SPORTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- & Exercise Physiotherapist
Alex is new to Canberra having just moved over from Perth in January 2022. While in the West he completed his masters in Sports Physiotherapy at Curtin University in 2017, having gained his Bachelor of Physiotherapy in Queensland in 2011.
He has been a practicing physiotherapist for the past 10 years during which time he has worked in both private practices as well as with amateur and professional sporting teams. Notably spending the last 3 years working as a physiotherapist for the Western Force RUFC. Alex is currently the Head Physiotherapist for Royals Rugby Union Football Club.
While Alex has a special interest in the rehabilitation of endurance athletes, if you ask him no issue is too big or too small and he looks forward to helping you in whatever way he can. Alex also runs hydrotherapy rehabilitation classes.
Outside of the office Alex enjoys training for and competing in triathlon. He has completed both the Cairns & Perth Ironman triathlons and hopes to add the Port Macquarie event to this list.
Cassia completed her Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at the University of Canberra in 2019. Since graduating, Cassia has worked with a broad range of clients with varied clinical conditions and presentations. Cassia assists with data collection for Pitch Ready post-injury and pre-injury risk reduction testing, which has included athletes from Super Rugby, NRL, A-League, AFL-W, Super-W and Super Netball teams.
Cassia has a keen passion for soccer and currently plays in the WNPL in Canberra. Cassia has a strong interest in using exercise to assist both clinical and athletic population to achieve their individual goals and return to function.
Job Titles:
- Specialist Physiotherapist ( Sports ), DSc, M.SportPhysio, DipPhty
Craig Purdam was the Head of Physical Therapies at the Australian Institute of Sport for 35 years and the Deputy Director of Athlete Services for 3 years. He has worked as a clinician for elite sport for over 40 years and has been a physiotherapist to five Olympic Games (1984-2000) and a longstanding physiotherapist to the Australian National Men's Basketball team over that period. He has worked with the Australia national track and field, rowing and swimming teams along with AFL football.
Craig was awarded the Australian Sports medal in 2000. In 2009 he was appointed as adjunct Professor to the University of Canberra and La Trobe University in 2018.
Qualifications:
Undergraduate (1975)
Postgraduate diploma in Sports (1992)
Master in Sports (2000)
Specialist Sports Physiotherapy following his Fellowship of the Australian College of Physiotherapists (2009)
Honorary Doctor of Science from La Trobe University (2018)
Craig's major clinical and research interests are in the fields of tendinopathy, chronic hamstring injury, calf injury and tissue loading, adaptation and healing mechanisms. He has co-authored around 60 scientific papers and book chapters in these fields.
Dave has been with Elite since 2012, having completed both a Bachelor of Coaching Science and post-graduate Masters of Exercise Physiology at the University of Canberra. He has developed a diverse based of experience from working with a variety of populations, athletes and sporting teams. Most notably:
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Russian Rugby Union Team since 2016 - 2018
Speed and Agility coach for the Canberra Raiders NRL from 2018 - 2020
Royals Rugby Union Club since 2010 - 2019
David specialises in musculoskeletal rehabilitation with a strong focus on problem solving biomechanical imbalances, program monitoring/prescription and speed and agility development. He is also a registered NDIS provider.
Job Titles:
- Accredited Sports Dietitian, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Accredited Level 1 Anthropometrist
- Member of Sports Dietitians Australia
Erica is a member of Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) and the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA); the two peak organisations for nutrition in Australia. Erica has completed FODMAP training (‘Low FODMAD Diet for IBS') for health professionals with Monash University. Erica is also registered with the NDIA.
Erica is an Accredited Sports Dietitian as well as an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Level 1 Anthropometrist. She has earned the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition, a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Griffith University) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Food Science and Nutrition; University of Queensland).
Erica now works privately while also consulting to the ACT Academy of Sport and the ACT Meteors.
Erica provides private consultations on all aspects of nutrition. This can include assistance with weight loss, weight gain, general health, body composition assessment and monitoring, fueling and hydrating for training/competition as well as chronic disease management.
In the past, Erica has been employed as a Clinical Dietitian in the Yass Hospital and Community Health Centre. She has also had extensive experience as an athlete, representing Australia in the sport of Taekwondo.
Jake is new to Canberra having just moved from Sydney following the completion of his Master of Physiotherapy degree at The University of Sydney in 2023.
