When I realised that I was better behind the scenes than on the sporting field, I decided to put all my efforts into the profession of Exercise Physiology. Whilst studying for my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at Deakin University, I was fortunate enough to land a role with Melbourne Storm, where I gained invaluable experience, knowledge and insight, dealing with the rehabilitation and strength and conditioning of players.
It was there that I discovered that chronic degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis were not just suffered by the ageing and older bodies. This experience inspired me to further my studies, and go on to complete my Masters in Exercise Physiology……
Musculoskeletal injuries
Clinical Strength training
Strength training
Through her own sporting career as a professional snowboarder, Rebecca Bryce developed an extensive interest in strength and conditioning, corrective dynamic movement patterning and rehabilitation for return to sport protocols. She previously worked in her private practice as a sports massage therapist working with many elite sports persons including triathletes, runners, AFL footballers and winter sports athletes. She also worked at the Australian Open Tennis as a massage therapist for 10 years. During this time, she chose to further her education in the field of exercise and sports science and completed her Bachelor of exercise science followed by a Graduate Diploma of clinical exercise prescription at the Australian Catholic University. Most recently Rebecca embarked on a Masters of High Performance Sports at ACU as she continually aims to progress her knowledge and skill in assisting her clients in the management and preservation of their physical and musculoskeletal health……
Running Gait Assessment and Return to running rehabilitation / protocols
Chronic pain management and education / trauma
Musculoskeletal Health
Rigel trained as a Physiotherapist and has since chosen to undertake further study and training to specialise in the field of hand therapy. Rigel has been awarded the title of Accredited Hand Therapist by the Australian Hand Therapy Association in recognition of the further study, training and mentoring he has completed. Rigel’s passion for providing high quality care has led him to work in a variety of settings including private practice and acute public hospital settings.
Rigel continues to work in a public hand therapy role where he treats a large variety of acute traumatic and multi-trauma hand injuries in addition to rehabilitating patients after elective surgical procedures…..
Hand Therapy
Custom Thermoplastic Splinting
Rehabilitation
Brodwen is a Physiotherapist who started her career in the public hospital setting, before finding her niche in Hand Therapy in 2012. Since then, she has gained experience in managing hand, wrist and elbow conditions across both public and private healthcare settings.
As an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA) and a Certified Hand Therapist (USA), Brodwen has been recognised for her experience and expertise in the management of upper limb conditions. She is a well-respected clinician and a presenter of professional development courses for both the national Hand Therapy and Physiotherapy associations…..
Hand, wrist, elbow injuries
de Quervain's and Tendinopathies
Sports injuries
Dom is an experienced soft tissue therapist who believes that massage is a key component in the treatment of soft tissue injury and crucial to the maintenance of our chosen sporting activity and well-being.
Following a corporate career in Human Resources and Recruitment, Dom has gained solid clinical experience in working with triathletes, runners, and cyclists and has developed a strong interest in hip, lumbar and thoracic related injuries, always with the goal of getting the body balanced, pain-free and moving well…..
Sports Massage for runners, triathletes and soccer
Post surgical treatment
Treatment to unlock the hips, lumbar and thoracic
Despite the early introduction to sport with school athletics, calisthenics, and later as an aerobics instructor, Lily realised she was not destined for a career as an athlete. Although, she later discovered that as a Massage Therapist she could still be involved with sport by working with the athletes from a range of sports, including: athletics, ironman, kayaking, rowing, swimming, ballet, wheelchair sports and netball. Her special interests include tennis, cycling and winter sports.
As the team soigneur, Lily completed twelve Herald Sun Tours, working with several visiting international road cycling teams. Her work in cycling led to her to the Australian Paralympic Cycling Team, with whom she travelled as they prepared for major world events, and to the team’s most successful medal performance in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, and the 2006 IPC World Track Championships in Switzerland…..
Dry Needling
Shoulder
Neck & TMJ
Jessica Rothwell’s excitement for supporting athletes as well as individual health stemmed from her experiences growing up on a dairy farm as well as competing internationally in the sport of race walking. Jess enjoys working with individuals of all ages to develop realistic and achievable strategies that are complementary to their lifestyle or training/competition goals.
Jessica Rothwell is working at the Victorian Institute of Sport with Athletics and is the National High Performance Nutrition Lead for Athletics Australia, outside of these roles, she enjoys other consultancy work and casual work with flowers…..
