Team

Cassandra Hodgkinson
(O’Connor + Deakin)

APA Sports Physiotherapist

Cassandra has a Sports Science Degree from the University of Canberra and a Degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney. In 2005 she completed her Masters of Sports Physiotherapy at Latrobe University. Cassandra worked at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and in the Athlete's Village Medical Headquarters in 2018.  She has travelled internationally with various teams including the Australian Skier Cross Team, Australian Softball Team, New Zealand Cycling Team and NSW/ACT Rams AFL team over the past few years.

Cassandra was a national level downhill skier throughout her teen years and has completed various ironman and marathon events.  She enjoys running, skiing, golf and cycling both road and mountain biking.  Cassandra is halfway through completing the Abbott 6 Major Marathons and will compete in the Berlin Marathon this year.

Catherine Hogg
(O’Connor)

APA Sports Physiotherapist

Catherine completed her physiotherapy studies in 1999 at the University of Sydney. Since commencing in private practice in 2001, she has worked with state level hockey, baseball and netball teams, including being the team physiotherapist for the Canberra Lakers Men's Hockey team for six years. In addition, she had the opportunity to work and travel with Australian Men's Hockey teams and the Australian Orienteering team. In 2009, Catherine completed her Masters in Sports Physiotherapy through La Trobe University. She has a strong interest in running-related injuries, and particularly enjoys treating complex back and pelvic injuries. She has two children and enjoys participating in running, orienteering and multi-sport events.

Kirsty Ballón
(Deakin)

Physiotherapist

Kirsty has a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Physiotherapy from the University of Canberra.  Kirsty graduated from Canberra Institute of Technology with an Advanced Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapy. She practiced soft tissue therapy for 7 years before making the move to Physiotherapy.

Kirsty’s special interests are working with sports related injuries including soccer, gymnastics, dance, weightlifting and martial arts; together with workplace related and motor vehicle accident rehabilitation, and pain management. Kirsty enjoys working with patients in an exercise setting and providing individualised Pilates programs. 

Kirsty has a keen interest in Women’s Health particularly pre and post-natal care and is currently undergoing studies to expand her knowledge in this area, with the goal of becoming a titled Women’s Health Physiotherapist.

Tom Kelly
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

Tom completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra. Throughout his studies, Tom worked in a variety of sports including high level football and rugby with Canberra United Academy and Brumbies Rugby 7’s. Tom was the Head Physio at the Uni-Norths Owls Rugby Club from 2019-2021 and has also worked with the U16 Barbarians Squad during their National tournament in Canberra. His work in sport has also led him to become a qualified Complete Concussion Management practitioner, helping patients safely return to school, work and sport following a concussion.

Tom has a keen interest in sport and exercise injuries and enjoys treating conditions of the neck and spine. He is dedicated to providing a well-rounded, evidence-based approach to injury management and rehabilitation for patients from all walks of life.

Emily Hargreaves
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

Emily completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree at the University of Canberra. She is passionate about helping people return to their best through education, exercise prescription and manual therapy.

Emily grew up playing netball and volleyball, and as a result, she has experienced her fair share of sporting injuries. This has given Emily an in-depth understanding of the rehabilitation process from a player’s perspective which she applies to her clinical practice.

Emily aims to empower her patients by providing them with appropriate knowledge regarding their injury so they may take control of, and actively engage in their rehabilitation. She believes in an evidence-based approach to rehabilitation, and is dedicated to ensuring that all clients achieve their goals.

In her spare time Emily enjoys watching and playing sports and attending regular gym sessions.

Samantha Coates
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

Samantha grew up in Victoria and graduated from RMIT University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Movement. She completed her Doctor of Physiotherapy at Macquarie University in Sydney which included a dissertation investigating the influence of a runner’s natural foot strike pattern on the foot strike changes induced by speed. In 2015, Samantha moved to Canberra to start her physiotherapy career in private practice.

Samantha has a specific interest in lower limb injuries, sports and running injuries, ConnectTherapy™ and the Thoracic Ring Approach™. When treating, she considers how different regions and systems of the body are connected and also impacted by your past injuries and/or presenting injury. Samantha has worked with sporting teams such as Netball ACT, Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL Club and Touch Rugby France.

