Our team

Matt has been a partner at Figtree Physiotherapy since 2005 and has been extensively involved in Sports Physiotherapy in the Wollongong area. Matt completed his PhD in 2020 which focused on injury prevention in football, in addition to his degree in Exercise Science & Rehabilitation and Masters in Physiotherapy. Matt has a role at Football Australia in the design and implementation of the new national Player Availability Model and Football Australia Perform+ and Fundamentals+ programs, in addition to working with the Socceroos and Olyroos at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He has presented at conferences internationally and domestically and published numerous articles in the area of injury prevention and risk reduction. Through his experience and knowledge base, Matt has an active and hands-on approach to rehabilitation to get you back on track as fast as possible.

Matt has particular interests in the areas of:

• Injury prevention
• Athlete and Team High Performance management
• Rehabilitation and management of complex cases

Matt's current roles:

• Physiotherapist for Football Australia - Socceroos & Olyroos (Under 23's)
• Medical & Performance Coordinator (Wollongong Wolves FC + South Coast Flames FC)
• Football Australia Player Availability & Perform+ Coordinator
• Football Australia Research & Development Department
• Physiotherapist and Consultant to Project M Triathlon Squad
• Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong & La Trobe University

Matthew has also worked with Dapto Rugby League, Illawarra Cricket, NSW Country Cricket, South Sydney Rabbitohs (NRL), the Gold Coast Suns (AFL), the Illawarra Steelers and Queensland Rugby Union Academy squad.

International and Domestic Presentations & Lectures including:

• Invited speaker @ FIFA Medical Conference - Boston, USA (2024)
• Symposium speaker + lead @ IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport - Monaco (2024)
• Coordinator & Speaker @ Inaugural Women’s Football Medicine Conference - Melbourne, Australia (2023)
• Keynote speaker @ Injury Prevention and Team Care Conference (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) in Auckland, New Zealand
• Invited speaker @ Women in Sport Congress - Melbourne, Australia (2022)
• Sports Performance & Prevention Conference, Auckland, New Zealand (2017-2020)
• Australian Coaches Conference, Sydney, Australia (2020)
• Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Melbourne, Australia (2021)
• Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference, Brisbane, Australia (2021)

Published Articles

Full list here.

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Daniel is a partner at Figtree physiotherapy with extensive knowledge and clinical experience in Musculoskeletal & Sports Physiotherapy. A physiotherapist since 2007, Daniel is skilled in providing injury management and accurate rehabilitation to a diverse clientele ranging from elite level athletes to the casual exerciser.

Daniel has worked closely with numerous international and local sporting teams, providing on-field management and clinical care to the:

• Socceroos Legends Team
• Young Socceroos (U20’s) & Joeys (U18’s) Australian Football Teams
• Australian Futsal Team (Futsalroos)
• Pararoos Football Team (Australian Paralympic Football team)
• Wollongong Wolves Football Club
• Tarrawanna Football Club

He has also worked with Illawarra Cricket, NSW Country Cricket, Football NSW, Bowral Rugby Union Club and Dapto Rugby League Club to name a few.

Among other international tours, Daniel was also the tournament physio for the 2016 Central Coast International Rugby 7’s Tournament and for East Coast Heat FC at the 2017 AFF Futsal Club Championships in Thailand.

Daniel has a particular interest in:

• Sports injuries.
• Biomechanics and its relationship to injury risk, recovery and performance.
• Injury Prevention in Athletes.
• Management and Rehabilitation of Knee and Ankle injuries.

Other than being a sport’s focused musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Daniel has a number of other unique skills such as:

• Fracture management - Waterproof casting and thermoplastic splinting for associated acute fractures.
• Treatment of TMJ disorders and patients suffering with jaw related pain and dysfunction. He has worked closely with a number of local dentists and oral surgeons to optimise patient outcomes in this specialised injury area.
• K1 & K2 certificate in Kineseo Taping. This is a great asset that is becoming widely used in the sporting world of today to accelerate recovery and return to sport for athletes.
• Experience within the chest physiotherapy realm for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthmatic patients at Wollongong Hospital.

In his spare time Daniel enjoys playing football (soccer), spending time with family and travelling the world chasing the summer heat.

Llew is a partner at Figtree Physiotherapy with 14 years experience in Strength and Conditioning and Physiotherapy across the Central West, Queensland and the Illawarra. Llew has an Honours degree in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation in addition to a Masters in Physiotherapy which allows a comprehensive and detailed approach to injury rehabilitation and prevention.