Endurance athletes(elite and recreational, with a particular interest in running)
Adolescent nutrition (team sports and individual)
REDs, disordered eating, exercise induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS), nutrition for rehabilitation, iron and bone health management
Emily has always been passionate about health and all sports, with a particular interest in cycling (criterium and road racing), triathlon, low energy availability / REDs, eating disorders and disordered eating. Emily’s love for supporting athletes stems from growing up playing representative basketball, supporting Carlton Football Club and her ongoing participation in local criterium and road races across Melbourne.
Emily enjoys working with all people to achieve their goals, whether that’s building sport / exercise into a healthy lifestyle or competing at an elite level. Emily is known for her nurturing personality, individualised and inclusive approach to providing nutrition support. She thrives supporting people to make sustainable changes to their nutrition and develop a positive relationship with food to achieve optimal health and performance…..
Sports Nutrition (both individual and team sports)
Eating disorders and disordered eating
Adolescent Nutrition
Alex Bell has always had a passion for sport and exercise. Competing to a national level in Tennis as a junior before being offered the opportunity to go to America to play in the Collegiate system.
Her participation in sport fuelled her interest in nutrition, not just for performance, but also to the challenges training schedules and pressure to achieve can have on one’s ability to achieve adequate fuelling.
Alex’s philosophy is one that focuses on the athlete’s overall health including their wellbeing as part of goals. She aims to support athletes to have a positive relationship with nutrition to achieve their nutrition and health targets…..
Sport nutrition
High intensity intermittent sports
Young athletes
Disordered eating, eating disorders, LEA and REDS
Dr Emma Steer has worked with children, adolescents and young adults for over sixteen years within clinical and educational settings. She is passionate about educating and supporting her clients to develop a holistic and balanced lifestyle that promotes positive mental health, resiliency and optimal functioning. In particular, Emma views physical activity as an essential contributor towards lifelong physical and mental health.
Dr Emma Steer works with the general population of children, adolescents and young adults as well as elite and amateur athletes and performing artists…..
Child and adolescent psychology
Clinical issues in elite and amateur athletes and performing artists
Depression, anxiety and disordered eating in young people
Kylie Latu is passionate about the interconnection between mental and physical health. She has combined this with her own personal love of all things sport, leading her evolution into a career as a psychologist with special interests in sport and performance psychology. Kylie has a strong background in physical healthcare, having previously worked clinically as a podiatrist for over fifteen years, in various roles including sport podiatry and lower limb biomechanics. Kylie currently holds dual registration with AHPRA as both a fully qualified psychologist and podiatrist. She now reserves her podiatry-related work for being a mentor and professional development educator for other allied health practitioners, focusing her clinical work as a psychologist at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre……
Treatment and management of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression
Human performance and mindset development e.g. visualisation, mindfulness, motivation, mental skills training
Mental health challenges associated with return to sport and exercise e.g. postnatal, injury rehabilitation, chronic illness, concussion
James Pope joined the Olympic Park Sports Medicine team in 2008. His main interest is working with athletes of all ages with injuries that limit exercise. This can often be a source of much frustration for people wanting to be active and stay fit, James strives to provide a means of doing this whilst also reducing pain.
James works with the Melbourne Football Club, Melbourne Victory and the Victorian Cricket team. He is interested in working closely with other health practitioners to rehabilitate, strengthen and help people to be exercising pain free as soon as possible…..
Orthotic Therapy
Return to Running Reloading
Chronic Foot Pain
Since completing her Bachelor of Podiatry in 2011, Sia has worked for several years in private practice across rural Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. Sia has clinical interests in sports medicine, and in 2020 completed her Master of Sports Medicine through the University of Melbourne. She is highly skilled in all areas of Podiatry and over the years has gained extensive experience in elite and recreational sport, having facilitated treatment to athletes from a wide range of sporting codes and national organisations, including AFL Football and the Australian Ballet.
Sia is passionate about footwear technology and the important role it can play in safe participation in sport and exercise. She provides footwear assessments and recommendations so that her patients’ footwear is best suited to their specific sporting and biomechanical needs…..
Foot injuries
Rehabilitation
Sally joined the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre team in 2001. Sally was awarded a first class honours in her under graduate studies at La Trobe University and won the Young Investigator’s award at the Victorian Podiatry Conference in the year 2000. Sally worked in Perth for 18 months before she made the move to OPSMC. It was in Perth that she gained valuable sporting experience working with both the Perth Wild Cats Basketball team and the AIS hockey squad.
Sally completed her Master of Sports Medicine (by Research) at the University of Melbourne in 2010. Her research focused on Achilles tendinopathy and the mechanical behaviour of the Achilles tendon in running athletes. Her main findings were published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. As a result of her research Sally has a special interest in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy in both elite and recreational athletes…..
