.

As a naturopath, nutritionist and psychotherapist, I work with women to understand the why behind these changes and gently restore hormonal, emotional, and physical balance.

09/11/2025

Why We Need a New Way to Look at Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain affects many of us — living with it for weeks or months can be overwhelming, bringing exhaustion, confusion, and isolation.

Traditionally, medicine has viewed pain through a biomedical lens. But pain isn’t always clear or measurable — it’s deeply personal, shaped by your own story and its impact on the body, mind, and emotions.

When acute pain isn’t resolved, it can become chronic, triggering fatigue, mood changes, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, and emotional strain. This is when a whole-person approach becomes essential.

An integrated model of pain management looks beyond medication or procedures alone. It combines medical insight, testing, lifestyle, diet, nutrition, herbal medicine, and psychological care to restore balance and improve quality of life.

Healing begins when you move from simply managing pain to understanding it — becoming an informed, empowered partner in your own recovery.