Nick Vardaxis, PhD

Director of Education

Dr. Vardaxis holds a PhD degree in Pathology from the University of Melbourne which was awarded in 1988. He has held a number of senior academic posts since then in many tertiary institutions, including the University of Melbourne, Phillip Institute of Technology and RMIT University. His career includes activities in basic biomedical science research and associations with research organisations abroad and in Australia. He is an associate researcher at the Macfarlane Burnett Centre for Medical Research and also at the Austin Research Institute. Dr. Vardaxis is also dedicated to teaching, being responsible for a number of innovations in teaching since the start of his career. This passion for teaching was recognised in 1997 when he was awarded the Australian Government's inaugural Australian University Teaching Award in the field of health. Dr. Vardaxis has taught at each of the tertiary schools noted above as well as the Southern School of Natural Therapies and the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Australia. He is also an author having published several undergraduate textbooks and is currently one of three editors-in-chief of Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions that has been recently published.

Heather Morrison, PhD

Head of School-Health & Social Science

Holding a PhD in Anatomy from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff, and a prolific resume of published papers, Heather Morrison joined the academic team in 1999. Heather is responsible for developing curriculum and maintaining teaching standards for all health science units across the range of Endeavour courses.

Issac Golden, PhD, D.Hom, ND, B.Ec(Hon)

Head of School, School of Holistic Medicine

Dr. Issac Golden has been a homeopathic practitioner since 1984 and teaching homeopathy since 1988. He was Faculty Head of Homeopathy from 1995 to 2004. He established the Australasian College of Hahnemannian Homeopathy in 1990. He is now Head of the School Holistic Medicine of Endeavour College of Natural Health. In March 1999 was awarded the Australian Homoeopathic Association's Distinguished Service Award for his "many years of service to the Australian Homoeopathic Association and for his significant contributions to the homoeopathic profession in Australia". He is a world authority on the use of homoeopathic medicine to prevent infectious diseases.

Mark Shoring MAcu, MHScNM,MHScHM

Program Leader Naturopathy

Mark Shoring, MAcuUWS MHSc(Nut Med) MHSc(Herb Med)UNE GCertHSc(Hum Nut)Deakin BHSc(Nat) BHSc(Acu)ACNM, has been employed with the College since 2001. Mark continues to enhance his expertise through a clinical practice located in Brisbane. While a general natural medicine practitioner Mark also works with both national and international sporting stars and teams including members of 2004 Australian Olympic Team, Queensland Firebirds Netball Team, Queensland Academy of Sport, Queensland Rugby League State of Origin Team, and Touch Football Queensland. Mark continues to be actively involved in the natural medicine profession and Endeavour curriculum development, design and delivery. He has been an executive representative on several professional associations, is a published professional journal writer, continues to deliver high level professional education seminars whilst also continuing his own education through the completion of two further academic courses that include the MAppSci (Chinese Herbal Medicine)RMIT and GCert Higher EducationUQ.

Amie Steel, Grad. Cert. (Nut. Med.),BHSc (Nat), Dip. H (Herbal Med)

Program Leader Western Herbal Medicine / Nutritional Medicine

Amie Steel is Program Leader for Western Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Medicine at Endeavour College of Natural Health. She has been a lecturer at the College since 2004 and worked previously as Course Co-ordinator (Naturopathy) for the Brisbane campus. Amie has had a clinical practice for 9 years, and has worked in the industry for 13 years. Within her clinical practice, Amie specializes in mental illness, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune disease, endocrine conditions and reproductive ailments. She is particularly passionate about education, both of the future practitioners and the general public. Amie is currently studying her Masters in Public Health (UQ), Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (UQ) and Masters in Nutrition Medicine (RMIT)

Daniel Hall, M. Acu. (UWS), Dip. Health Science (ACNM)

Program Leader Acupuncture Department of Oriental Medicine

Dan holds a Master of Acupuncture (UWS) and is the Program Leader (Acupuncture) for the Oriental Medicine Department at the Australian College of Natural Medicine. Dan specializes in musculo-skeletal disorders and sports injuries, fertility and pregnancy treatment, and neuromuscular conditions such as chronic pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, sciatica, and back pain. Dan also has a wealth of experience in the ancient Chinese arts of Qi Gong (breathing exercises) and Taiji, Bagua, and Hsing-I (martial arts) that he draws upon when teaching or treating patients.

Mita Parmar, MSc

Program Leader - Homeopathy

After completing a Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery and a Doctorate of Alternative Medicine in India, Mita Parmer came to Australia with vast experience and broad knowledge. Mita's expertise in the area of Homeopathy made her a leading authority and successful practitioner. Mita joined the academic team in 1995 where she soon rose to the Head of Department for both Health Science and Homeopathy. Mita has a passion for research and has been the principle driver for a recent clinical trial on Diabetes Mellitus and a double blind placebo control proving new Homeopathic remedies. Mita has a Master's of Science in Genetic Counselling which she draws upon in her successful homeopathic practice specialising in treating individuals with a risk of inheriting chronic disease with a genetic predisposition.

Natalie Daniel, Grad Dip GIM

Program Leader Counselling & Professional Development

Natalie holds a Post Graduate Diploma in GIM (Music Psychotherapy), a Diploma Health Science in Holistic Counselling Practice, Diploma in Business (Marketing), a Cert IV Training & Assessment, and a Cert II in Community Services (Alcohol and other Drug Work). She is currently completing her Masters of Counselling and Graduate Certificate of Higher Education. Natalie brings vast practical experience to the role of Acting National Head of Faculty Counselling and Professional Development. Years of professional counselling in both agencies and the private sector provide Natalie with the practical experience required to pioneer new courses and develop appropriate curriculum for the faculty into the future. Natalie is a PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) delegate, and council member for her professional member association (MIAA), as well as a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).