Biomechanical assessment and footwear technology
Children and adolescent sports injuries
Achilles tendinopathy and other lower limb MSK injuries
Andy Stephens started his career at OPSMC in 1990 as a massage therapist. He also worked at the Royal Ballet Company in the UK from 1994 to 1997 and Essendon Football Club (1999 – 2003) before graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from La Trobe University in 2002. He has since been appointed physiotherapist to the AFL umpires (2005-2007, and 2012- 2014) and to the Hawthorn Football Club (2008-2010).
Andy completed his Master of Sports Physiotherapy in 2012, and has a special interest in dance medicine, track and field and Australian Rules Football. His clinical approach combines exercise therapy and patient education with hands-on treatment to address existing problems and prevent the development of new injuries…..
Manual Therapy
Prescription of exercise therapy
Lower and upper limb injuries
Growing up in Rugby League territory on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, you wouldn’t expect Zac to be an Aussie Rules fan, but having a father from Echuca helps. Zac was lucky enough to represent QLD on multiple occasions as a junior, with his one win against Victoria being the coin toss. Coming into his under 18s year, Zac was split between his studies as a physiotherapist, and his training/playing. While he had a couple of years playing in the NEAFL (now integrated into the VFL), he was never able to crack the next level…..
Complex Presentations
Chronic Pain
Strength & Conditioning
Mary Kinch is a current and founding partner of OPSMC. She is an APA Titled Sports Physiotherapist and a trained Pilates practitioner. With more than 25 years Sports Medicine experience she has a vast range of both team and clinical experience.
Achievements include working with Melbourne and Geelong AFL teams, the Australian Swim team, Australian Paralympic Swim team, Diving Victoria and Victorian Junior Indoor and Field Hockey teams. She is currently a consultant to Hockey Victoria and to several Cycling groups (road and trail)…..
Shoulder injuries - Rehabilitation surgical/non-surgical
Spinal pain/rehabilitation/postural dysfunction and weakness
Child / adolescent sports injuries- rehabilitation/management
Victoria Kahn was the Sports Science/Sports Medicine Manager and Team Physiotherapist at Equestrian Australia from 2010 until 2016. She was the Team Physio and Medical Manager for the Australian Equestrian Team for the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2012 Paralympic Games and the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games (Kentucky, USA/Normandy, and France) and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prior to this, Vic worked in Australian Rules Football (Professional and Amateur levels) and cricket (Victorian Premier League). Victoria was Head Physiotherapist with the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Team (The Steelers) from 2016-2019…..
Hip and Groin pathology
Equestrain Athletes
Athletes and Disability
Andrew Hocking completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2011, before going on to finish a Masters of Sports Physiotherapy at LaTrobe University. Andrew has developed a clinical interest in the lower limb, including the hip, knee, ankle and soft tissue injuries.
He enjoys working with all types of people, from elite athletes to the weekend warrior. Having postgraduate learning in occupational heath, Andrew has skills and experience working with people in the office setting with ergonomic set ups, and is able to help you with all other day to day aches and pains, including neck and back pain, headaches and more after a long day at work. Using a patient centred, evidence based approach, your goals are the main priority on the road to success…..
Lower Limb Rehabilitation
Soft Tissue Injuries
Tendon Injuries
Mairead graduated from the University of Limerick in 2011, with an honour’s degree in Physiotherapy. Since then, Mairead has gained vast experience in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. Mairead values the importance of ongoing learning and development and has since completed a Masters of Physiotherapy (Sports) at UQ (2020).
Mairead has a special interest in chronic pain and the value of exercise therapy in pain management. Mairead developed a passion for clinical Pilates early in her career and has since completed extensive training both in New Zealand and Australia. Mairead is passionate about enabling each client to pursue their goals, reach their potential and make long-term positive changes to their life. Mairead also specialises in ankle and knee injuries, including ACL rehabilitation and running injuries…..
ACL rehabilitation (both surgical and non-surgical)
Running injuries
Clinical exercise for chronic pain management
Laura Baquie is a physiotherapist with a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy from La Trobe University who has worked with teams from the local community level to the elite international level. This breadth of experience enables Laura’s approach to individual patients she sees at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre.
Laura’s particular interests lie with hips, knees, soft tissue muscle injury, acute and chronic spinal injuries, post op care, foot and ankle injury and with rehabilitation of tendinopathies. Laura utilises her DMA Clinical Pilates training to optimise her approach to patient treatment and rehabilitation.
Laura is passionate about understanding patients’ individual goals and assisting them in the process of achieving this…..
