A team united by a shared passion for reproductive health.
ABOUT US
At Melbourne Reproductive Acupuncture we are a team of evidence-based practitioners with a shared goal: supporting people through the challenging times that reproductive health challenges can bring. Supporting people to optimise their hormonal health and grow their precious families is our passion.
We listen to our patients and support them using individualised care. Collaboration is key, and we work closely with doctors and other allied health practitioners to create personalised treatment plans that are right.
OUR APPROACH
Evidence-informed care, individually tailored
We use acupuncture and Chinese medicine strategies to support fertility treatments, pregnancy care and all aspects of women's reproductive health. Our practitioners hold recognised qualifications, are registered with AHPRA, and are committed to ongoing professional development.
Our clinic brings together practitioners with deep expertise in gynaecology, obstetrics, hormonal health giving you access to a collaborative model of care in a single location in East Melbourne.
OUR PRACTITIONERS
Meet the MRA Team
Joanne Sharkey
REGISTERED ACUPUNCTURIST & CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE PRACITIONER
Jo is an AHPRA Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Herbalist. After graduating from RMIT in 2008 with a double degree in Applied Science (Chinese Medicine) and Applied Science (Human Biology), Joanne realised how much of Chinese medicine is lost in translation. The classical texts, the names of the points and the precise meaning of diagnostic terms all carry layers that English can’t fully capture. She moved to China spend a year in intensive language school and learnt Mandarin which enabled her completed a one-year internship in Mandarin, at the Wang Jing Military Hospital in Beijing. Jo has dedicated her practice to working with people experiencing hormonal and reproductive health issues, as well all aspects of health including:
Fertility and trying to conceive, including IVF, IUI, ovulation induction and egg freezing
Pregnancy loss and recurrent miscarriage
Pregnancy and postpartum care, including birth preparation and moxibustion for breech presentation
Endometriosis and adenomyosis
Pelvic pain, including vulvodynia, painful sex and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome
PMOS
Painful, heavy, irregular or absent periods
PMS and PMDD
Perimenopause and menopause
Her treatment style is grounded in Japanese acupuncture, a gentle, refined approach that typically uses fine needles, shallow insertion and careful use of touch. Jo has completed advanced training with Kiiko Matsumoto, one of the world’s leading teachers of Japanese acupuncture, and has also studied with Monika Kobylecka. Abdominal palpation is central to her practice. She feels the abdomen for areas of tension and tenderness, which guides her point selection and shows her how your body is responding during treatment. She has also studied Tung acupuncture with Henry McCann and Naomi Jankowski, with a focus on pelvic pain.
Before co-founding Melbourne Reproductive Acupuncture, Jo worked at Fertile Ground Health Group for over 11 years. Earlier, she co-founded Prickle Community Acupuncture, a not-for-profit community acupuncture clinic within Inner East Community Health Care in Richmond. At MRA, alongside Kim Riley and Meghan Smith, she loves meeting new people and taking time to hear their stories, so she can tailor treatment and support them through their journey, whatever that may be.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biology)
Bachelor of Applied Science (Chinese Medicine)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
AHPRA Registered (Chinese Medicine Board of Australia)
Member Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)
Kim Riley
REGISTERED ACUPUNCTURIST & CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
After discovering the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine firsthand as a young adult, Kim completed her degree in 2012. She has practised with a focus on reproductive and hormonal health for almost 15 years.
Kim works with all genders and gender identities experiencing complex hormonal and reproductive health issues, including:
Infertility and pregnancy loss
Male fertility and sperm health
Fertility treatment such as IVF, IUI, ovulation induction and egg freezing
Endometriosis and adenomyosis
PMOS
Menstrual disorders, including painful, heavy, scanty or irregular periods and amenorrhoea
PMS and PMDD
Pregnancy and postpartum health, birth preparation and moxibustion for breech presentation
Kim also has a special interest in working with the neurodivergent and LGBTIQ+ communities and in providing neuro-affirming and gender-affirming care.
