Our Team
Merendi Leverett
Merendi Leverett graduated from Central Queensland University in June 1998 with a Bachelor of Human Movement Science, and from Queensland University of Technology in June 2000 with a Graduate Diploma of Health Science (majoring in Human Movement with a specialisation in Exercise Rehabilitation). She has also completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which compliments her delivery of education programs in areas such as manual handling, injury prevention, and both community and corporate health education.
Merendi has been working in the areas of occupational rehabilitation, early intervention services, injury management, chronic disease management and health education for 20 years. She has reached the highest level of accreditation with ESSA as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP), which allows her to see clients referred under health schemes such as Medicare, Department of Veteran Affairs, Workers Compensation, Life/Income Protection and NDIS.
Merendi has been in private practice for 16 years and has extensive experience working with clients whom have chronic injuries, chronic fatigue, rheumatologic disorders, and pregnancy/post-natal related conditions. Merendi's individually developed exercise programs are for people of all ages and fitness levels. She has a fresh and vibrant, but structured approach to her intervention, thus ensuring that you stay highly motivated and focused on achieving your goals, whilst also having fun along the way.
Merendi has been delivering a range of health education programs to corporate groups and general population for 10 years and has also delivered many “Preventative Health” programs including “Reset Your Life” and “HEAL”. She has also created her own DVD (yet to be released) on Type 2 Diabetes Management and has also been a regular guest presenter on a variety of topics – pregnancy and exercise, Exercise & Diabetes, injuries and exercise rehabilitation at variety of events, conferences and expos over the past 7 years.
Merendi is also an experienced Rehabilitation Consultant. She has worked for a number of Self Insured companies assisting them in returning their injured employees successfully to their pre-employment positions. Merendi has excellent skills in developing goal-orientated rehabilitation and return to work plans. She is a qualified Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator with Q-Comp and is a recognised rehabilitation provider with Comcare (Federal Workers Compensation). Merendi also provides consultancy services to individuals and businesses in the areas of Injury Prevention and Early Intervention services. She also specialises in providing advice to employers on all aspects related to non-work related injuries and how to best support their employees back to work.
Merendi has also been writing in the areas of health and well-being for the past 10 years. Some of her work has been featured in many online and print-based magazines and newspapers nationally. Merendi was also approached some years ago to be the ‘health expert’ on the product Revitive (http://www.revitive.com.au/) due to her extensive experience in the area of health and exercise. She was asked to write an article on ‘exercise and leg circulation in women’ that was promoted nationally throughout Australia. As part of this campaign she was also requested to do a radio interview about this topic.
Merendi is approached regularly by freelance writers to provide ‘comments’ or be interviewed on various health issues and topics current in the media for national newspapers and magazines such as “Herald Sun” and “Weight Watchers”.
Merendi has co-contributed to a book titled "Therapeutic Physical Activities" edited by Li Li and Shuqi Zhang. The title of her chapter is “Therapeutic physical activities for people with low back pain”. Merendi has also written her own E-Book on “How exercise can assist in the management of Chronic Diseases” (yet to be released).
On a personal note, Merendi is a mother to 13 year old non-identical twin sons, 10 year old and 3 year old daughters, and a 15mth old son. Since becoming a mum in 2004 Merendi now understands and appreciates the importance of good health and exercise during pregnancy and after giving birth. Since this time she has developed a specialist interest in developing specific exercise programs for women during their pregnancy and post-birth, due to her own experiences of pregnancy, child birth and raising children. Merendi herself knows the time constraints of mothers and offers exercise programs tailored to fit in with every mother's busy life.