Hip and lower limb diagnosis and rehabilitation
Acute and chronic spinal presentations
Rehabilitation post operative care
Alex Ashton completed his Masters of Sports Physiotherapy qualification at La Trobe University and is currently an APA Titled Sports Physiotherapist. Alex has also recently furthered his knowledge in injury prevention by completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Clinical Epidemiology in Sport, at the University of Canberra. Alex returned to Melbourne in early 2022 having spent the previous two years at the Australian Institute of Sport, working with the Women’s Basketball Centre of Excellence, as well as many other athletes, such as boxers, track and field athletes, swimmers and many more. Prior to that Alex has worked in private practice in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, alongside work with rugby and tennis, notably, Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne University and Northland Rugby. Having played a variety of sports, Alex has a keen interest treating all range of athletic injuries, with particular interest in rugby, soccer, tennis and basketball…..
Injury prevention
Knee rehabilitation
Post-operative rehabilitation
Dr. Shao Wen Teh graduated from the University of Queensland and has spent the past decade working in the field of emergency and internal medicine. She discovered her passion for musculoskeletal health through working with people across all ages with acute and chronic conditions that significantly impacted their physical ability. Recognising that people exercise and compete with a broad range of medical conditions, she aims to combine her knowledge and expertise to optimise people’s physical health.
Shao Wen has worked with athletes across various sporting codes including the AFL/VFL, NBL, A-League, Motocross/Supercross and World Aquatics/FINA swimming where she worked cohesively with the teams in providing comprehensive medical care to athletes, spectators, staff and visiting delegates…..
Internal Medicine in sports and exercise groups
Rehabilitation
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Bryn graduated from his Medical Degree (Cardiff University, Wales, UK) in 2014 after completing a Sports Science degree (Loughborough University, England, UK). To further specialise, he then completed a Sports & Exercise Medicine Diploma whilst working in the hospital system in the UK, before coming over to Melbourne.
With many years of experience across a range of sports, especially rugby (both Union and League), Bryn was the team doctor for the Melbourne Rebels from 2018-2024. He was also the team doctor for the Fiji Rugby Union for 3 years including the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan…..
Soft Tissue Injuries
Traumatic Sporting Injuries
Concussion
Dr Krish Rasaratnam graduated from Monash University in 2018 and completed his residency through Eastern Health with significant exposure to Orthopaedic and Emergency medicine. Krish pursued his interests in lifestyle and musculoskeletal medicine becoming a qualified General Practitioner and obtaining a Masters in Sports Medicine. He currently works as a Doctor with Sandringham Zebras Football Club in the VFL and Western United Football Club.
Krish practices holistic medicine when it comes to your health and is keen to help you live your best life. Krish aims to not only address your current issue, but also to identify and address pre-disposing factors so that it does not recur…..
Tendinopathies
Bone Stress Injuries
Neuralgia
Dr. Laura McDonald-Wedding realised very early on in her medical career that she wanted to combine her two passions in life – sports and medicine. Since then, she has pursued these interests working as a sports and exercise registrar at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre while also working with organisations such as AFL, Hawthorn Football Club, Melbourne Rebels, Gymnastics Australia and Melbourne Victory.
When she is not seeing clinic patients or working for sporting teams, she is working in the Emergency Department at Austin Health and as a surgical assistant. Through these experiences, Laura understands acute trauma and injury management, internal medicine and both conservative and surgical options available for common orthopaedic problems…..
Female health-in particular contraception, iron deficiency, RED-S, bone stress, concussion in female athletes
Kids and paediatrics
Aesthetic based sports - Dance / Ballet / Gymnastics / Circus / Calisthenics
Husam was brought up on the North Shore in Auckland, New Zealand. He trained at The University of Auckland and graduated in 2017. After spending his initial years working between the main hospitals in Auckland he moved down south to Christchurch to work at a Sports and Exercise Medicine clinic in late 2020 where he progressed his sports medicine training. On a personal level he enjoys football (soccer), tennis and running…..
Acute/ Chronic injuries
Procedures/Injections
Exercise prescriprion
Dr Hilary Grover grew up taking every opportunity to watch and play sport. In high school she undertook work experience with an AFL club doctor and from that moment she knew she would pursue a career in Sports and Exercise Medicine. Whilst Hilary was in medical school she was a founding member of the Sports and Exercise Medicine Student’s Association and started volunteering at amateur football clubs as a trainer.
She has enthusiastically worked across various sporting bodies including AFL, AFLW, Cricket Australia, A-League Men’s and Women’s and WNBL…..
