Physio
M-Physio and B.Sci (Exercise Sports & Rehabilitation Science)
Member APA
Main interests: Running-related injuries, track & field athletes
AFL and other 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.
