Our Staff
We have continually attracted the best physios, remedial massage therapists and support staff as a result of our culture and our values. And music. And fine coffee.
We make mentoring our staff and continuing education a priority, because we know that it helps our patient outcomes, and our own satisfaction and enjoyment with what we do.
Russell Mackenzie
Russell graduated from University of SA in 1994 with Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy with First Class Honours. Apart from other roles, he was on the staff at TQEH as Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Senior Physiotherapist between 2001 and 2004.
Russell started Adelaide West Physio + Pilates in June 2009, with the key principles of hands-on treatment, Pilates and exercise therapy, and helping his patients learn how to get the best out of themselves by learning their own treatment.
Since then, he has become a Credentialled McKenzie Therapist, which means he is one of only two Credentialled McKenzie Therapists in Adelaide. To learn more about the McKenzie Method, click here.
Dean Watson’s Watson Headache Approach is an approach to helping headache and migraine sufferers. After beginning the training process in 2012, Russell completed the Level III certification course in Sydney in February 2014, and is now the only Watson Headache® Certified Practitioner in Adelaide. He created Adelaide West Headache Clinic in 2014 with the aim of sharing the benefit of this knowledge with as many headache and migraine sufferers as possible.
Russell is passionate about helping headache sufferers, and continues to be excited by the kind of results that he has helped patients get and the changes that it has made to many people’s lives.
His other passion is helping patients with persistent pain problems through the use of a ‘whole person approach’ (otherwise known as a biopsychosocial approach).
This includes pain biology education and novel therapies like Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), and the latest in pain neuroscience knowledge. He embraces the work of David Butler, Lorimer Moseley and the NOI group.
With a competitive swimming background, he also has an interest in sports injuries and is a member of the APA Sports Physiotherapy Group, the APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Group and the APA Pain Group.
Lisa Vernon
Lisa joined our staff after spending a number of years at a very reputable practice in the north eastern suburbs, after graduating in 2012 with a Bachelor in Physiotherapy.
Lisa is interested in many areas of Physiotherapy and her further study reflects this.
She has been inspired by Russell’s passion for managing headaches with the Watson Headache Approach and has completed Level 1 training in the Watson Headache Approach.
Having her own experience with low back pain as an adolescent, she is really passionate in management of low back pain and has completed Part A of the Mckenzie Method which focuses on the assessment and management of the Lumbar Spine.
Having found her own success with Pilates in management of back pain, Lisa loves seeing people have success with mat and equipment Pilates.
She is also experienced with dry-needling as another treatment tool to reduce muscle tightness and pain.
As a first time mother in Septermber 2019, Lisa is also excited to share her ever-developing knowledge in post natal management. She is enjoying helping parents to look after their bodies and all the aches and pains that arise, so they can enjoy spending time with their precious cargo.
Lisa has worked with sporting teams including the Glenelg Football Club League and Reserves teams, Tango Netball Club State League and more recently the Lockleys Football Club, who Adelaide West Physio + Pilates sponsor.
Lisa has a range of skills to offer all of her patients to help you get out of pain and get on with life!
Nicole Walker
We are proud to introduce Nicole Walker who joined our staff in June 2017.
Nicole has always been passionate about movement and exercise and from a very young age was often found dancing and moving!
She loves applying her knowledge and experience in various movement forms, including Pilates, to help her patients better understand their body and how to move safely and with confidence.
Nicole has gained experience in the areas of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, in particular lower back and neck pain, and sports physiotherapy, which has allowed her to work with a wide range of clients.
While she believes in taking an active approach to treatment, Nicole also uses hands on modalities to complement her treatment, especially for acute pain.
Her passion for movement is reflected in her active approach to physiotherapy. Nicole believes that the combination of education and purposeful movement can really help to empower an individual to get the best outcome possible and help them take control of their injury.
Outside of Physiotherapy, Nicole teaches group fitness, including Pilates and Les Mills Body Balance. Nicole also trains, performs and teaches aerial silks, something she is incredibly passionate about. Nicole’s experience with aerial silks has taught her a lot about the human body and how adaptable and capable it can be.