REDs Management
Female Athlete Health
Injury Rehabilitation
Dr Daniel Friedman is dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their health and performance goals.
After graduating with First Class Honours from his medical degree at Monash University in 2019, Daniel has gained diverse sport and exercise medicine experience in Australia and abroad. Most recently based at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Daniel served as the team doctor for Basketball Australia’s Men’s Centre of Excellence Program and the NBA Global Academy. At the AIS, Daniel also supported a range of junior and senior teams across Olympic and Paralympic sports, including national Rowing and Paddle teams at the AIS European Training Centre in Italy. Other international experience includes providing medical services at World Athletics and World Aquatics Championships. Closer to home, Daniel has spent time working across all levels of Australian Rules Football and Rugby…..
Athletics, Australian Rules Football, Basketball, Cycling, Tennis
Running and endurance medicine, Female athlete health
Physical activity for prevention and management of chronic disease.
Dr Victoria Forsdick undertook an undergraduate physiotherapy degree before graduating from medicine in 2014. She previously worked in paediatric surgery bit could not ignore her love for sport and exercise medicine, having been a young athlete herself. She started working for the Western Bulldogs AFLW team in 2019 and covered other events as able during the Covid-19 pandemic before moving to Canberra in 2021. She completed her first year of registrar training at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), working with a range of sports including basketball and para-swimming. The AIS was also where she started her researched in the female athlete post-pregnancy…..
Sports Medicine
Female Athletes
Paediatrics
Emma is currently a sports and exercise medicine registrar who works at OPSMC as well as across multiple divisions of the Hawthorn Football Club. She is the head doctor of their VFL team and works with their AFL team. She is also now in her third year as the head doctor for the Victoria Country Under 18s team. She graduated from Monash University in 2020 and undertook her internship and residency years at the Alfred Hospital, with a combination medicine, trauma orthopedics and emergency. She is currently doing research in concussion and cardiac screening…..
AFL
Concussion
Cardiac Screening
Rohan Price is an Australian trained Orthopaedic Surgeon, who has undertaken international sub-specialty fellowship training in shoulder and knee surgery, and is a member of OrthoSport Victoria.
His particular interest is in arthroscopic surgery for sporting injuries, shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears and knee ligament injuries, as well as surgery for shoulder and knee arthritis.
Rohan received his medical degree from Monash University in 1998, and subsequently completed his orthopaedic specialty training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2007. He undertook an orthopaedic trauma fellowship at Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, Rohan completed two highly regarded knee and shoulder sports medicine fellowships in the United Kingdom and Canada…..
Sports Knee
Shoulder
Orthopaedic sports medicine
Dr David Long completed his medical degree at the University of Melbourne in 2006. After working and training in the field of critical care and emergency medicine for nearly 10 years David decided to retrain in sport and exercise medicine and was awarded his fellowship of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians in 2021. In addition to his clinic-based practice, David has more than 10 years experience as a team physician at elite level VFL/AFL clubs and for 6 years at elite level rugby union (Super Rugby). He has also provided medical coverage for a variety of other sporting codes including gymnastics, motor cross, cycling, and ultramarathon to name a few…..
Sports Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Clinical governance
Mr Lachlan Batty is an Australian trained orthopaedic surgeon with international sub-specialist training in knee surgery, joint replacement surgery and sports medicine.
Lachlan grew up in Melbourne and completed his medical degree at Monash University. He was awarded a full Monash University Scholarship for Excellence. Lachlan undertook his internship and surgical residency at The Alfred Hospital and was selected for specialist orthopaedic training through the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was the Dux of his training cohort in the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination…..
Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy
Knee Replacement (partial, total, robotic, patient specific, revision)
Sports Medicine
Mona is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians who is originally from Iran she completed her undergraduate medical degree in 2009 at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. During her medical internship, she developed a strong interest in sports medicine, and following the completion of her Doctor of Medicine in 2009, she pursued specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine .She earned her fellowship in sport and exercise medicine in 2013 at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. During her career in Iran, she worked with a diverse range of athletes, including professional soccer, tennis, and volleyball players. She also gained extensive experience in managing musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries in the general population, helping individuals—from youth to the elderly—stay active, healthy, and pain-free.
In 2020, Mona moved to Melbourne, where she continued her career as an overseas-trained specialist (SIMG) in the Mornington Peninsula area. This role allowed her to expand her expertise in sports medicine, working with a broader spectrum of athletes, including Australian rule football players and netball players…..
