Koala Massage Therapies

01/08/2025

Read a delegates perspective of the ALA Symposium 2025 in Perth and her review of Emma Holly's workshop on negative pressure and scars

31/07/2025

I'm so thrilled to find Helen here in Cleveland😊

29/07/2025

Need a bit more compression on the top of your foot? Over the distal metatarsals (where the toes join the foot)?
Try some shirring elastic woven across the top of your toe piece, or a rolled men's hanky on top of your compression gear, and pull a sock over the top.
Timing is probably limited to when you can rest with your feet up, as it's difficult to hold in place when mobile.
As always, check with your health professional if this is right for you.

More resources available on LAA website.

www.lymphaustralia.org.au/resources/living-with-lymphoedema/

02/07/2025

I finally completed the scar therapy practitioner course!
I did two case studies and amazed with the result 😊
I am looking forward to applying all the new skills and knowledge to my practice and help people beyond the scar.

17/06/2025

I am so privileged to learn the scar therapy from Emma Holly. The scar therapy course was amazing ✨

07/06/2025

👏

⛰️ A momentous step forward for cancer care in our region!

Not too long ago, our incredible massage therapist Rachel walked through the doors of and onto the ward—for the very first time—as part of the inpatient care team 🙌

This makes SATH the first hospital in our region (and possibly in all of Queensland!) to officially integrate oncology massage into care for inpatients—a milestone we’ve been advocating for over many years 👏👏👏

Oncology massage isn’t just a “nice to have”—the evidence shows it can reduce pain, anxiety, nausea and fatigue for people undergoing cancer treatment.

We’re proud to see this compassionate, evidence-based care becoming more accessible—and grateful to St Andrew’s for leading the way.

02/06/2025

31/05/2025

Imagine being left with a scar after mastectomy and radiotherapy that is like this and being told “nothing more can be done”. While this is not representative of most mastectomy scars, some individuals are left with deeply adhered (stuck) scars after cancer surgery and radiotherapy. The tissue becomes so damaged that further surgery may create more problems than it solves.

This type of scar will respond to Restore Scar Therapy massage techniques, which should soften and bring more mobility into the area. As the tissue moves more, the colour should improve and the tightness and folds will also soften and reduce. It will take many months of regular treatment across the next year or more to achieve this. It won’t ever be back to “normal” but it should be significantly better.

If we were able to see the client sooner, before the area became fully mature following surgery, it’s likely this situation could have been avoided to some extent.

Once the scar is fully mature the blood supply to the superficial tissues reduces. Folds, puckering and adhered scar tissue then further reduces blood and lymph supply (which is required for healthy skin and fascia). As the area becomes more stiff, tightness (and possibly pain) will make normal movement reduced. As this person stops moving the area to avoid pain, so the situation will further be compounded, with more stiffness and tightness in the surrounding tissue occurring.

In order to promote recovery we must reverse this spiral. Gently encouraging tissue mobility (slide and glide, one milimeter at a time). Massage movements that are stimulating blood and lymph to the area. This in turn will allow us to slowly increase movement in the arm and an opening and stretching of the chest. The spiral can then start to move in the opposite direction towards recovery. ❤️‍🩹

By ensuring education is delivered and shared to both therapists and health professionals such as surgeons, radiotherapists and clinical nurse specialists on the benefits of scar massage is essential for change. Scar massage is a simple, yet effective - and importantly - highly accessible modality.

Together if we share this information and these skills, we can improve patient outcomes after cancer surgery and radiotherapy.

14/05/2025

| ONCOLOGY MASSAGE IS GROUNDED IN SCIENCE |

Oncology Massage isn’t just gentle touch—it’s a tailored, evidence-informed approach to massage therapy, designed to meet the unique needs of people with a history or diagnosis of cancer.

Supported by current research and clinical understanding, Oncology Massage considers the science of pathology, treatment side effects, and how the body responds during and after cancer care.

This isn’t alternative therapy—it’s integrative, supportive care.

Oncology Massage draws on up-to-date knowledge in areas such as:

🔬 The physiological effects of cancer and its treatments
📚 The science of the nervous system and stress response
💤 The impact of therapeutic touch on pain, sleep, and anxiety
🧠 The importance of the mind-body connection in supportive care

Every adjustment we teach and every protocol we follow is backed by evidence. It’s how we ensure treatments are not only safe, but meaningful.

When you train with OMT, you gain the confidence to work within this framework—applying clinical reasoning, respecting the medical context, and offering care that’s both compassionate and well-informed.

Curious about how it all comes together?
Head to our website or email us at info@oncologymassagetraining.com.au to find out more about our science-led approach.

10/05/2025

Can’t wait to meet Emma and learn scar therapy from her!

08/05/2025

It was a great webinar!

RECORDED MAY 5, 2025⸻ A pioneer in lymphatic supermicrosurgery, Dr. Wei F. Chen of the Cleveland Clinic is pushing the boundaries of medicine, combining grou...