We focus on quality accessible care for you and your family.
Upward Life Family Practice
Is a private billing modern GP practice within the centre of Cairns.
We fundamentally recognise there are no shortcuts in life or health – you have to do things properly – and this is reflected in both the care we provide to you and your family as well as our approach to medicine in general.
We are committed to promoting health, wellbeing and disease prevention to all patients. We do not discriminate in the provision of excellent care, and we aim to treat all patients with dignity and respect.
Upward Life Family Practice (ULFP) was established in 2022, by Dr. Katherine Holzhauser and Dr. Cameron Downes. As locals from the Cairns region, both are proud graduates of James Cook University and are passionate about providing excellent and wholistic medical care in our respective fields.
We are a shared medical space with Upward Life Family Practice providing General Practice facilities including Nursing and Allied Health services and separately Spine, Bone Body (Orthopaedics) operates within the same medical centre. With a calming and relaxed atmosphere and onsite cafe ULFP is general practice care with a difference. Our philosophy aligns with the concept known as ‘slow’ medicine, taking time with patients and many of our GP’s adopt a lifestyle medicine approach to your health needs.
Management from the top down have values that align with family based care, excellent communication and teamwork and the understanding that our workplace must be a supportive and compassionate environment where striving for excellence is encouraged. Being open to feedback and challenging our practices / policies and procedures; be that from staff or patients is necessary and considered an integral aspect of our ethos. We embrace all persons, regardless of gender, sexual identity, race and religion.
ULFP is physically located on the corners of Upward and McLeod Streets in Cairns City. Patient access to the building is via Upward Street, with a wheel chair friendly ramp and an open plan reception / waiting area with adjacent consulting rooms that have natural light and across the practice biophillic design is evident. We have a treatment room for administration of vaccinations, fracture management, minor procedures, IV fluids, Iron infusions and emergency treatment can be provided. We will be having further renovations to facilitate further consulting rooms in 2023 to further expand available services.
Dr. Katherine and Dr. Merodia are both currently undertaking further studies in Lifestyle Medicine field – and are looking forward to not only providing all the usual GP care you would expect; but also looking towards offering clinics that offer a focus on health maintenance, health promotion and health coaching.
** COVID PRECAUTIONS **
If you have tested positive for Covid, please do not attend our clinic. Please call us on 07 4281 6959 to discuss how best to facilitate your appointment. Appointments may be conducted via Telehealth, or may need to be rescheduled.
Masks are no longer mandatory, however we encourage those vulnerable to do so. If you are Covid negative but have respiratory symptoms, it is a requirement of our clinic that a mask be worn at all times during your visit.
- cough
- runny nose
- nasal or sinus congestion
- difficulty breathing / taking a full breath
- loss of sense of smell/taste (acute)
- general malaise associated with the above symptoms
- fever associated with the above symptoms
If you’re not sure if you can/should enter –
please contact us on 07 4281 6959.
- social distancing within the practice
- wearing an appropriate mask that covers both nose and mouth
- regular hand washing or hand-cleanser use
- not ignoring signage which is placed for both yours, other patients and our staff’s protection
