Sports Doctors
Dr. Viran de Silva
Sports and Exercise Physician
Viran is a Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician who deals in the assessment, prevention and treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries and exercise related problems. He completed his specialist training through the Australasian College of Sports Physicians in 2018. He is originally from Darwin and has worked around Australia before setting on a career in Sports Medicine which has seen him work in high performance sport including with National Teams and as a doctor at the Paralympics.
He loves seeing the positive influence a sports physician can have on an individual’s pain, functionality and overall wellbeing and seeing patients return to doing what they love.
- Concussion assessment and management
- Synvisc and PRP injections
- Complex Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Lower Limb Injuries
Dr. Sonali Pande
Sports Doctor (MBBS, MS(Orth.)(In), M.Ch(Orth.)(UK), M.Sp. Med, Grad Dip Sp.Med
Dr. Sonali is skilled in assessing and managing musculoskeletal issues. She is passionate about empowering her patients to see them achieve their best results.
Dr Sonali is an overseas trained Orthopaedic surgeon from India and the UK. She has a Masters in Sports Medicine from the University of Queensland and is currently in the process of obtaining her Fellowship from the Australasian College of Sport Exercise Physicians. In addition to these, she has successfully completed the Post Graduate Program in Rheumatology.
- Concussion Assessment and Management
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Spine Injuries & Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain
- Post-Operative Management
- Bone Health & Bone Stress Injuries
- Arthritis & Tendon Pathologies
- Joint & Soft Tissue Guided Procedures (PRP, Cortisone, Visco-supplements)
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Women & Youth Health
Physiotherapists
Lauren Kaethner
Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist
Lauren is the Clinical Manager and Sports Physio at Territory Sportsmedicine.
Lauren loves treating wide range of conditions including lower limb injuries, hip, groin and knee injuries. She also enjoys neck and back pain and has an interest in treating adolescents injuries and addressing biomechanical issues.
She has provided Sports Physio coverage to a wide range of Sports including Adelaide Crows Women’s Team, NT Thunder, NT Cricket, NT Swimming, Arafura Games and is a contractor to Tennis Australia for ATF tournaments.
- Hip and Groin Pain
- Concussion Management
- Lower Limb Injuries
- Neck and Back Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Complex Injuries
James Thomas
Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist
James has completed his Masters of Sports Physiotherapy and has experience working with sports teams, particularly basketball and football, as well as adolescent athletes and runners. He is confident managing persistent tendon pain, and is able to utilise a variety of manual techniques including dry needling. James has also completed further training to assess and treat a variety of hand conditions.
- Hip and Groin Pain
- Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Lower Limb Injuries
- Neck and Back Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Adolescent Injuries
Donny Cubillo
Senior Physiotherapist
Donny is involved with a number of Sports Teams and athletes at the elite, sub-elite and recreational level, providing a high quality, evidence-based Sport and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy service. Donny has extensive experience in management of shoulder injuries and lower limb injuries. Donny provides fracture management within the practice and training to GPs.
- Fracture Management
- Hand and Wrist Injuries
- Post Op Rehab
- Back Pain
- Ankle Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
Peter Webb
Senior Physiotherapist
Pete is an experienced physiotherapist who is currently studying his Master’s in Sports Physiotherapy. Peter has a great passion for working with athletes and sporting teams. He has worked with the Adelaide Crows women's team and is currently working with the Territory Salties Basketball Team.
He also has a keen interest in golf, and soccer. Peter is competent in men's health, and has an interest in the assessment and treatment of hips, knees, ankles, lower backs and shoulders.
- Lower limb injuries
- Post op rehab
- ACL Injuries
- Complex injuries
- Sports Injuries
- Shoulder rehab
Richie Pendle
Senior Physiotherapist
Richie graduated from the University of South Australia in 2015. Richie has been living in Darwin since 2019 and thoroughly enjoys the easy-going lifestyle and stress-free living that comes with the Territory. An experienced and skilled physiotherapist, Richie enjoys helping his clients achieve their goals, whatever they may be. A key focus to Richie’s approach is focusing on collaboration, working together to discover the main cause of an injury, empowering clients towards self-management over the long term.
Richie has experience in treating a broad range of conditions, including: acute and chronic knee injuries, low back pain as well as hip and groin conditions. Richie has worked with athletes across many sporting codes, including with local sporting groups such as the AFL NT Thunder Academy and Hockey NT.
Outside of work, Richie enjoys playing AFL for PINT FC, hiking, camping and hanging out with his dog: Rafa.
- Acute & Chronic Musculoskeletal Injury Physiotherapy Treatment
- Dry Needling & Acupuncture
- Workplace Injury Assessment and Management
- Ergonomic Assessments
Kathryn Volk
Senior Physiotherapist
Kathryn is an experienced physiotherapist currently studying hers Masters in Sports Physiotherapy. Kathryn has worked with athletes from a variety of sports including the Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club and the Junior Matildas. Kathryn is the current Physio for the Women's Salties Basketball team. Kathryn has interest in treating a wide variety of conditions, particularly knee and running injuries, and getting patients back to what they enjoy.