Llew’s background in rugby union has helped in developing rehabilitation programs for football players of all codes. Llew has worked previously as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Wollongong Rugby Union Club, Physiotherapist for the Samoan Rugby Union tour of New Zealand, Physiotherapist for South Coast Wolves Football Club and consultant for Wollongong Mustangs Gridiron Club. Llew is currently the Physiotherapist for Dapto Rugby League Club and NSW Country Cricket.

Llew has a particular interests in the areas of:

• The treatment and management of shoulder injuries
• Crossfit and gym-related injuries
• Running biomechanics
• Clinical pilates
• High Performance for athletes to grandparents and everyone in between to develop tailored strength and conditioning programs and classes

When not at work Llew enjoys training for adventure racing, travelling the world searching for the perfect powder skiing, attempting to be a Ninja Warrior and spending time with his family.

Michalene is a partner at Figtree Physiotherapy and has many years of experience as both a clinician and physiotherapy lecturer. She has undertaken extensive postgraduate education, obtaining both a Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy and a Masters in Physiotherapy in addition to her undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney.

Michalene's areas of interest include the management of back, neck and shoulder pain through the re-education of the stabilizing musculature using exercise and manual therapy. Michalene is also trained in Pilates treatment and instruction and utilizes these principles in combination with her clinical skills to provide a complete approach to rehabilitation.

Michalene heads up the Incontinence & Pelvic Floor Division at Figtree Physio which focuses on the issues associated with incontinence and pelvic floor retraining, providing further services for her patients.

Stella came to us from Germany during her studies in 2015 and enjoyed her time so much she decided to stay. She has completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy in the Netherlands in 2015 and has since been working as a Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor at Figtree Physio. In addition to Stella’s excellent knowledge, her keen passion for football has led to representing the region in football with the Illawarra Stingrays Football Club, resulting in a wealth of experience in managing sporting injuries and preventing future injury.

Stella has a special interest in the area of spinal pain and dysfunction in particular relating to the neck and lower back. Stella has a strong focus with her patients on restoring normal range of motion and function no matter what age bracket they fall in. By combining her physiotherapy skills with the movement therapy of Pilates exercise, Stella has had great success with treating many patients with acute and chronic spine issues.

Stella is in charge of our Pilates classes at the practice. She designs the programs based on the individual needs of each patient, whether it is aimed at injury recovery, a high level athlete needing to improve core strength and performance or for those looking for a safe way to exercise and get fit. Her focus during the classes is on progressively improving the clients general conditioning by addressing key weaknesses and providing close attention to high quality movement.

Since 2016, Stella has been working as the physiotherapist for the youth squads at the Wollongong Wolves FC in addition to game day assistance with the first team. Stella’s role expanded in 2017 to become the data analyst for the Wollongong Wolves, involving game analysis of the first team games, providing invaluable information and feedback to the coaching department.

Peter is a local physiotherapist home grown in Figtree, a stone’s throw away from the practice. Having completed a Bachelor in Exercise Science in 2017 and a Masters in Physiotherapy in 2019, Peter is an enthusiastic member of the Figtree Physio team with exceptional therapy skills. Peter is no stranger to the role of the physiotherapist across a variety of patient types, from inside the sporting world working with athletes, to rehabilitating injured workers return to their occupations. He has experience in providing on and off the field management of numerous sporting injuries. Peter’s previous roles include head physio for the Berkeley Rugby League Club and assisting with injury management for the Wollongong Wolves, South Coast Flames Football club and Dapto Rugby League club.

Peter also joins the Figtree Physio team with a 20 years background in the police force, where his wealth of life experience and empathetic nature is obvious in his approach to patient care. Peter has an impressive knowledge in exercise prescription and conditioning programming for numerous demographics. He is also a physical training instructor for the men and women in blue and has previously represented New South Wales and Australia in Police Rugby League.

Peter is available to provide rehabilitation management for Workers Compensation Cases, Third Party Claims and DVA patients.

In his spare time Peter enjoys watching the St George Illawarra Dragons and Illawarra Hawks, and spending time with his family.

Rachel is a physiotherapist at Figtree Physio with an expansive list of skills and experience. Prior to completing her Master’s in Physiotherapy, Rachel completed a Bachelor in Exercise Science and assisted with Ph.D. research into injury prevention and management in football players. This allowed her to work closely with several local football teams implementing effective injury prevention programs. By doing so, Rachel has gained valuable experience in player welfare and return-to-play processes for athletes across numerous sports.

Rachel is a passionate sports person having represented the Illawarra in Netball and Swimming. Her experience and knowledge have not only led her to having a keen interest in sports injuries, but various neurological and respiratory conditions aswell. Rachel has worked in the ICU and rehab wards of Sutherland Hospital, working closely with orthopaedic and cardiac post-operative patients. Rachel has a deep understanding of complex neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injuries as a result of her experience working in a private specialist Neurological Practice.