Prior to this, Jake completed his Master of High Performance Sport degree at the Australian Catholic University in 2022 whilst completing a Strength & Conditioning internship with the GWS Giants Football Club in the AFL during the 2019/20 season, then continued to work as an Athletic Performance Coach during the 2020/2021 season.
With a background in Strength & Conditioning and Physiotherapy, Jake has the skills to assist individuals through all stages of rehabilitation and is passionate about using exercise to help individuals achieve their goals. Jake is also an ASCA Level 1 Accredited Strength and Conditioning coach.
Jay joins Elite after completing his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra in 2023. He has represented the U21 Australian hockey teams at multiple international tournaments and is a current member of the Canberra Chill men's hockey team. Jay has gained further experience with sports through coaching cricket, hockey and tennis. Jay understand the demands of sport from both an athlete and rehabilitation perspective, making him passionate in this space.
Jay has a strong interest in the management of shoulder, lower limb, and sports injury rehabilitation. He enjoys working with all individuals and is passionate about achieving the best results for each of his patients, allowing them to reach their goals.
Liam completed his Bachelors Degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra in 2023. The rehabilitation of Liam's own injuries led him down the path of physiotherapy, with the main goal of helping people return to sport at high level. During his time studying, Liam spent time as in intern with the Canberra Raiders NRL team in the 2023 season. Liam is also currently a team physiotherapist for the Belconnen Magpies in the ACT AFL Competition.
Liam comes from a background of rugby league and rugby union, representing both the Canberra Royals Rugby Union and Woden Valley Rams Rugby League in Canberra first grade competitions. Liam displays a keen interest in lower limb and shoulder rehabilitation as well as the athletic development of his patients.
Deepa Herft
Receptionist
Currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra.
Job Titles:
- & Exercise Physiotherapist
- Team Physiotherapist for the ACT Brumbies Men 's Super Rugby
Megan completed her undergraduate degree in Applied Science (Human Biology) at the University of Canberra. She then completed her Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra and Masters in Sports Physiotherapy through La Trobe University.
Megan is currently the Team Physiotherapist for the ACT Brumbies Men's Super Rugby team and has previously worked in the same role for the Queensland Reds in 2021-2022. Since 2014, Megan has had experience working with many sporting teams from amateur to profession teams including:
Wallabies (Australian Rugby Union team) in 2021
Junior Wallabies in 2020-2023
Australian Men's Volleyball in 2023
Australian Schoolboys & U18s 2022 & 2023
ACT Brumbies Academy 2017-2021
Australian Barbarians U19s 2018 & 2019
Wallaroos (Australian Women's Rugby Union team) in 2019
ACT Brumbies Super W & 7s 2017-2019
Royals Rugby Union Football Club 2014-2019
Aside from sporting team coverage, Megan currently also teaches Physiotherapy students at the University of Canberra in Musculoskeletal interventions and is regularly lecturing on Sports courses around Australia for the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Megan has previous experience teaching Clinical Pilates for many years as a Level 2 certified instructor. She also has experience working with post-operative orthopaedic in-patients at Canberra Private Hospital. She has a special interest in sports injury rehabilitation and is a registered NDIS provider.
Job Titles:
- High Performance Manager & Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ryan is a Strength and Conditioning coach with over 25 years' professional sporting experience. A former Professional Athlete for 10 years (Rugby league UK & France), who has represented his country at international level He also has over 15 years' experience as a strength and conditioning coach in professional team sport in various roles.
Ryan is currently the Head of Athletic Performance for the ACT Brumbies Men's Super Rugby team and has previously worked at the Canberra Raiders as the Head of Rehabilitation and athletic development. Since 2010, Ryan has had experience working with many professional sporting teams as an employee or consultant including:
ACT Brumbies - Head of Athletic Performance - 2021- present
Canberra Raiders - Head of Rehabilitation and Athletic Development 2015-2021
Wallabies (Australian Rugby Union team) in 2022 - Consultant
Wallabies A (Australian Rugby Union team) in 2022-2023 - Consultant
Barbarians (2023) - Consultant
Leeds Carnegie UK - Head of Performance - 2012- 2015
Sale Sharks Uk - Strength and Conditioning coach 2010-2012
Ryan completed his undergraduate degree in Sports Performance at Leeds Metropolitan University. He then completed his Masters of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford.
Aside from Woking in professional sport, Ryan currently is also a guest lecturer at the University of Canberra since 2023 within the Masters of Strength and Conditioning course.