- Lower Limb Injuries
- Running Assessments
- Fracture Management
- Sports Injuries
- Post-Operative Rehab
- Shoulder Injuries
Bridie Duggan
Senior Women's Health Physiotherapist
With a background in exercise and sports science, personal training and strength and conditioning, Physiotherapy and Women's heath, Bridie’s approach to the management of sport related injuries has been influenced by her time spent working within multiple sporting codes.
Bridie is our Senior Women's Health Physio and has been trained in specific conditions including treating pregnancy related concerns, urinary incontinence, bladder and bowel dysfunction and Pessary fittings.
- Women’s Health
- Prenatal Checks Exercise post partum
- Pelvic Floor Dysfucntion
- Lower limb injuries
- Sports related injuries
- Strengthening programs
Mikaila Van Der Velde
Physiotherapist (Including Women’s Health)
Mikaila was born and raised in Darwin, moving to Adelaide to complete her Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Physiotherapy at Flinders University.
Mikaila is particularly interested in Osteoarthritis rehab, Knee injuries and is our new Women's Health Physio. Mikalia has also completed her Neurological Physio courses and is one of our concussion specific Physios.
- Women’s health
- Men’s health
- Dry Needling
- Osteoarthritis
- Knee and Ankle Injuries
- Concussion
Samantha Lane
Physiotherapist
Samantha grew up in Darwin before moving down south for university. Whilst studying in Adelaide, Samantha worked and travelled with the Adelaide Crows AFL side as a sports trainer, for their 2021 Season. She also gained valuable experience through working as a sports trainer for Netball SA. Samantha has a keen interest in lower limb and sporting injuries.
- Ankle Injuries
- Sports Injuries
- Fracture Management
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Adolescent Injuries
Eloise James
Vestibular Physiotherapist
Eloise’s clinical areas of interest include: vestibular disorders including BPPV, concussion management and rehabilitation of adults with neurological conditions. Eloise is trained in the Bobath approach and adopts these principles in her treatments.
- Dizziness/vertigo
- Concussion
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputee rehabilitation
- Progressive neurological disorders
Physiotherapist
Ben is a new graduate physiotherapist who studied in Ballarat, Victoria. He grew up in Melbourne and has recently made the move north to start his career. Ben has a keen interest in lower limb and sporting injuries, and helping patients achieve their goals. Ben enjoys being active, playing touch football and AFL back in Melbourne and is excited to explore all that the top end has to offer.
- Sports Injuries
- Rugby Injuries
- Knee Rehabilitation
- Adolescent Strength and Conditioning
- Adolescent Post Op Rehab
- Sports Coverage
Remedial Massage Therapists
Sarah Bate
Massage Therapist
Sarah comes from country Victoria and completed her diploma of remedial massage in 2015. Sarah has worked in a variety of clinics throughout Australia and enjoys helping her clients with deep tissue massage, pregnancy massage and trigger point therapy.
Sarah moved to Darwin in 2021 for a laidback lifestyle and enjoys getting out in nature and exploring all that the Top End has to offer.
Administration Team
Mardi Jenner
Practice manager
Mardi is a Darwin local who has worked at Territory Sportsmedicine since 2007. She has a deep knowledge of triaging patients and ensuring they get the right care, from the right practitioner. Mardi currently plays Netball for Pints and helps out in Junior Waratahs Football and Cricket. She has two beautiful children and loves a good yarn.
Lynne Hayhow
Administration Assistant
Lynne has been working at Territory Sportsmedicine since 2011. She is the administrative guru and can help patients with their surgical and other specialist referrals. Lynne currently plays competitive Lawn Bowls and has represented the NT on a number of occasions, most recently at the 2023 Australian National Sides Championships in Perth.
Carrie Turner
Administration Assistant
Carrie provides support and administration to the Medical side of Territory Sportsmedicine, supporting Dr De Silva and Dr Sonali in their work to provide the best musculoskeletal care in Darwin. Carrie has been with Territory Sportsmedicine since 2012, ask for Carrie if you would like to see one of our specialist Musculoskeletal doctors and she will take you through the referral process.
Laura Luchetti
Administration Assistant
Laura joined Territory Sportsmedicine in 2022 as an administrative assistant. She has since taken on much of our social media work. Laura is very active in Darwin’s sporting community as a coach and sport trainer and was nominated in 2023 for the Karen Schneider Safety in Sport Award (NT Sports Awards). Laura has been accepted into CDU’s new Physiotherapy program and will be one of first born, bred and taught Physios!