Samantha has a background in athletic sprinting and represented Australia in the 100m sprint and 4x100m relay at the Deaflympics. She enjoys watching and playing various sports and is currently keeping fit with regular gym and running sessions.

Victoria Tatham
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

Victoria completed her Masters of Physiotherapy degree in 2012 through The Sydney University; her undergraduate in Exercise Science and Nutrition was completed in 2010. Victoria is in her final year at La Trobe University to become a Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. Victoria is also developing on her skills through the Australia Hands Therapy Association (AHTA) with special interest in upper limb conditions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hands.

During Victoria’s sessions, she aims to:

1.  Provide an accurate diagnosis and establish working communication with her patients’ GP and other specialists.  

2. Assist her patients to understand their musculoskeletal condition/sporting injury and inform them how to best manage their condition guided by current research and evidence-based practice.

3. Aim for optimal recovery and ongoing self-management for patients to return to previous mobility and/or their fitness or sporting goals.

Victoria enjoys treating acute to chronic musculoskeletal injuries, fractures, strains, sprains of the musculoskeletal system of upper and lower limb and spine. Victoria also has further training and a special interest in hand therapy as well as vestibular disorders that cause vertigo and dizziness.

In her free time Victoria spends time with her family, paints, teaches yoga and Pilates. Victoria also goes to the gym, cycles, plays soccer for Majura and recently started training for the Canberra 2024 half marathon.

Myles Wood
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

Myles graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Sydney and continued his studies at the University of Canberra where he completed a Master of Physiotherapy. He has continued his development, currently holding a level 1 Bike Fit qualification and helps people find their most optimal riding position. Throughout his time studying he spent time as a sports trainer with the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club and now works with the AFL Umpires Department. 

Myles enjoys a range of sports, notably, AFL, basketball, and squash. His current sport of choice is triathlon, in which he competed at the 2022 World Triathlon Championships where he came 2nd in his age group. In his free time, you will find him swimming, cycling or running around Canberra with a local triathlon club.

Myles’ history of high-level sport has exposed him to a variety of sports injuries and how to manage such conditions with the use of manual therapy and exercise. Myles has a keen interest and experience with sports, lower limb, shoulder, neck, and back injuries. He believes that knowledge is power and that by educating patients on their condition it can empower them to take a more active approach in the management of their injury or condition.

Jyedn Murray
(O’Connor)

Physiotherapist

My name is Jye, I am from a country NSW town called Cowra. I am a proud Wiradjuri Ngemba man and am passionate about closing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health gap as well as my career as a physio.

I am now in my fifth year as a Physio, graduating from Newcastle Uni in 2019. Upon graduation, I was placed on the Dean’s commendation list for high academic achievement. For my new graduate year, I worked at the Canberra Hospital in a role which saw me rotate through different areas of the public health system every 3 months. These included: Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery Rehab, Cardiothoracic Inpatients and Fracture Clinic.

My passion has always been musculoskeletal physiotherapy, especially sports and exercise-related injury rehab. Since completing my new grad year in the hospital, I have been working in private physio practices and sports physio clinics. I have an interest in all sports-related injuries. I love being extremely thorough in my assessments treating all clients with the same enthusiasm, care and attention to detail whether they are semi-professional athletes or the everyday person looking to stay pain-free.

My passion for physiotherapy is deep and I am particularly enthusiastic about empowering patients to take the driver’s seat in their recovery journey. In my view; as physiotherapists we hold a unique position where we can guide and coach our clients through their injuries, equipping them with all the necessary tools for rehab.

Outside of my life as a physio I love to exercise, I spend most days in the gym or out running. My major health and fitness goal for 2024 is to complete my first-ever marathon. I am a very passionate South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter and love playing and watching Rugby League. I love being around my family and get back home to Cowra as often as I can. I also enjoy a great yarn and laugh with my mates. As I mentioned earlier, I am a proud First Nations man and have a passion project called The Koori Physio which at this stage is a social media page I use to educate and promote Aboriginal Health issues to a broader community. I also post physio-related advice on there from time to time as well. You can find that at @thekooriphysio on Instagram and Tik Tok. 

