OUR TEAM
High-Quality Healthcare You Can Trust
Our practice is led by talented and experienced practitioners committed to sustaining a high-performing healthcare system responsive to the needs of the community Burwood Brickworks Medical Centre serve.
Dr Vani Peddi
MBBS, FRACGP
General Practitioner and Medical Director
Dr Vani Peddi is a highly experienced General Practitioner and Medical Director, with over 15 years of clinical practice providing comprehensive, patient-centred care across diverse communities.
As a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), Dr Vani is committed to providing evidence-based, holistic healthcare with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, and long-term wellbeing. She is known for her warm, approachable manner and her ability to build trusted, lasting relationships with her patients.
Dr Vani has a special interest in comprehensive family medicine, with particular expertise in:
- Women’s health and menopause care
- Pregnancy and antenatal care
- Diabetes and chronic disease management
- Elderly and complex care
- Contraception, including Implanon insertion & removal and Mirena
- Preventative health and lifestyle medicine
She is passionate about empowering patients to take control of their health and works collaboratively to create personalised care plans tailored to each individual’s needs.
Fluent in English, Telugu, and Hindi, Dr Vani provides culturally sensitive care and connects easily with patients from diverse backgrounds.
Dr Thushara Jayalal
Specialist General Practitioner & Accredited GP Supervisor
FRACGP, MD, MBBS
Dr Thushara Jayalal is an experienced Specialist General Practitioner with over 20 years of medical experience, including 11 years in Australia and 7 years as a Specialist GP.
He completed his MBBS and MD in Sri Lanka, where he worked as a Consultant Physician before relocating to Australia. After moving to Australia, he obtained his FRACGP and has since provided comprehensive general practice care, with a calm, thorough and patient-centred approach.
Prior to general practice, Dr Thushara worked as a Senior Medical Officer in Emergency Departments across Sydney Southwest, including Campbelltown, Fairfield and Camden Hospitals, where he also led ED teams. This experience has strengthened his ability to manage acute presentations in general practice.
As an accredited GP supervisor, he also enjoys teaching and mentoring GP registrars.
Clinical Interests:
- Chronic Disease Management
- Paediatrics
- Sexual Health
- Skin Conditions, Skin Cancer Checks & Skin Cancer Surgery
- Mental Health
- Weight Management
- Men’s Health
- Geriatric Health
- Travel Medicine
- Immunisation – adult, childhood, travel and catch-up
Outside of work, Dr Thushara enjoys spending time with his family and his dog.
Dr Nawaf Al-Obaydi
MBBS, FRACGP
Dr. Nawaf graduated from College of Medicine – Baghdad University in 2005 and completed hospital training in Eastern Health (Box Hill, Maroondah and Angliss Hospital) then the Australian general practice training with the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance in Melbourne. He has obtained the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners fellowship in 2015 and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners fellowship in 2016.
He has special interests in cardiovascular disease including Hypertension and Diabetes management, Paediatrics, Dermatology including skin cancer, infectious disease, Men’s Health and travel medicine.
Dr Dhanushka Hemachandra
MBBS, Certificate of Child Health (Sydney Child Health Programme)
Dr Dhanushka Hemachandra is a caring and experienced Medical Practitioner with 11 years of clinical experience, including 5 years working in general practice and hospital settings in Australia.
She completed her MBBS in Sri Lanka, where she worked for six years as a GP and hospital doctor before moving to Australia. She has since worked at Ballarat Base Hospital and Echuca Regional Health, gaining valuable experience in Emergency Medicine, General Medicine and Surgery.
Dr Dhanushka is known for her calm and approachable manner and her ability to listen attentively, helping patients feel supported and understood.
Special Interests:
- Women’s Health – family planning, sexual health, cervical cancer screening, Implanon insertion/removal, menopause care and HRT
- Chronic Disease Management – hypertension, diabetes and respiratory conditions
- Paediatrics
- Men’s Health
- Skin Conditions
- Mental Health
- Weight Management
- Geriatric Health
- Travel Medicine
Outside of work, Dr Dhanushka enjoys movies, music and spending time with her family.
Dr Samaneh Hassanataj
General Practitioner
MBBS, FRACGP
Dr Samaneh Hassanataj will start on 30th September
Languages: English, Persian and Farsi
With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, including 7 years practising as a General Practitioner in Australia, Dr Sami/Samaneh is committed to delivering thorough, patient-centred care. She takes a holistic approach to medicine, focusing on long-term health and wellbeing for patients of all ages.
Her particular areas of interest include Women’s Health, Antenatal Care, Chronic Disease Management, Mental Health and Paediatrics. Known for her approachable and compassionate manner, Dr Sami/Samaneh builds strong, lasting connections with her patients. She believes in open communication and shared decision-making, ensuring that every patient feels comfortable, respected and supported.
Outside of the clinic, Dr Sami/Samaneh enjoys exercise, cooking, reading books and spending time with her family.
Areas of Interest
- Women’s health
- Chronic disease management
- Mental health
- Paediatrics
Allied Health
Reliable Allied Health Services You Can Count On
Devni Meewathuraege
BSc Health Science, MDiet (Australian Accredited Practising Dietitian)
Devni is a passionate Accredited Practising Dietitian who believes nutrition advice should be practical, realistic, and tailored to each individual. She enjoys helping people build confidence with food and develop sustainable habits that support their health without unnecessary restriction.
Growing up in a Sri Lankan family, Devni understands the importance of culture and tradition in the way we eat. She is passionate about helping clients make nutrition changes that fit their lifestyle while still enjoying the foods they love. Her goal is to create a supportive and welcoming environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to make lasting changes.
Outside of work, Devni enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring Melbourne’s food scene, and trying new recipes inspired by different cuisines.
Special Interests
- GLP-1 and weight management
- Chronic disease management for older adults
- Paediatric nutrition
- Fussy eating
- HAES (Health at Every Size) approach to weight management
Languages
- English
- Sinhala
