The Cottage Medical Centre

30/10/2025

Please welcome Dr Donna Machin who has recently joined the team at the Cottage. A UK born and raised doctor, recently relocated to Geelong West from Suffolk in England, UK. Donna qualified as a GP in 2006 and after a short time providing services as a locum both short term and more medium term in the sense of 2 maternity locums, in 2008 she finally settled into a Partnership in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, where Donna worked as a GP Partner for almost 17 years alongside a team of other GP's and nursing staff. Donna has very much enjoyed being a family Dr managing both acute and chronic illnesses. Whilst working as a GP she also learned about Psychodynamic Therapy to help her develop a more in depth knowledge of mental health and particularly its complex relationship to physical illness
Donna is very much looking forward to joining the team at The Cottage Medical Centre and forming new relationships with patients in the area and working as part of a team in the centre.
Donna would like to think she is friendly and approachable and that patients can rely on her to provide a stable and reliable service. Whilst she loves working as a GP Donna also loves to keep fit and enjoys walking, running, cold water swimming, dancing as well as relaxing with a good book. Travelling has also become a passion.
Donna hopes to see some of you soon at The Cottage.

28/07/2025

The Cottage Medical Centre would like to welcome Dr Liza Thoppil to the team.
Dr Thoppil is a GP with nearly 20 years’ experience in General Practice, and completed her Medical Degree and GP training in the UK before moving to Australia in 2009. Liza has interests in mental health, lifestyle medicine (more on this below), women’s health, preventative medicine, and the management of chronic diseases — especially conditions related to insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes, PCOS and weight management.
In addition to assessing and managing mental health conditions, prescribing medications for mental health conditions and providing mental health care plans, Dr Thoppil is a registered provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies. This allows her to offer evidence-based psychological therapy sessions under a GP mental health care plan for common concerns such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Dr Thoppil is a member of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle medicine approaches health through the lens of six key lifestyle factors: nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, meaningful social connections, and reducing harmful behaviours. These play a significant role in preventing and managing chronic disease. It is a holistic approach that goes beyond treating symptoms to also look at the possible causes arising from lifestyle factors that can potentially be modified. It empowers the patient to actively take part in understanding and improving their health — and as you can probably tell, Liza is passionate about it! Liza notes "It is an honour and privilege to witness and support my patients on their health journey and growth".
Consultations are holistic and patient-centred, and generally sees patients for longer appointment times to reflect this — typically 30 minutes, and sometimes up to an hour.
Please note that Dr Thoppil does not co-prescribe stimulant medications for ADHD. She is happy to support patients with ADHD as long as they have a treating Psychiatrist who prescribes stimulants if these are deemed necessary.
Outside of work, I’m a mum to my 13-year-old daughter. When not “mumming,” I love to dance, sing, cook, play badminton, walk with my walking buddies, and sleep!

Please call 5241 6129 to book an appointment!

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