Management of wide range of acute and chronic (overused ) MSK injuries in athletes and general population(all age groups)
Management of medical conditions in athletes including asthma, concussion,RED and overtraining
US guided procedures in tendon and joints including CSI and regenerative medicine (PRP and viscosupplements)
Neels du Toit is passionate about improving people’s quality of life, be that for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions or active sports people with longstanding injuries.
He works as part of a multi-disciplinary team in which his role is making an accurate diagnosis and providing pain relief using various interventional techniques. Neels believes that the key to long-term improvement for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions is to improve movement and to decrease fear of pain provoking actions and postures.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain (back, neck and joint) assessment and management
Interventional pain management
Neuropathic pain assessment and management
Dr James Ooi carved a career in sports and exercise medicine through a passion for applying the principles of elite healthcare for the general public. James was granted the Monash University Scholarship for Excellence in recognition of academic achievement. After graduating with honours in 2016, he trained at The Alfred Hospital, culminating in his role as trauma registrar for the state service.
During this time, James undertook further training including advanced musculoskeletal ultrasound, therapeutic injections and the Graduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy. He was awarded for outstanding performance in Orthopaedics…..
Bodyweight Sports (Gymnastics, Sport Climbing, Martial Arts)
Jumping Sports (Basketball, Football, Racquet Sports)
Upper and Lower Limb Injuries (Acute and Chronic)
Dr Krishant Naidu is a highly experienced Sports and Exercise Physician and is the current Head of the Medical Department at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre. He is passionate about helping people of all ages and sporting backgrounds achieve their best health and fitness outcomes.
Krish’s professional interests include management of osteoarthritis, tendonopathy and adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). He has completed advanced training in diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound and performs his own ultrasound guided procedures including joint injections as well as shoulder hydrodilatation. He has undertaken numerous research studies including a randomised clinical trial for treatment of chronic common extensor tendinopathy (tennis elbow), atraumatic compartment syndrome and shoulder injuries in cricket…..
Sports Medicine
Osteoarthritis
Tendinopathies and Adhesive Capsulitis of Shoulder
Chris is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians who has worked in a variety of sports including football, MMA, and athletics. He has had previous roles with the Frankston Dolphins VFL club, Southern Saints VFLW club and Oakleigh Chargers Football club. Chris was the team doctor for the Australian u20’s athletics team for the world u20’s athletics championships in 2022 in Columbia and again 2024 in Peru. Prior to working in sports medicine, Chris worked as an emergency department doctor.
Chris is passionate about keeping people active and facilitating people of all ages and levels of fitness in reaching their goals. He enjoys treating both sporting and non-sporting related injuries and has a particular interest in lower limb and running related injuries. Chris is a member of Athletics Essendon where he competes in 200 and 400m sprints…..
Running Related Injuries
Exercise Rehabilitation
Joint and soft tissue injections
Andrew Jowett realized at a young age that despite his obsession with sport and diverse sporting interests that he was never destined for a career as a sportsman. Throughout his medical training however he maintained his links and interests in sport to develop his expertise combining both passions. This culminated in the fabulous adventure that was the World Cup in Germany 2006 as the Socceroos national team doctor.
On a daily basis Andrew wishes to assist members of the general public achieve their sporting, health and fitness goals by drawing upon his expertise at the elite level as well as his personal sporting mediocrity!…..
Sport and Exercise Medicine generally especially around football codes
Exertional Leg Pain
Radial Shockwave Therapy
Dr Jacob Jewson has followed his passion for sport and exercise medicine since graduating from his medical degree in 2015. While working as a junior doctor at the Alfred Hospital, Jacob also worked for the Western Bulldogs AFLW and Footscray VFL teams. In 2019, he moved to Sydney for his first year of registrar training and worked in a variety of sports, including touring with the Young Socceroos. Jacob moved back to Melbourne in 2020, after sorely missing footy for 12 months, and started working with the Demons in the AFL in 2021.
Jacob was a founding member of the Sport and Exercise Medicine Students’ Association and has completed an honours degree in medical science where he investigated the relationship between metabolic disease and musculoskeletal pain, an area which he remains very interested in…..
Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries
Concussion
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Dr Sam Harkin is a Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician with the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP). Dr Harkin is passionate about helping his patients maintain an active lifestyle and pursue their sporting dreams.
He is currently team doctor for the Collingwood Football Club AFL and AFLW. He has a Diploma in Sports Medicine from the International Olympic Committee, and current research interests include the clinical assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical function.
