Tim has been working at Gungahlin General Practice since its establishment in 1999. Tim graduated form his medical degree at Flinders University of South Australia in 1989. Following his internship at Modbury Hospital in Adelaide he spent a year at Broken Hill Base Hospital.
In 1991 Tim went travelling for six months through South East Asia, Nepal and India before taking up an Anaesthetic position in Poole, England. After 2 years of Anaesthetics he then did rotations in England in Care of the Elderly and Ear Nose and Throat Surgery. On his return to Australia in 1994 now married to and English lady he undertook his General Practice Training in the ACT gaining his fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 1996. He has been working fulltime in General practice sine then. He did his Diploma in Child Health (University of Sydney) at the Westmead Children’s Hospital in 2000.
Tim has two boys and a girl and very much enjoys being with his family doing various activities. He is dedicated runner having pounded the pavement for 30 years now.

Dr Ranji Perera - MBBS FRACGP

Ranji has worked at the Gungahlin General Practice since its infancy starting in 2000. Ranji graduated from her Medical Degree at Colombo University (Sri Lanka) in 1985. She immigrated to Australia with her family in 1992. She passed her Australian Medical Council examination gaining her certificate with ease in 1995.
After completing the RACGP Family Medicine Program she was admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2000.
For 15 years now Ranji has been working in Calvary A&E given her interest in acute medicine and her determination to keep her skills up to date. She is well known and respected amongst the medical community in Canberra.
Ranji’s knowledge about women’s health and paediatrics is considerable. She commonly consults other Doctors family members.
Exercise and fitness is important to Ranji with her philosophy being a healthy body equals a healthy mind. She enjoys regular long walks.

Dr John Deery - MBBS

John graduated from University of New South Wales in 2000 and has worked at the Gungahlin General Practice since January 2003.
Sport is a passion of John’s. Whilst at University he played some First Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and the Sydney Roosters and later First Grade Rugby at Sydney University. Whilst finally choosing medicine over football, fitness is still important. It is now often combined with culinary pursuits, such as his regular cycle to a favorite café for breakfast with his wife Mel and their children.
John was born in Wagga Wagga. He grew up in various towns around country NSW including Tumut, Grafton and Moree where his family ran pubs. He enjoys the lifestyle in Canberra and thinks it is great place to bring up kids. John and Mel so far have a beautiful little girl and are expecting a second child in middle 2008.
John is a caring and thorough General Practitioner and has a strong faith. He has expertise in minor surgery and runs a vasectomy clinic.

Dr Prema Rahendra - MBBS FRACGP

Prema completed her medical degree in Sri Lanka in 1993. She immigrated with her husband to Australia in 1995. They have since had two beautiful daughters.
Prema passed her Australian Medical Council exam with ease gaining her certificate in 1998. Before undertaking her General Practice Training Prema undertook a lot of Accident and Emergency work firstly in Tasmania and then Calvary Hospital here in Canberra.
Prema went into her General Practice training gaining a breath of experience particularly paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Her main location of work was rural practice that required more responsibility and self reliance as a doctor.
Patients that consult Prema quickly realize her caring nature and competence as a General Practitioner. As a consequence those reliably become regular and loyal patients of hers.
Prema especially enjoys table tennis along with family orientated activities.

Dr Emily Nicoll B.Med FRACGP

Emily has been working at Gungahlin General Practice since 2006 having previously worked at Wakefield Gardens Practice in Ainslie and prior to that undertook a prolonged stint in a rural practice. She completed her medical degree at the University of Newcastle in 1999. Gungahlin General Practice is very lucky to have Emily for a number of reasons with one of them being that she has a very strong interest in skin conditions. She is presently undertaking a Masters Degree in Skin Cancer Medicine allowing her to provide high quality skin cancer care. She is in charge of our skin cancer clinic which is located within the practice. Emily has strong credentials in women’s health and family practice.
Having grown up and attended school in the ACT, Emily decided to settle back in Canberra knowing that it is an ideal place to progress her General Practice career and recreational pursuits.


Special Interests: Skin Clinic and skin cancers, women’s health, family practice and minor surgery (including Implanon insertion).

Dr Esther Hyams-Elijah MD

Esther started working at Gungahlin General Practice in 2006.She has a wealth of experience having worked in the United Kingdom prior to coming to Australia. She has undertaken a tremendous amount of Accident and Emergency work both in the UK and Australia. Her ability as a clinician making accurate diagnoses and providing appropriate treatment is well known in the medical community.
Esther has a delightful sense of humour which is very engaging. She is a valued colleague and very dependable.
Esther lives with her husband and children all of whom have busy lives.
When Esther is not enhancing her medical knowledge, she enjoys music, trying different cuisines and reviewing world affairs.


Special Interests: Women’s health, accident and casualty, surgical procedures, fracture management and paediatrics.

Dr Kelly Lowther MBBS

Kelly graduated with her Medical degree from University of Sydney in 2001. After doing some post graduate work in the Sydney Hospital system she transferred to Canberra to undertake her General Practice training.
Kelly has great capacity in dealing with family medicine, adolescent health and paediatrics. She is thorough, perceptive and engaging in dealing with her patients.
Kelly and her husband have a daughter.
Besides looking after her young daughter, Kelly is very busy in the community with various organised events.


Special Interests: Women’s Health, Paediatrics, Adolescent health, minor surgical procedures.

Dr Shane Collins

Shane completed his University degree in 1984 from RMIT. He has also completed his Master of Chiropractic degree at Macquarie University in 1993 and a certificate in impairment rating.

His interests are his children, daily exercise, Chiropractic massage /laser /manipulation and injury and pain management. Shane is a respected chiropractor and has been with us for 1 and a half years.

Alli Watson
(Exercise Physiologist)

Alli obtained her university degree from the University of Canberra in 2002. Alli has a strong interest in sports, having been heavily involved in Hockey and Softball at an elite level, and coaching experience with junior and senior sporting teams.

Alli is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Science and Medicine in Pain management at the University of Sydney.

Alli’s interests are ergogenic aids in sports performance, biomechanics (including fitting of orthotics using the TOG gait system), chronic injury management and pain management

Alli is a full member of the AAESS.

Emma Prime
(Psychologist)

Emma Completed her bachelor of Psychology with honours at the ANU in 1996.  In 2006 Emma completed her Grad Dip Technology (human factors) at Swinburne University. She joins us after an extensive stint as a psychologist to the defence force.

Emma’s interests are Trauma, Anxiety, and stress management, depression including post natal, sleep difficulties, pain management, interpersonal relationships, career guidance and study skills.

Thenia Papantoniou
(Psychologist)

Thenia completed her bachelor of Psychology with honours at the ANU in 1999 and is an associate member of APS. Thenia has gained years of experience having worked with clinical and forensic psychologists and most recently staff counselor at Davidson Trahaire Corpsych.

Thenia’s interests are dealing with marriage and family counseling, drug and alcohol abuse, behavioural, mental health, work and vocational concerns.

Thenia has recently completed a pain management workshop in Melbourne.