Experts in women’s health and reproductive medicine

Thrive Fertility – About Us

We believe that everyone deserves access to state-of-the-art technology to achieve best-practice fertility treatment, delivered with care and compassion at an affordable price.

We understand the heartbreak that can occur when struggling to conceive, and we also recognise that the journey to parenthood is not the same for all. We want to understand your personal story, provide you with answers and develop tailored plans customised to your specific needs and situation.

We’re dedicated to providing you with accessible, compassionate, individualised and excellent fertility care. Life wants to happen.

The Thrive Fertility Clinic

We’re located in a purpose-built modern clinic inside the Northern Private Hospital, as a part of the New Epping Medical Precinct. Our location offers the convenience of having all medical partners on-site, including Ramsay Operating Theatres, Radiology services, and access to a comprehensive range of medical specialists.

Our fertility clinic also has a purpose-built, state-of-the-art embryology laboratory integrated within our clinic, with access to an on-site operating theatre. This allows us to offer a comprehensive reproductive medicine service, providing our patients with all the crucial elements of fertility care within a forward-thinking, advanced fertility clinic.

Our Mission

Every success we see here at Thrive Fertility is thanks to the collaboration between our amazing patients and our incredible team of fertility experts. We’ve assembled a strong and diverse team of fertility specialists, embryologists, gynaecologists, obstetricians, physicians, nurses and counsellors to help our patients along their individual fertility journeys.

Our team is led by industry-leading fertility specialists Dr Sascha Edelstein and Dr Linda Walmsley, supported by Scientific Director Dr Lisa Lee, Nurse Unit Manager Kerryn Lawton, Business & Quality Manager Kyam North, and Senior Counsellor Dr Cal Volks.

In 2016, Dr Sascha Edelstein and Dr Linda Walmsley were part of the team of doctors who brought affordable IVF to Melbourne. They noticed a lack of affordable IVF treatments in Melbourne that were provided with both care and expertise, which led them to create Thrive Fertility.

The Thrive Fertility Team

At Thrive Fertility, we understand that everyone has their own story. Scroll to read some of ours.

Dr Sascha Edelstein

Fertility Specialist & Managing Director

Dr Sascha Edelstein is a Fertility Specialist and Managing Director at Thrive Fertility, with more than 15 years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate their fertility journeys. His approach is grounded in patient autonomy and informed decision-making, with a strong focus on ensuring patients have the clarity and support they need to make decisions that are right for them, rather than simply being progressed through standard treatment pathways.

I believe our patients deserve access to excellent, affordable care.

All our patients deserve to be treated with care and compassion.

Dr Linda Walmsley

Fertility Specialist & Medical Director

I grew up and trained as a doctor, a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a fertility specialist in South Africa. I am forever grateful to the mentors and patients who showed me what compassion looks like in all circumstances — those lessons continue to shape the way I practise today.

I later moved to Melbourne, where I was part of the team that established the first accessible, low-cost private fertility clinic — a rewarding experience that confirmed for me the importance of bringing high-quality fertility care within reach of more people.

For me, every embryo represents hope, and every patient journey deserves care and compassion.

Dr Lisa Lee

Scientific Director

Dr Lisa Lee is the Scientific Director at Thrive Fertility and brings nearly two decades of experience in reproductive science and IVF laboratory leadership. She combines advanced laboratory technology and evidenced-based science with a personalised, patient-centered approach to care. Lisa oversees laboratory operations, quality systems and clinical performance at Thrive Fertility, with a strong focus on optimising embryo culture conditions to support the best possible laboratory outcomes.

Kyam North

Business & Quality Manager

Kyam North is the Business and Quality Manager at Thrive Fertility, overseeing business operations across finance, human resources, marketing, operations and quality management. Working closely with the Directors, she plays a key leadership role in both the day-to-day and strategic direction of the clinic, ensuring the organisation remains aligned, well-supported and focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centred fertility care.

Great fertility care is built on strong systems, a connected team, and a shared commitment to doing our best for every person who trusts us with their care.

Every patient deserves to feel heard, respected, and supported at every step of their journey.

Kerryn Lawton

Nurse Unit Manager

Kerryn Lawton is the Nurse Unit Manager at Thrive Fertility, with more than a decade of experience in IVF nursing and a background in women’s health, cardiology and public health. In her leadership role, she focuses on clinical governance, patient safety and quality care, ensuring robust policies and procedures support safe, consistent treatment outcomes.

Dr Cal Volks

Senior Counsellor

Dr Cal Volks is a Senior Counsellor at Thrive Fertility, bringing extensive experience in infertility counselling across clinics and private practice in both South Africa and Australia. She holds a BA Honours in Psychology and a Master of Arts from Rhodes University and trained as a fertility counsellor with the British Infertility Counselling Association.

Before moving to Melbourne, Cal served as Director of the HIV/AIDS and Inclusivity Unit at the University of Cape Town, where she conducted research, provided counselling and delivered training around reproductive and sexual health — including addressing stigma and promoting inclusivity. That grounding in reproductive rights and equitable access continues to inform her approach to counselling today.

IVF can be physically demanding and emotionally challenging. Our patient deserve research-informed, evidence-based psychological care should they choose to access that support.