Sports Medicine
Interventions - Corticosteroid injection / Visco supplementation / Biologics - including PRP injection
Non-surgical management of osteoarthritis
Adam Castricum is passionate about sport and exercise and takes great satisfaction out of helping all members of the community across all stages of life achieve their goals in a safe, enjoyable and healthy fashion whether they are elite athletes or simply inactive patients wishing to get active and lead a healthier, more rewarding life.
Adam became a Fellow with the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP) in 2008 after successfully completing 6 years of training in Melbourne and Sydney. Soon after, he was appointed Chief Medical Officer for Athletics Australia and headed up the medical team for the successful Australian Track and Field team at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. From 2014-2017 he worked with the excellent medical and conditioning team at Hawthorn Football Club, with the highlight being the 2014 and 2015 Premierships…..
Sports Medicine
Ultrasound guided interventions
Exercise Medicine
Paul Blackman gained fellowship of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians in 1996, winning the college medal for the best candidate. He has extensive experience in Australian Rules football, working with North Melbourne and Richmond, then as Chief Medical Officer at Collingwood from 1997 to 2010 and Melbourne from 2013 to 2017. Paul also has interests in athletics and is currently Chief Medical Officer for the Australian track and field team. Other team attachments have included the Australian Socceroos, Judo Victoria, Swimming Victoria, and the Victorian Weightlifting Federation.
Paul has particular expertise in ultrasound-guided procedures such as shoulder hydrodilatation and hip-joint injection, in addition, to exercise-induced leg pain, knee, shoulder, and hip/groin pain…..
Ultrasound guided injections
Shoulder pain
Hip and groin pain
After three years in General Practice, Tim moved to Melbourne to pursue his interest in Sports Medicine. Participating in the Australasian College of Sports Physicians training program, Tim has been working full-time in this field for the last 18 years and achieved Fellowship of the ACSP in 2004.
Given his competitive involvement in both Track and Field and Australian Rules Football, Tim has a broad understanding of injuries concerned with these sports. Further research has been undertaken in the study of lower limb compartment syndrome, a common condition seen in runners. This extended to the completion in 2006 of a Masters Degree with the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) at the University of Melbourne…..
General Sport and Exercise Medicine
Running Injuries ,Australian Rules Football Injuries
Interventional - Injection Therapies, Shock Wave
Gary Nicholls is an APA Titled Sports Physiotherapist with 25 years of experience. In 19 of these Gary has had some affiliation with Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, initially at our Albert Park Sports Medicine Centre. This was after having worked as a physiotherapy aide at OPSMC during his final 2 years of physiotherapy study!
Gary is currently involved in season number 18 in the AFL. Gary had 13 years as a senior physiotherapist at Collingwood Football Club, and 3 years as head physiotherapist at Melbourne Football Club before stepping back from full time AFL duties to clear his weekends for his young family…..
Gen is a Specialist Women’s Men’s and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2010) and is passionate about ensuring that pelvic health issues do not impact your capacity to engage with and enjoy your life on your terms – regardless of age or stage of life! She has always been passionate about sport and exercise. She pursued dance for many years, then springboard diving at school, as well as full participation in all sports available when at school. Following school she then found irowing, and represented at intervarsity, club and state team level…..
Jacqui Louder has been a practicing psychologist for sixteen years, specialising in eating disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, athletic transitions (retirement / entry into elite sport /etc), motor sport, critical incident management, performing arts and children’s sport. She works with teams and organisations in establishing a healthy leadership and culture, and ensuring healthy working environments, as well as coaching groups on communication and enhancing team performance. Clinically Jacqui works extensively with individuals suffering depression and anxiety, pain management and sleeping issues, relationships, and general life balance.
Currently at OPSMC Jacqui sits on the Board of Directors. She has recently stepped down, after 8 years, as the National Membership Coordinator for the College of Sports and Exercise Psychologists but maintains her role as the Chair for the Victorian College of Sport & Exercise Psychologists…..
Maria got into massage through a really bad back injury which left her debilitated & not able to work for 15 months. So this started her on a journey to make a fully recovery & get back to running. She saw a team of medical professionals at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Clinic which helped her recover & inspired her to get into Sports Massage, Remedial Massage & Manual Lymphatic Drainage. She always loved all sports & therefore was excited to be able to get involved in helping people get back to their sport and also back to work.
For her first 3 – 5 years she was involved with the Australian Netball Team working with the World championships & the PGA Golf working with the Masters, Australian Open Golf tournaments & Johnnie Walker Classic…..
Gary Cairnduff has been practicing since 1991, and his experience has been wide ranging across many clinical settings, from rural health to metropolitan rehabilitation hospital, private practice and sports team management. His sporting team involvement includes, The Sandringham Zebras Football Club ( VFL) Victorian Rugby Union and the Rugby World Cup (2003).
