Pauline Slater

A Career built on lived-experience & learning

Pauline has a personal journey with Hypermobility, EDS, POTS and their related co-occurring conditions impacting herself and many family members. It is this journey and the witnessing of those of her patients that was the driving force behind creating Hypermobility Health Connect®.

Pauline has been a physiotherapist for over 30 years, beginning her career at Westmead Hospital and then Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney, where she developed a strong foundation in paediatric, disability, rehabilitation and musculoskeletal care. Her time in healthcare has taken her into roles involving policy and project development at The Department of Health in NSW, working in Indigenous health, Medical and Allied health workforce management and into rural and remote NSW with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As her career evolved, she pursued extensive professional development, attending local and international courses on paediatrics, disability, rehabilitation, hypermobility, EDS, POTS, Pain management, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, learning difficulties and neurodiverse populations.

She holds a Master of Education (2014) and has dedicated much of her career to teaching and mentoring patients, their families, area health services, and clinicians.

Recognising the knowledge gap in managing hypermobility-related disorders and chronic pain, she became a joint Facilitator of EDS ECHO Australasia Multidisciplinary training programs in 2022, lecturing, supporting and mentoring clinicians of all types across Australia and New Zealand. Pauline has been an Affiliate of the Ehlers-Danlos Society International since 2020 and leads the
Hypermobility Network Australia Core Network of Excellence (CNE).

Pauline is now pursuing a Master of Clinical Science, with a pathway to a PhD, at the University of Adelaide. Her research focuses on characterising the diagnostic journey and impact of EDS, hEDS, and HSD in Australia – work that will help advocate for better healthcare practices and improve education in pain management. Through this, she hopes to bridge the gap between clinical understanding and patient experiences, ensuring that future generations of healthcare professionals are better equipped to diagnose and treat hypermobility-related conditions.

Hypermobility Health Connect® & BendyBodies

At Hypermobility Health Connect®, Pauline leads training, mentoring, and professional networking opportunities for clinicians, physiotherapists, allied health practitioners, and medical professionals. She continues to facilitate Australasian EDS-ECHO training, ensuring that professionals have access to expert-led, evidence-based education to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways.

Core training topics include:

Hypermobility, HSD & EDS, Pathways to Diagnosis & Holistic Treatment
The complex overlap of Pain and Fatigue in Hypermobility, EDS and POTS
Understanding the Links Between EDS/HSD and Neurodivergence- BendyBodies- Clumsy Coordination and Worry Worts (what do they all have in common?)
Managing Everyday life with Hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS (Patient focused)
Physiotherapy treatment approaches -Hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS (Clinician focused)
Pain and fatigue management- Posture, Protecting joints and Prolotherapy-for Hypermobility, EDS and POTS
Creating a successful Education environment for those with Hypermobility, EDS and POTS
Collaborative teams approach to managing Hypermobility and EDS in Australia’s health and education systems

In addition to her role as an educator, Pauline is the Principal Physiotherapist at BendyBodies Hypermobility Physiotherapy, where she assists individuals of all ages in managing complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, fatigue and neurodivergence-related challenges. Her holistic, multidisciplinary approach is grounded in collaboration with a network of specialists across Australia and internationally, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive, evidence-based care.

Through both Hypermobility Health Connect® and BendyBodies Physio, Pauline bridges the gap between research, clinical practice, and education, supporting both patients and healthcare professionals in navigating the challenges of hypermobility-related disorders.

Commitment to the community

Pauline’s work extends beyond the clinic and research lab – she is a speaker, lecturer, and educator in the field of hypermobility, chronic pain, and neurodivergence. She regularly presents at national and international conferences, collaborates with leading physiotherapy and medical associations, and contributes to peer-reviewed journals and educational publications.

Her mission is clear:

Empower patients with knowledge to take control of their health.
Educate clinicians to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways.
Advocate for systemic change in how hypermobility-related disorders are recognised and managed.

With a unique blend of lived experience, clinical expertise, and academic research, Pauline continues to drive change and support individuals living with EDS, HSD, and associated conditions – both in Australia and globally.

Pauline’s experience & education

Clinician, Educator, Researcher & Director

Founder and Director of Hypermobility Health Connect® and BendyBodies Hypermobility Physiotherapy, providing specialist physiotherapy services across Australia.

Specific expertise

Management of chronic pain syndromes associated with hypermobility, HSD, EDS, hEDS, POTS, Long COVID, fibromyalgia, and neurodivergence.

Approach & philosophy

Committed to a multidisciplinary, whole-person approach to managing complex neuromusculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Collaborates with like-minded clinicians across Australia and globally to provide comprehensive patient care.

Educational history

Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) – University of Sydney.
Master of Education – Australian Catholic University.
Postgraduate Certificate in Gifted Education – University of New South Wales.
EDS ECHO (Australasian, UK, and North American Allied Health Professionals Courses) – 2020–ongoing .
SPELD Courses – Neurodivergence in the Classroom, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia (2018–2019).
Regularly attends conferences, symposia, and workshops on:
Ehlers Danlos Society, Hypermobility Syndromes Association (HMSA), and POTS Foundation events
Manual therapies, muscle energy techniques, and chronic pain management

Memberships

Ehlers-Danlos Society Affiliate & EDS Core Network of Excellence
Australian Physiotherapy Association (Pain, Musculoskeletal, Rehabilitation, and Paediatrics Specialties)
Australian POTS Foundation
EDS Joint Moderator – Australian Allied Health Hypermobility Alliance (Facebook support group for Allied Health Practitioners)
Australian Pain Society
Hypermobility Syndromes Association
Rare Voices Australia
International Association for the Study of Pain
Ehlers-Danlos Research Foundation
Australian Musculoskeletal Association

Research contributions, publications & presentations

Undertaking a Master of Clinical Sciences (aiming for a PhD) through the University of Adelaide, which is characterising the diagnostic journey and impact of EDS, hEDS, and HSD in Australia.
Research member of the Australian Research and Dysautonomia Collaboration, focusing on Dysautonomia and POTS research.
Member of the Australian POTS Research Journal Group.
Contributor to the Australian Pain Society newsletters (2022–2023).
Lecturer, Australian Physiotherapy Association (2022): Pain Management in EDS and Hypermobility Disorders.
Co-author, APA InMotion Magazine (2022): Switching the Lightbulb on Hypermobility.
Presenter, EDS Scientific Symposium (Rome, 2022).
Facilitator/Presenter, Australasian EDS-ECHO (2022–2024): Delivered multiple annual lectures, including:
- Pain Management in EDS and Hypermobility Disorders.
- The Link Between EDS, Hypermobility, and Neurodivergence.
- Physiotherapy Management of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Hypermobility spectrum disorders.
Lecturer, Australian Physiotherapy Association (2024): Bendy and Beyond – Diagnosing and Managing Hypermobility Disorders and EDS.
Co-presenter with Dr. Ramona Chryssidis, Association of Australian Musculoskeletal Medicine (2024): Three-part workshop series Unlock the Secrets of Effective Assessment, Diagnosis, and Management of Hypermobility, EDS, and Related Conditions.
Panelist, presenter, and workshop lead, EDS Global Learning Conference (Brisbane, 2025).
- The pathway to 2026- Importance of teamwork on the diagnosis journey
- Advocacy and Supports throughout the lifespan of those with HSD, EDS and related comorbidities
- Collaborative teams approach to managing Hypermobility and EDS in Australia’s health and education systems