Dr Ellen Downes is Rehabilitation Physician who has been providing Rehabilitation Specialist care in the Central West since 2009. Ellen grew up on the South Coast and completed her Bachelor of Medical Science and Medical Degree at the University of Sydney. Ellen was awarded several Rural Medical scholarships undertaken in the Central West including a John Flynn Scholarship Placement and a Rural Cadetship. She completed her Rehabilitation Specialist Training in Sydney including roles at the Royal Rehab Centre (Ryde) Spinal Royal North Shore Hospitals. Ellen was highly successful in her fellowship clinical examination and was awarded the Basmajian Prize for first place in Australasia in 2008. She was admitted as a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (FAFRM) within the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP) in 2008. Since that time she has worked as a Consultant within the public and private health services as well as taking an active role in service development. Ellen has a long history in advocacy for Rural Health having run the National Rural Health Student’s Network (NRHN) and been a Councillor on the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) which is the peak federal government representative body for Rural Health in Australia.

Ellen is interested in optimising the outcomes for rural patients through comprehensive assessment of medical, physical and functional.