Kim started her practice in the clinic of renowned Chinese herbalist Steven Clavey, who mentored her in gynaecology and obstetrics during her first six years and beyond. She will be ever grateful for his guidance. Years in busy, multi-modality clinics have since refined her clinical skills and her collaborative care with other medical providers.
Starting Melbourne Reproductive Acupuncture was an intentional shift towards a focused, calm and genuinely supportive space for patient-centred care. Alongside trusted colleagues Joanne Sharkey and Meghan Smith, Kim strives to provide effective, evidence-informed care in a safe and supportive space.
Kim continually updates her knowledge of hormonal and reproductive health. She has studied advanced distal needling techniques for musculoskeletal and pain conditions extensively, along with Chinese herbal medicine strategies for hormonal, reproductive and general health.
Outside the clinic, Kim enjoys gardening, cooking, keeping fit and strong, spending time with her family and playing in a Caribbean steel band.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Health Science (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
AHPRA registered (Chinese Medicine Board of Australia)
Member, Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Meghan Smith
REGISTERED ACUPUNCTURIST & CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
Meghan is an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner with a special interest in hormonal and reproductive health. Since graduating from Endeavour College of Natural Health in 2021 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine), she has worked exclusively in fertility-focused clinical practices in both Perth and Melbourne, gaining experience across a broad range of reproductive and hormonal health concerns.
Meghan's interest in Chinese Medicine, hormonal and reproductive health is also shaped by her own experiences. Following a diagnosis of uterine didelphys, a vaginal septum and PCOS/PMOS, she developed a deeper interest in understanding the complexities of hormonal and reproductive health. This personal experience has further strengthened her appreciation for individualised care and the importance of helping people feel heard, informed and supported throughout their own experiences.
Meghan has a particular interest in menstrual and hormonal health, fertility and reproductive wellbeing. She supports individuals, couples and same-sex couples through menstrual concerns, pain, preconception, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.
Her clinical interests include:
Preconception, fertility and trying to conceive
Supporting IVF, IUI, ovulation induction, egg freezing and other assisted reproductive treatments
Menstrual health, painful, heavy or irregular periods and cycle regulation
Endometriosis and adenomyosis
Pelvic pain, vulvodynia and vaginismus
PMS and PMDD
PMOS/PCOS
Early pregnancy support, nausea and hyperemesis gravidarum
Birth preparation, breech presentation and postpartum recovery
Meghan is committed to continually developing her clinical knowledge and skills. She has undertaken further study with respected acupuncturists Jane Lyttleton, as well as additional training in Tung Acupuncture with Naomi Jankowski and Henry McCann. She has also completed Trauma-Informed Practitioner Training with Jacqueline Thomson, further informing her approach to creating a safe, respectful and supportive clinical environment. She is currently expanding her knowledge through further study with Monika Kobylecka and training in Kiiko Acupuncture.
Meghan takes a compassionate, individualised and evidence-informed approach to care, recognising the importance of making every person feel heard, understood and respected. She is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Meghan values working with individuals and couples of all backgrounds, identities and family structures, LGBTIQ+ communities and those accessing reproductive and hormonal healthcare on their own.
Originally from rural Western Australia, Meghan grew up on a farm and has always loved spending time outdoors, whether by the ocean or in the mountains. Outside the clinic, she enjoys hiking, camping, cooking and heading out for a country drive on a Sunday.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Health Science (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
AHPRA Registered (Chinese Medicine Board of Australia)
Member of Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)
Evidence-Based Clinic
We integrate classical Chinese medicine with current reproductive science, drawing on research and clinical experience to inform everything we do.
Collaborative by Design
We work closely with your fertility specialists, obstetricians, GPs and allied health team to ensure your care is coordinated and complementary.
A Space for Everyone
Our clinic is an inclusive, welcoming space for all people, regardless of identity, background, family structure or neurodivergence.