Dana Galler-Tough
(Deakin)

Physiotherapist

Dana graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Dana’s academic background has given her a solid foundation for exercise prescription, and this is reflected in her practice. She uses a combination of education, manual therapy techniques and exercise prescription to help patients achieve their goals and she encourages patients to learn how to self-manage their conditions with the tools they gain through their rehab journey.

Dana has experience working with a variety of orthopaedic and neurological conditions. She is particularly interested in lower limb, shoulder, and back injuries. Recently, she has worked with the Uni-Norths Owls Rugby Club for the 2023 season. In her free time Dana enjoys going to the gym, running, hiking and downhill skiing.

Breanna Harris
(O’Connor)

Massage Therapist

Breanna gained her Soft Tissue Therapy qualifications from the Canberra Institute of Technology in 2014. She enjoys treating a variety of musculoskeletal complaints, while her areas of interest include lower back pain, pregnancy and neck pain with associating headaches. Qualifications include Advanced diploma of health science (Soft tissue therapy), myofascial cupping, pregnancy massage and sports massage. Breanna has had the opportunity to work alongside the Australian Rugby League World Cup team, Lebanon Rugby League World Cup team, Sydney’s Parramatta Eels, Ainslie Football Club’s NEAFL Squad, UC Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders. Breanna is currently completing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Canberra and when she’s not studying, you’ll find her spending time with her family and playing rugby for Canberra Royals.

Shel Morris
(O’Connor + Deakin)

Massage Therapist

Shel holds a Certificate IV in Massage, with his Diploma in Remedial Massage being completed at the end of July 2023. Shel also holds a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Finance and a Master of Business Administration. He has a 20-year history in finance, real estate, and business administration. Shel relocated to Canberra from the United States in 2021, and the transition sparked a career change.

From his high school days as a track star to being the MVP of his local footy team (the Flamingos), Shel has always known the best ways to maintain his body. He took an interest in bodybuilding in the 2010s, which facilitated his in-depth knowledge of the muscular system, which helped him avoid injury for both himself and other bodybuilders after rigorous workouts; it was this dedication that led him to work with professional bodybuilders like Mr. America.

Shel is passionate about improving the quality of life for others through the power of massage. He specialises in deep tissue techniques, advanced TMJ and TMJD massage treatments, remedial massage, and sports massaging. Shel is also qualified in a host of other relaxation massage techniques.

In his spare time, he likes to restore and repair mid-century furniture, cheering for the Canberra Raiders, and spending the summers barbecuing!

Angus Whittle
(O’Connor + Deakin)

Exercise Physiology

Angus completed his Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at the University of Canberra in 2020. He is currently completing his Masters in Strength & Conditioning through UC, as well as working in S&C with Canberra Raiders and Canberra Grammar School.

Angus’ areas of interest include rehabilitating knee and other lower limb injuries, exercise management of mental health conditions, and exercise education for children and young adults.

He is passionate about improving function and performance in all people with whom he works and strongly advocates healthy lifestyles. Having suffered and rehabilitated his fair share of sports injuries, Angus is well-placed to assist clients on their road to recovery. 

Angus has a background in rugby union and is currently playing for the Uni-Norths Owls. On top of playing, he has refereed national competitions and coached junior sides. While most of his time is on the footy pitch or in the gym, he is an avid skier and golfer, getting up to the mountains or onto the golf course when he can.

Karen Sellman
(O’Connor)

Pilates and Feldenkrais

B.App.Sc.
Feldenkrais Method Teacher (MAFG 2000)
Pilates Method Practitioner (APMA 1992).

Caroline Shepley
(O’Connor)

Administration

Caroline is our Practice Manager at O’Connor. She joined us in 2015, coming from a background of Practice Management in Veterinary Practice and Veterinary Nursing.  Caroline is still crazy about animals, so in her spare time she works as a pet sitter and dog walker.

Sarah Toohey
(O’Connor)

Administration

Sarah joined the reception team in 2022.  For over a decade she has worked with allied health professionals in both public and private health care settings.  Away from work Sarah is busy with her family and friends and enjoys baking, swimming, and trips to the coast.