Gary’s areas of interest include shoulder hip and knee pathology and post – surgical management, spinal pain, including the management of cervicogenic headache, thoracic, shoulder, knee and hip pain He has an interest in post trauma management, and the management of cycling related injuries and rehabilitation. Gary has a strong focus on exercise for rehabilitation including Clinical Pilates and strength and conditioning. He manages the Physiotherapy Group Exercise team at Olympic Park Sports medicine Centre. Gary has a strong educational focus, and has coordinated and conducted final year physiotherapy student placements at OPSMC since 2010…..
When it was made abundantly clear that my future as a professional motorcycle racer was highly unlikely and a waste of my parents’ money I decided to smarten up and go to Uni.
After graduating with a Sport and Exercise Science degree, I was fortunate enough to land a position as a strength and conditioning coach at St Kilda FC in 2007. From there opportunity took me to Queensland to begin a career in motorsport. Since 2008 I have been lucky enough to consult to a number of athletes, teams and NSO’s both domestically and internationally…..
Mr. Tim Whitehead is an Australian and internationally trained Orthopaedic Surgeon with a specific interest in all aspects of knee surgery.
After completing his medical degree at the University of Melbourne, he obtained a fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2003.
Tim recently returned from Canada, where he successfully completed two highly regarded Orthopaedic Knee and Sports Medicine Fellowships. He spent 12 months in London at the University of Western Ontario where he trained with Dr Peter Fowler at the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Centre. During this period, he received specific training in arthroscopic knee surgery, ligament reconstruction and complex knee procedures including re-alignment osteotomy…..
Michael completed his initial medical training at St. Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne before commencing his sports medicine training in 2001. Since this time, he has worked with a range of sports including Australian Rules football, netball, cricket, rugby league, track and field, cycling, swimming, gymnastics, boxing and volleyball from recreational through to elite levels.
Michael has also been part of the Australian medical team at the World University Games (Degu, Ismir), Commonwealth Games (Delhi, Glasgow) and Olympics Games (London). He currently works with the Hawthorn football club.
Michael is passionate about research and how it can improve practice. He currently works as a research fellow at the Melbourne Brain Centre (Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health), where he is looking at acute and long term effects of concussion on brain function…..
Originally from Canberra, Dr Laura Lallenec graduated from the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle in 2012. After completing her residency training at Royal Darwin Hospital and Western Health in Melbourne, she commenced her specialty training in Sports Medicine in 2016 and completed it in 2021. Laura has completed an honours degree in Public Health and has specific interests in the use of exercise to improve health and wellbeing, concussion management, osteoarthritis and acute sporting injuries. She is currently the Chief Medical Officer for Netball Australia as well as the Australia Diamonds Team Doctor. Laura works as the Medical Director for AFLW. Laura has a strong personal background in netball and running.
Dr Hussain Khan is passionate about exercise and sports medicine with focus on returning patients to their physical activity goals and promoting healthy active lifestyles.
He has valuable medical experience in diverse sporting environments including cricket, soccer, rugby league, Australian rules football, hockey and endurance running events. He is currently the head doctor of Melbourne Victory A-league men’s team and the team doctor of Hawthorn AFL team. He has also worked as the team doctor of the Australian Cricket men’s team, including multiple overseas tours…..
Dr Kendall Brooks is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sports and Exercise Medicine Physicians. Originally from rural Western Australia, Kendall completed her undergraduate medical degree in 2011 at the University of Western Australia. Kendall completed her internship at Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia’s primary trauma center. After moving to Melbourne Kendall spent over 6 years working in the VFL and AFL for the Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans. Kendall has enjoyed her involvement with various other sporting teams and organisations including Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Melbourne City, Super League Netball and the Commonwealth Games. Kendall has also recently started working with the Melbourne Storm. Kendall has previously worked at Newtown Medical Centre and currently works at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Geelong…..
Nick Leman is a physiotherapist from Melbourne with a special interest in running and football. He is currently a physiotherapist with Football Australia, where he supported the Young Matildas as head physio for the 2024 World Cup in Colombia. He was previously the head physio at Melbourne Victory FC and has also worked with Melbourne City FC, Seattle Reign FC, Houston Dash, US Soccer, the Young Socceroos as well as the Melbourne Track Club. Nick completed his bachelor of physiotherapy at La Trobe University and also holds a masters in High Performance Sport……
Football injury rehab
Hamstring Tendinopathy
Running injury rehab