Physio
M-Physio and B.Sci (Exercise Sports & Rehabilitation Science)
Member APA
Main interests: Running-related injuries, Athletics & Team sports
Luke has personal experience in Track Middle Distance Running (winning Bronze in the Open national Athletics championships in 2022 in the mens 3000m steeplechase; & a current PB of 8min 43sec as of December 2023), AFL and helping test and monitor athletes towards athletic goal achievements. He is able to help you plan a recovery from injury using data and outcome testing, and great hands-on skills.
Luke’s Story
I was born in Sydney, where my mum was originally from and her family resided. I lived there for the first 7 years of my life until 2006, when my grandmother passed away, resulting in a move across the country to Perth to where my dad’s family all lived. I was in Perth from year 3 onwards, and definitely call myself a Perth boy at heart.
My love of sports started early, with my parents starting up a community football club/Auskick program in the western suburbs of Sydney. I participated in Auskick from age 3 and basically played a few years at each age group until I finally caught up to my age group. I joined my local surf club after moving to Perth and began little athletics in u10’s.
I participated in many sports until I was around 16 when I decided to invest my energy into middle distance running as I was always quite undersized for my age and had begun to see more success in athletics. I gradually took it more and more seriously, having a successful junior career culminating in a few national titles.
After the inevitable plateau and difficult transition from a successful junior athlete to senior athlete, I made my first senior Australian team in 2022 at the Oceania Championships, and in 2023 I received my first medal in the Open national championships with a bronze in the mens 3000m steeplechase.
My passion and involvement with elite sports has taught me so many things- not just about myself as an athlete – but also as a person. I have learned a lot of valuable lessons and skills which I use in all aspects of my life and apply to my work.
I have been fortunate enough to combine my love of AFL football with my running ability to also forge a career in Boundary Umpiring – having recently been selected to be a part of the AFL umpiring panel in 2024.
Being an athlete dealing with injuries myself growing up I spent time around physio clinics and was always fascinated by the profession. My positive relationships with the Physio’s I had and my interest in sciences and phys-ed studies at school fueled my desire to pursue this as a career.
After I graduated high school, I went straight into full time study completing a degree in Exercise, Sports and Rehabilitation Science, with the goal of going into a postgrad entry physio course upon completion. In 2020 I achieved this and began my Doctor of Physiotherapy degree at Curtin uni. It was during the years of 2020-2023 I began working in an established physio practice in a Sports Science capacity & this allowed me to be mentored by senior physios, whilst building my professional network. Being able to shadow multiple physios, I was able to take pieces from all of them and decide on what type of therapist I want to be.
Moving across to the Gold Coast is something my partner and I have wanted to do for some time, but was never something we had a real timeline for. Earlier this year she had applied for a job in her dream industry, not really expecting to hear back. She then had a few interviews and was eventually offered the job which certainly put the wheels in motion on our dream of moving across the country.
A few stars aligned for me to come to the GC form Perth- mostly in the form of the AFL contract, and finishing uni and a great employment offer to be part of the Team at Gold Coast Physio & Sports Health.