Staff

Tim McGrath

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).

Megan Dennis

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.

Craig Purdam

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.

Alex Murdock

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.

Luise Hollmann

Luise is a physiotherapist with over 15 years of experience. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and Master of Philosophy (Medicine) at The University of Sydney. Her research masters thesis looked at why frozen shoulders become stiff and her research has been published and presented internationally. She is a Physiotherapy lecturer at the University of Canberra when not at Elite.

Over the years, Luise has worked with many amateur and elite athletes, including
–          Australian and NSW Men’s Gymnastics Teams
–          Tennis (ITF and Pro Tour Events)
–          Australian U18 Men’s Hockey
–          American Roller Derby Teams
–          Britney Spears and her dancers during the Circus Tour

Luise enjoys treating musculoskeletal and sports injuries in people of all ages and abilities. She is particularly interested in shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulders, arthritis, shoulder instability, and post-operative recovery.

Joss Whitford

Joss is a titled Sports Physiotherapist with a keen passion for sports rehabilitation. He holds a Masters of Physiotherapy from the University of Canberra and a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy through La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Joss is now completing his PhD through Notre Dame University investigating the management and rehabilitation of calf muscle injuries.

Clinically, Joss has worked across a wide variety of professional sports including:

– Royal Ballet London 2024

– Western Bulldogs AFL / AFLW 2022 – 2024

– Melbourne City 2021 – 2022

– Philippines Rugby 2019 – 2023

– Melbourne University Blacks 2017 – 2020

Additionally, since 2017, Joss has also worked with physiotherapy education company Sports Map. He has travelled internationally to interview and create educational content with some of the world’s best physiotherapists. These experiences have informed a special interest in foot/ankle, soft tissue and shoulder rehabilitation.

Outside of work, Joss is an avid outdoorsman who loves hiking, camping and skiing.

Tash Hart

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.

Josh Eastburn

Josh is a Sydney born physiotherapist who graduated from the Macquarie University Doctor of Physiotherapy program in 2022 before moving down to Canberra. He has a background in strength sports, particularly strongman and powerlifting, as well as Rugby Union.

Josh has been involved in a wide range of roles spanning Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, as well as Physiotherapy, with experience in these roles at a variety of sporting teams, including the Queensland Reds, Junior Wallabies, and the Sydney Swans. He has also worked in local coverage of NPL soccer and Rugby Union. He has spent the last two years as the Rehabilitation Physiotherapist for Uni Norths Owls and has recently moved into the role of Head Physiotherapist for the Tuggeranong Vikings.

Josh has a special interest in lower limb, tendon, and sporting injuries. However, he is also passionate about developing goal specific rehabilitation that caters to all patients. Josh aims to set a good foundation of movement and strength to help enable you to return to your sport or desired activities as quick and safely as possible, with long term strategies to reduce the risk of re-injury.

Josh has also completed a Master of Sports Science degree at Bond University and is an ASCA Level 2 accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is passionate about using his Strength and Conditioning background to develop healthy relationships with physical activity during and after the rehabilitation process.

Liam Shaw

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. 

Denya Heap

Currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra

Deepa Herft

Currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra.

David Slater

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.

Liam Slater

Liam has been a member of the Elite team since 2016, having completed a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at the University of Canberra, as well recently completing his Masters of Strength & Conditioning degree through Edith Cowan University.
Liam is currently the Rehabilitation Coach for the ACT Brumbies Super Rugby team and is Head of Performance & Rehab for the Belconnen Magpies AFL Club. Liam has also previously spent time working with several other sporting teams in a performance capacity, including the Canberra Raiders NRL team. He has a particular interest in monitoring training load and has been instrumental in establishing systems used as part of Elite’s performance programs.

In addition to this, Liam has also played rugby to a high standard, including First Grade Royals Rugby Union, ACT Brumbies Sevens and Runners Programs as well as being part of the inaugural NRC Buildcorp 2014 UC Vikings Squad.

Cassia McGlashan

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.

Ryan Connell

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.

Amy Trotman

Amy graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and continued on to complete a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Canberra in 2024. Amy is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and a member of Dietitians Australia (DA).

During her studies Amy spent time working in: Urban and Rural hospitals, Remote communities across Darwin, NT and at Brumbies Rugby gaining a wide range of experience. These opportunities have sparked Amy’s interest in Gastrointestinal disorders, weight management and sports nutrition.

While being passionate about all things nutrition, Amy combines this with her interest in holistic health and fitness with extensive personal experience in the combat sporting world.

Madison Corbett

Ebony MacMahon

Sidney Shaw

Currently studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Canberra

Jamie Chan

Currently studying a Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra