my friend’s clinic
Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs
Everyone is welcome in the wholeness of their lived experiences and histories. We welcome and celebrate the full spectrum of gender identities.
Acupuncture, Cupping, Moxa & Chinese Herbs
with Kata Japunčić
AHPRA registered practitioner - Instant Health Fund Rebates (HICAPS) - Covid Safe
Accessibility information located at the bottom of the page
Together we work on the symptoms you experience as well as their underlying causes so you can start to feel a change from our first treatment session
About Kata
Kata Japunčić is a university qualified Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, accredited to practice in Australia since 2011.
Her whole person approach to healthcare is grounded in listening, asking and observing with informed consent. Your concerns will be heard. Your health needs and boundaries respected.
Your care and treatment plan may involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, food recommendations, cupping, moxa, massage techniques, and discussion about simple, achievable habits to support you and your needs in daily life.
Appointments with Kata allow time for a thorough overview of your health and daily life needs. Kata will break down how Chinese Medicine works to support your unique situation and answer your questions. Kata also enjoys liaising with others involved in your care including counsellors, GPs, other complementary, integrative and/or allied health practitioners, specialists, endocrinologists, pain clinics, physiotherapists, etc.
Kata’s Practice History
Kata has been caring for community since 2002. Starting as a Street Medic and later apprenticing as a Barefoot Doctor with Ron ‘Doc’ Rosen. Kata has provided care, treatment and acupuncture training in partnership with autonomous social centres; peer-based harm reduction services; PTSD, trauma and war-related injury rehab services in former Yugoslavia, now Croatia.
In Australia, her practice history includes partnering with Women’s & Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC); Angie Savva at Affordable Acupuncture; ACON/AIDS Council of NSW; Twenty10/GLCS supporting LGBTIQAP+ young people; co-organising a community acupuncture seminar series with Kath Berry; and founding Acupuncture for Community, a grassroots not-for-profit delivering simple, low-cost treatments and trainings in partnership with frontline, community-led projects and services.
Special interest areas*
Kata has a special interest in chronic and complex health conditions, recovery support for acute injuries, trans and gender diverse health and wellbeing.
* Mental and emotional health including anxiety, depression and impulsivity, chronic stress, study and exam stress.
* Chronic pain conditions including CRPS, migraine, fatigue, musculoskeletal, arthritic conditions, work, sports or other activity-based injuries and overuse injuries.
* Digestion support including nausea and vomiting arising from chemotherapy, or pregnancy-related.
* Hormone health including gender affirmation support, hot flushes, peri-menopause, menopause, age-related low testosterone, menstrual/bleeding cycles, PCOS, endometriosis and other aspects of gynaecological and urological health.
* Insomnia, including tiredness and fatigue.
* Fertility as an adjunct to IVF treatment.
* Preparation and recovery support for surgical procedures including gender affirming procedures, keyhole surgery, and acute injury as an adjunct to primary medical care.
* Action Aftercare for organisers, activists, street medics, legal observers, journalists and community people after demonstrations.
* Words used above to describe health conditions & what Chinese Medicine can treat are regulated by strict AHPRA guidelines. These guidelines also prevent us including testimonials shared by people whose health has improved after treatments with Kata since opening clinic doors in Marrickville and Surry Hills back in 2012.
If you’re unsure about how acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and/or Chinese herbs might help with your health needs, contact Kata directly with any questions or ask about the possibility of coming into the clinic to chat over a cuppa.
Consultation fees
* Initial appointment $165 (90 mins + 1st time admin).
* Follow up appointment $115 (70mins).
* Options for payment by contactless EFTPOS.
* Instant Health fund rebates via HICAPS.
Clinic hours
* Tuesday, Thursday & Weekends by appointment.
* CovidSafe protocols, including the use of face masks inside treatment rooms.
** This location is currently not 100% accessible or 100% scent-free.
Please be welcome to contact Kata directly about access-related support.
More detailed access info further below with location map.
Cancellation policy
* Minimum 24 hours notice required to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
* Less than 24 hours notice requires contribution of 75% of the consultation fee.
Our therapeutic relationship relies on a shared commitment to Mutual Respect and Accountability between us as the person seeking treatment support and the practitioner. This commitment helps structure collective safety, enables Kata as your practitioner to be paid fairly and supports everyone to make the best use of the clinic.
* Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice can only be accepted by phone.
Be welcome in your wholeness : physical, mental, emotional, spiritual & social life
Kata believes in a whole person approach dedicated to structuring safety with dignity and mutual respect for lived experiences and histories, traditional knowledges, main activities/work and communities.
Kata's integrative healthcare approach is founded on relationship-building and continuing education. Her recent study and accredited training includes:
* Understanding and Responding to Trauma. Delivered by MHCC (Mental Health Coordinating Council).
* Trauma informed approaches to healing and self-care. Delivered by Somatic and Occupational Therapist Silvana Izzo hosted by the Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies.
* Neuro Orthopaedic Institute of Australasia (NOIgroup) Pain Science trainings for Healthcare Practitioners. Practical tools and outcomes for people living with Chronic Pain, with a special focus on neuro-immune conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
* First Nations Cultural Safety, Deep Listening at the Boundaries of Social and Emotional Well-Being Cultural Safety Training hosted by Gamarada.
* Vikki Reynolds Trainings for frontline community workers who work alongside marginalised clients in contexts of social injustices.
* LEAD Professional Development Training for Family Support Workers in Western Sydney.
* ASSIST Suicide First Aid Training Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.
* Twenty10 GLCS LGBTIQA+ Inclusivity Training (Here & Now).
Selected Qualifications & Registrations
* Bachelor of Health Science (Traditional Chinese Medicine), University of Technology Sydney.
* Bachelor of Science, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD.
* Current Senior First Aid Certificate.
* Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS) Certification National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA USA).
* 5-Needle Protocol aka NADA Croatia Trainer.
* Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA).
* Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) & Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA).
* Barefoot Acupuncture Movement - Core Collective member and Strategic Partner for Australia.
Find Kata at the Genki Centre in Glebe, NSW
Location :
1 Arundel St. - entry via Derwent St. Glebe
operating on Gadigal land, nestled between the Inner West & Sydney CBD
Clinic Hours :
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 9am–7pm
Call, text or email Kata with any questions and/or to make an appointment
Clinic entry on Derwent St. Glebe, Sydney
https://www.facebook.com/KataMyFriendsAcupunctureClinic
Accessibility :
* Entry via Derwent St.: 3 Steps up from the street (pictured above).
* All Gender/Unisex Toilets. Doors open inwards - currently no turning space for wheelchairs or grab rails.
* Not scent-free. Therapeutic Moxa used in clinical treatments. Covid Safe cleaning & sanitising protocols in use throughout the clinic.
* Be welcome to contact Kata directly about access-related support.
Public Transport via Central Station & Bus Routes.
Metered & free parking can be found around the surrounding block.
Face masks are used inside treatment room spaces to support safer access for immune compromised service users
Connect with Kata about your health needs via phone call, text or email
* Mosaic collages used above created from Kata's own photos of mural artwork by Red Dress Productions Toronto.