In addition to being a great physio, Rachel is also running individualised and group clinical pilates classes at the practice. Combining her understanding of exercise science and movement therapy, Rachel is versatile in tailoring the pilates program to help each patient achieve their specific functional goals. She is also available to provide rehabilitation management for Workers Compensation Cases, Third Party Claims and DVA patients.

In her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym, catching up with friends, hiking and watching Harry Potter films.

Nicholas is a passionate physiotherapist with an extensive background in sports. With experience working with semi-elite athletes in football and surfing during his undergraduate years, he brings a unique perspective to the practice.

Nicholas holds a Masters in Physiotherapy from UTS, a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a Graduate certificate in strength and conditioning from UOW. Nicholas has spent months working in Japan, where he had the opportunity to treat acute snowsports injuries in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This valuable international experience allowed him to further refine his clinical skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the importance of timely and effective rehabilitation.  Since joining the Figtree Physio team, Nicholas is putting his skills to use in the local sporting world. He is currently the primary physiotherapist for both the South Coast Flames Football Club.

Nicholas is also specially trained in Clinical Pilates and is presently running individual and group classes at the practice. Combining his understanding of exercise science and movement therapy, Nicholas is able to tailor the Pilates program to achieve the greatest benefits for his patients, having great success with those suffering from chronic neck and lower back pain.

Nicholas aims to combine personal experience with professional knowledge to provide tailored treatment plans. He remains committed to continuous learning and is an active member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). With a unique blend of personal experience, academic knowledge, and a genuine passion for sports, Nicholas is committed to helping patients of all ages to overcome injuries, optimize performance and ultimately achieve their full potential.

Cody Hutchison is a dedicated physiotherapist with a passion for helping individuals achieve their optimal physical well-being. His journey into the field of physiotherapy began with a profound interest in human anatomy and sports performance.

After completing his undergraduate studies in Exercise Science at the University of Wollongong, Cody pursued a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Technology Sydney. During his academic journey, he gained invaluable clinical experience working with elite athletes from sporting groups such as the Illawarra Hawks Basketball and the UFC. Concurrent with this, Cody assisted senior researchers with collecting and providing answers surrounding treatment of the dreaded ACL knee injury.

Driven by a desire to continuously enhance his skills and knowledge, Cody has undertaken further education in areas such as sports rehabilitation, injury prevention, post-operative care, and knee injuries, specifically in ACL and meniscus management. These acquired skills have equipped Cody to establish our valued and active ACL class programs.

Within the sporting world, Cody holds a number of caps having worked as the Head Physiotherapist for the South Coast Flame junior boys and senior mens representative football teams. Presently, Cody serves as the Head Physiotherapist for the Wollongong Wolves Football Club, working with the best footballers within our region to help them bounce back and overcome their injuries.

Cody’s experience and interests also spans into areas other than sport. Following valuable clinical placements at Prince of Wales Hospital, Cody has provided patient centred care and physiotherapy treatment within the spinal cord injury population, as well as with other neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Cody also previously worked as a disability support worker to provide community access and engagement in social activities for people with Autism and Down Syndrome. These experiences give Cody a well-rounded knowledge and a strong communication skill set to provide high valued care for a range of conditions.

Outside of his professional endeavours, Cody spends his spare time in the gym, outdoors, playing touch football, and promoting physical activity within the community.

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William is a dedicated physiotherapist with a keen interest in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy. Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, William earned his Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Biotechnology from Monash University in Melbourne, before pursuing a degree in physiotherapy at the University of Sydney.

During his university years, William's commitment to helping others led him to a volunteer placement in the Philippines, where he worked with individuals with neurological conditions. This experience ignited his passion for physiotherapy and reinforced his dedication to making a positive impact.

Over the years William has developed his sporting physiotherapy skillset working with elite athletes, including Fremantle FC in the AFL and AFLW, as well as semi-elite athletes in the NPL teams like MacArthur Rams FC, Dulwich Hill FC, and Sydney University SFC. William has a sound understanding of the requirements of football (soccer), having represented his state at a national level as well as playing in the NPL for several years. Currently serving as the Physiotherapist for Wollongong Olympic, William brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help athletes achieve peak performance while minimising the risk of injury.

When he's not at work, you might find William pursuing his passion for rock climbing at the local crag or marathon training along the blue mile. Committed to ongoing learning and a background in scientific research, William looks to integrate the latest evidence based research and techniques into his practice. With a compassionate approach and a dedication to empowering his patients, William is ready to guide you on your journey to improved health, performance and well-being.

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