Meet the Team at Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo
Alex Galea
BPhysio APAM
Alex is the Practice Principal of Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo. After growing up in Bendigo, Alex completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at LaTrobe University in 2010. Alex started, and has continued to work in private practice since. After a year working in Swan Hill, Alex returned to Bendigo to start working at Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo. Alex became a practice partner in 2015, before becoming the sole director and practice principle in 2020.
Alex has a passion for Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. His predominant areas of post graduate study include Sports Physiotherapy, Dry Needling, Clinical Pilates, Hydrotherapy and Chronic Pain. He has experience working with various sporting teams and people, at community and elite level. Football, Soccer, Basketball, Cricket and Dance Companies are some of the groups Alex has worked with. Alex continues to assist a number of sporting clubs across Bendigo from year to year.
Since 2015, Alex has spent 1-2 mornings a week working with Bendigo South East College and their Athlete Development Program. This program offers students from year 7 to 10, a complete sports education and training program, which assists students to achieve excellence in sporting and academic fields. Physiotherapy education for these students assists injury prevention and management and Alex is delighted to provide the program his expertise.
Alex has assisted research studies at the University of Melbourne, for management of Osteo-Arthritis, with a particular focus on the Hip joint. This included implementation of specific exercises in line with certain protocols for hip OA management.
Alex has played many sports himself, including football, basketball and soccer. He has experienced knee and shoulder surgeries of his own in the past, so can relate especially well to injury management and rehabilitation on a personal level. Alex’s football days are now behind him and he stays fit by running recreationally. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife and three young children, loves food, playing the guitar and the Melbourne Football Club.
Danica Lang
BHealthSci, MPhysioPrac
Danica joined Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo at the start of 2016 after completing her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
Danica loves the diversity of physiotherapy and enjoys assisting and treating patients with all sorts of musculoskeletal conditions. In 2020 she commenced further studies and is now in the process of completing a Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at La Trobe University.
Outside of work, Danica’s passion is Calisthenics, a dance-based sport which she has participated in for over 20 years. Danica now enjoys instilling a love for the sport in younger participants and coaches at Bendigo Calisthenics Club.
Danica’s background in dance and calisthenics have led her to undergo additional training with some of the leading professionals in the dance Physiotherapy world. Danica has a broad understanding of the physical demands put on dancers, and a passion to help them achieve their goals. She loves assisting dancers in recovery and prevention of injuries as well as conducting pre-pointe and tertiary dance assessments.
Asides from dance, Danica loves a variety of sports and is a passionate member of Body Fit Training Bendigo. She has also put her physiotherapy expertise to use in team sport settings including Australian Rules, Netball, Rugby and Kayaking. Danica has completed her Level 1 APPI Pilates Course, APA Dry Needling Course and APA Sports Level 1.
Cheryl Ludwik
BAppSci (Physio), MHlthSci, DipMyofTPTh, PGCertContinence & Pelvic Floor Rehab. APA Continence & Womens’ Health Physiotherapist, APAM
Cheryl is a Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience in this field of practice.
Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy, a Master of Health Science, a Diploma of Myofascial and Trigger Point Therapy and a Post Graduate Certificate in Continence and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. Cheryl enjoys working with patients who have complex bladder, bowel and pelvic pain conditions and also has a special interest in working with men who are undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Jayne Boldiston (Norton)
BAppSci (Physio) APAM
Jayne loves netball!
She graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1996 from La Trobe University. She worked at Bendigo Health for 4 years, before going to Austin Health to further her experience, working in orthopaedics, cardiothoracics and the spinal unit. Jayne has always been interested in sports physiotherapy so in her spare time she worked as a physiotherapist for State League Netball and the Victorian Men’s Netball teams at national events.
From 2005-2009 Jayne worked at Corio Bay Sports Medicine Clinic and looked after the SEABL team, a GFL team and netballers outside clinic hours. She worked as part of a large sports medicine team which included 4 sports physicians, sports podiatrists, masseurs, myotherapists and many physiotherapists.
Jayne has been working part-time at Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo since 2010. She has completed many sports related courses, including Level 1 and 2 Sports Physiotherapy, and is an APA and Sports Physiotherapy Group member.
Jayne was a state level netballer, and still competes as a netballer. She has a great depth of knowledge about the demands of sport, and an enthusiasm for helping all injured sports participants, and the knowledge to get them back to their game quickly and safely.
Braeden Deary
BESS, DPhysio (Melb)
Braeden joined Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo at the start of 2018. He first completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science at Federation University, Ballarat. This was then followed by a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree at the University of Melbourne.
Braeden is a Bendigo local, completing his primary and secondary education in here, before moving away to complete his tertiary studies.
Braeden is a passionate sports fan, with a specific focus on Australian Rules Football. Braeden played all his junior and senior football at Golden Square Football Club, before playing for 3 years at Ballarat Swans Football Club whilst completing his first degree in Ballarat. While studying at Melbourne University he decided to concentrate on his studies, taking a break from participation.
Since returning to Bendigo Braeden has played Football back at Golden Square, but also tried his hand at Gridiron with the Bendigo Dragons during their 2019 season. In 2021 he is playing football for the Boort Magpies.
Braeden has great knowledge about the demands of a range of sporting activities, and an interest and enthusiasm for helping clients manage sporting injuries and return to sport. He combines his knowledge as a physiotherapist with his training in exercise and sports science.
Braeden has also completed training in dry needling and chronic pain, and uses this as part of his treatment.