Qualifications
- Masters of Physiotherapy, Flinders University
- Bachelor of Education and Health Sciences, Flinders University
- Certificate IV in Mat Work Pilates, Polestar Pilates International
- Certificate III and IV in Fitness, Australian Institute of Fitness
Professional development / continuing education
- Part A McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, McKenzie Institute Australia
- Part B McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, McKenzie Institute Australia
- Jenny McConnell Approach to Problem Shoulders
If you need someone to guide you with an exercise programme, motivate you to do your best and stay healthy, Nicole would be a perfect fit for you!
Kimberley Wilson
We are really happy to have Kim join our staff at Adelaide West Physio and Pilates!
Kimberley and Russell worked together just after the turn of the century, and as a result have a similar style and approach to physiotherapy and Pilates.
Kimberley has the following special interests in physiotherapy:
- back and neck pain, including disc injury
- chronic pain
- headaches
- stiffness
- nerve pain
- sporting injuries
- dancing injuries and performance and
- Pilates
After graduating from the University of South Australia in 2003, she fled the country and ran away to England to start her career in the NHS.
On return to Australia she continued her physiotherapy career at the Royal Adelaide Hospital working in Orthopaedics, Burns and ICU before branching out into private practice.
It was here that she began to focus on her study of The McKenzie Method, Pilates and Pain Education.
She believes in a hands-on approach to treatment and also in enabling clients to take control of their injury or pain
Outside of Physiotherapy, she is busy! She lives an active life playing basketball and is currently a mum of 3.
She loves food, coffee and a good red wine!
Madeleine Milne
Maddie recently joined our crew. She moves to us from Lyell McEwin Hospital and brings her experience across many areas, not just orthopaedics and musculoskeletal physiotherapy but also respiratory physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Before physiotherapy, Maddie trained in dance but due to injuries and development of persistent pain, changed direction. Her own experience with persistent pain and her journey back sparked her interest in this field and loves bearing witness to the wondrous ‘lightbulb moments’ as people reflect and learn about their own body and its glorious protective pain system.
In her own pain journey, Maddie uncovered a new addiction for running and is now training to run a marathon in 2022!
She furthers her knowledge in pain having completed Explain Pain with the Neuro-Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) and starting a Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) at the University of Sydney.
Her philosophy with health is steeped in a ‘whole-person approach’. She places great importance on education, helping clients understand their condition and believes in an active approach to recovery.
Maddie is always up for a chat, about anything really but particularly travel stories – the ones that didn’t pan out exactly as planned are always the best.
Matthew Robinson
We are proud to announce that Matt is joining the Adelaide West staff!
Matt graduated from Endeavour College of Natural health in 2010 as a remedial massage therapist.
Matt has gained a wide range of experience working alongside other health professionals through SportsMed SA and Wakefield Sports Clinic, including experience in treatment for post-operative surgical rehabilitation, pregnancy massage and sports injury rehabilitation.
Matt uses range of remedial techniques to help address his patient’s needs, aiming to help educate people on postural balance and promoting improved muscle functionality for the demands of athletes and workers of all activity levels.
Whether you are increasing your training for an event, or simply looking to unwind at the end of a stressful work week, Matt is able to adapt his treatment to suit your needs.
Matt has a special interest in sports (particularly tennis, and is a passionate Crows supporter).
He played tennis at an elite level as a junior and still competes in a high level of competition throughout the year.
He is also involved as a massage therapist for Tennis Australia, for Adelaide based tournaments such as the Happy Valley Challenger, Playford Pro Tour and the Adelaide International 2020.
Lachlan Sutherland
Lachlan Sutherland is a fantastic addition to the Adelaide West team.
He has more than 5 years experience in private practice, in which he has helped a wide range of different conditions. In this time he has also attended a range of professional development courses, which has allowed him to work out where his passion lies.
– Lachy enjoys headache and migraine treatment and management. Like Russell, he uses the Watson Headache Approach and has completed the Level 1 course.
– treating tendon problems and managing tendinopathy rehabilitation, particularly lower limb tendon problems like Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendon tendinopathy and gluteal tendinopathy.
– he enjoys his work with helping people return to sport after injury, taking people from the acute stages of injury right up to the end stage rehabilitation as they get back on the court / field / track
– he particularly loves soccer, both watching it and also helping people return to soccer and working through all the unique demands of the sport
– he is also interested in cycling and cycling injuries
When the weather suits always enjoy getting out on the bicycle (definitely a fair weather rider!)