Ryan also mentors several strength and conditioning coaches within Australia for the ASCA (Australian strength and conditioning association).
Qualifications:
ASCA Level 3 Elite Coach (Strength and Conditioning)
Ryan completed his Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at the University of Canberra in 2020 after developing a passion for returning athletes to high performance following injury and illness. Ryan is also recognised through the ASCA as a level 2 coach under the professional coach accreditation scheme.
He has been involved in elite sport since moving to Canberra for his studies from regional NSW in 2017. Currently, Ryan works as the Physical Performance Coach for the Canberra Raiders NRLW program after spending the 2023 season with the Brumbies SuperW team as the Head of Strength and Conditioning. Prior to this, Ryan spent 6 years with the Raiders in varying roles such as rehabilitation coach for the junior representative programs, Jersey Flegg strength and conditioning coach and spend 2 seasons as an intern at NRL level.
Ryan is passionate about musculoskeletal rehabilitation and it's link to physical performance and has special interest in injuries related to the lower limb, trunk and shoulder.
Job Titles:
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ryan completed his undergraduate degree in Sports Performance at Leeds Metropolitan University. He then completed his Masters of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford.
Aside from Woking in professional sport, Ryan currently is also a guest lecturer at the University of Canberra since 2023 within the Masters of Strength and Conditioning course.
Ryan also mentors several strength and conditioning coaches within Australia for the ASCA (Australian strength and conditioning association).
Tash commenced as a physiotherapist at Elite in February 2022 after completing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra. Whilst studying she has worked with a variety of sporting teams including U18 Stromlo Futsul, Canberra Royals Rugby Union, Brumbies Super W, Women's Southern Inland Rugby Union and ACT Presidents First XV Women. In addition to consulting at Elite she is currently the head Physiotherapist for Belconnen Magpies AFL Team and Physiotherapist for The Australian Men's Volleyroo's Team.
Tash has a strong interest in working with shoulder injuries, adolescents and females, and those needing sports injury rehabilitation. She has a background in volleyball and various styles of dance over the past 14 years and enjoys working with aerial artistis/dancers. Tash is passionate about working with individuals towards their goals and return from injury.
Job Titles:
- Physiotherapist
- & Exercise Physiotherapist, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist & APA Research Physiotherapist
Tim is a Sports Physiotherapist with over 20 years professional sport experience since graduating in 2002. Tim is currently the Senior Director for Player Health & Performance at the Washington Commanders in the NFL in the USA.
Tim completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sports & Exercise (UCRISE) at the University of Canberra on the topic of ACL rehabilitation and return to sport following knee injury in 2016. Tim's clinical & research expertise focuses on lower limb rehabilitation. He developed Pitch Ready (www.pitch-ready.com) which combines cutting-edge data science with clinical insights to optimize squad-based injury prevention strategies across organizations as well as return to sport decision-making following lower limb injury.
Tim has provided clinical consultancy for over 35 professional teams within the following competitions:
National Football League (NFL) - USA
National Basketball Association (NBA) - USA
Major League Rugby (MLR) - USA
Australian Football League (AFL & AFL-W) - AUS
National Rugby League (NRL) - AUS & NZ
Super Rugby & Super-W Rugby - AUS & NZ
English Premier League - UK
English Premiership Rugby - UK
A-League - AUS
World Rugby Sevens (Mens & Womens) - AUS
National Hockey League (NHL) - USA
From 2004 to 2019 Tim also worked in clinical appointments with professional sporting teams across multiple codes including:
Cronulla Sharks NRL Team (2022-)
St George-Illawarra Dragons NRL team (2017-2019)
Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL (2015-2017)
Australian Men's Rugby Sevens Team in the HSBC World Series (2013-2014)
Brumbies Super Rugby Team (2006-2011)
Sale Sharks Rugby Football Club United Kingdom (2006)
Canberra Raiders NRL team (2004-2006)
In addition to his undergraduate Physiotherapy degree and subsequent PhD, Tim has completed a post-graduate Master's Degree in Sports Physiotherapy and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Extended-Scope Physiotherapy and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science. He has lectured extensively in sports physiotherapy courses for the Australian Physiotherapy Association as well as to other health professions and has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals (see research page of Elite Rehab website http://www.ersportsphysio.com.au/ersp/research/). He is licensed as a physiotherapist in Australia and the United Kingdom, and as a physical therapist in the USA (New York & Pennsylvania).