Loryn Savoia
BHSc, MPhysioPrac
Loryn joined the Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo team at the start of 2018 after completing her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
Loryn is passionate about running, and regularly competes on the professional running circuit with the Victorian Athletics League, specialising in the 120m – 400m events. Sprinting and athletics have led Loryn to have a keen interest in running injuries; as well as optimizing performance, managing training loads and strength and conditioning for sports rehabilitation.
Loryn is interested in pilates-based rehabilitation, chronic pain and is also trained in myofascial dry needling techniques.
Loryn also enjoys playing netball, hiking and camping. She looks forward to helping you keep active, healthy and running at your best.
Kara Normington
BPhysio APAM
Kara graduated from LaTrobe University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and has since pursued a long term passion, by completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. Kara has training in musculoskeletal dry needing and is also a certified Pilates Instructor (APPI method). She has experience in both the private and public healthcare settings, and is able to help with issues such as lower urinary tract symptoms, bowel dysfunction, pre and post natal care, sexual pain and pelvic pain. Kara loves to empower people at all stages of life, with the tools to improve their symptoms.
Annalyse Carroll
BHSC, MPHYSIOPRAC
Annalyse completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences, Master of Physiotherapy at La Trobe in Bendigo graduating in 2014 and has since completed a graduate certificate in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in 2019. Since graduating Annalyse has worked in private practices and hospitals in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Annalyse grew up in Leeton, NSW where she played a range of sports and competed at a state level for Netball. Travelling and working has given her the opportunity to work with local netball teams, Northern Territory Netball teams at a national level, Premier League AFL in Darwin and Rugby Union teams.
Annalyse has completed extra training in DMA Clinical Pilates, dry needling, Sports Level 1 and 2 courses, shoulder assessment and treatment and the McKenzie approach to the assessment and treatment of the lumbar spine. In her spare time she enjoys travelling and adventures, hanging out with her dog Bonnie, playing netball and spending time with her family and friends.
Brittney Ward
BHSC, MPHYSIOPRAC
Brittney joined Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo at the start of 2021. Brittney completed a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University in Bendigo. Following her studies Brittney moved to Darwin and began her career working in a private practice. She has returned to Bendigo to be closer to her family and continue her Physiotherapy career.
Brittney has experience with a wide variety of clients and has a special interest in post- operative management and care. Brittney also enjoys utilising hydrotherapy as a part of her treatment approach to encourage good quality movement and reduce pain.
Brittney loves AFL and has experience working with local football teams including Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and North Bendigo Women’s football club. Brittney will be working with the South Bendigo Football club for the 2021 season.
In her spare time Brittney enjoys camping, water skiing and hiking.
COURTNEY SMITH
BPHTY APAM
Courtney joined Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo in July 2021 after moving over from New Zealand. Courtney graduated from the University of Otago in 2017 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. She has worked in private practice since graduating.
Courtney enjoys sports and work rehabilitation, incorporating manual therapy, dry needling, exercise and education to achieve client’s goals. She has also completed training in pain management which she utilises for more chronic injuries and conditions.
Courtney has a background of artistic gymnastics and spent six years coaching once retiring from the sport. She now enjoys going to the gym and running.
Rosalind Deacon
BAppSci (Physio), Lymphoedema Practitioner
Rosalind began her physio career in 1978 having completed a Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Physiotherapy) degree at Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences and immediately enjoyed life as a new graduate at St Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne. Her interest was sparked to a rehabilitation rather than acute injury management focus, so spent several fabulous years at the Austin Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit before taking off a few years to have 4 children. Part-time work at both the Austin and Bellbird Physio in Blackburn filled some gaps between child rearing before the family relocated to Bendigo.
For the past 30 years Rosalind has worked as a senior clinician physiotherapist at Bendigo Health working in many fields including inpatient rehab managing patients as they recovered from stroke other neurological conditions, motor vehicle accidents and orthopaedic surgery, especially joint replacement rehab. She also worked in the amputee team and developed expertise in this specialised area. It was during this time she started developing skills in lymphoedema and oncology rehabilitation, in particular breast cancer rehabilitation. It is this area of expertise that is now her main focus having achieved advanced level of practice over the past 25 years, completing many post graduate courses, and achieving National Accreditation and registration on the National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register. In 2019 Rosalind was one of 3 inaugural inductees into the Bendigo Health Allied Health Hall of Fame.
Rosalind has lectured widely on the subject of lymphoedema, amputee rehabilitation, Ai Chi and aquatic therapy and presented at National and International conferences. She has been published on the subject of Aquatic therapy for Lymphoedema and has always maintained an interest in the benefits of aquatic therapy throughout her career. Her primary focus in all the work she has done and still does, is working with her patients to achieve the best possible outcome, aiming to assist them to return to a fully functioning lifestyle and to teach them to manage their condition/injury/disease as independently as they can with her guidance, help and care.
When not at work Rosalind has always enjoyed an active lifestyle and very much involved in the lives of her children and extended family. She is a life member of the Bendigo Rowing Club but in recent years has swapped the row boats for bushwalking, the odd bit of cycling, swimming, and looking after a large garden with vegies, many fruit trees and 20 chooks. Her newest skill is perfecting the art of sourdough breadmaking! She is now a grandmother of 2 small girls who delight her at each visit and love getting their hands dirty too!
The Admin & Reception Team
Our fantastic admin team are dedicated to keeping Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo running smoothly. They answer the phone, do all the bookings and know the ins and outs of the various claims systems we use – and if they don’t they’ll find out! So if you have any queries please chat to one of them – we’ll do our best to make your experience at Physiotherapy Centre Bendigo a great one.