Esperance Physiotherapy was established in 1989. 

In 2001, the clinic was relocated to its current position @ 5 William Street, providing onsite parking, easy access for people with disabilities, individual private consultation rooms, and a gymnasium for rehabilitation and work conditioning programs. It is situated in a lovely older home, with a pleasant atmosphere and lovely outlook. Hydrotherapy services are provided off-site.

In 1999 Esperance Physiotherapy won the Esperance Chamber of Commerce (ECCI) award for health education in the rural sector. You can read a recent interview with the ECCI about Esperance Physiotherapy here.

In 2011 Doug received an award for excellence from the Australian Physiotherapy Association for providing rural and remote physiotherapy services.

In 2009, and 2015 Esperance Physiotherapy was awarded Practice Accreditation status by Quality in Practice under their accreditation program.

Practice principals Melissa and Doug would like to welcome you to Esperance Physiotherapy and look forward to assisting you to achieve greater physical independence.

 

Our Physiotherapists

I became a physiotherapist in 1986 after completing a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy at Curtin University, Western Australia. This study was furthered by doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy in 1992. I have a genuine interest in assisting people with physiotherapy and physical health. So far I have been a physiotherapist for 28 years.

At this time I was a keen sportswoman playing State League Basketball for the Perry Lakes Hawks Basketball club and being a club physiotherapist for the YMCA classic league men’s hockey team. Esperance is a fantastic sporting community and I am available to assist in diagnosing sports injuries, treating injuries, and helping people with rehabilitation to get back to their sport.

Another part of physiotherapy that is important in our community is to assist the older population of Esperance with their physical health and maintaining physical independence. There are so many practical ways to improve strength balance and flexibility which become increasingly more important with age. Many physical ailments can still be helped with physiotherapy treatment even as we age.

I am a titled Sports Physiotherapist.

Dr Doug Cary (Practice Principal, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Specialist, PhD)

As a youngster, I spent many summer holidays on my Uncle & aunt's farm in Kojonup. I am reminded (as I have no personal recollection) at family gatherings, how I expressed my love for the farm and not wanting to leave, by firstly planting a cricket stump in their new leather sofa and secondly, by hiding in the pump house for 7 hours till nightfall. Later my uncle sent me a sheep's heart via Australia Post for a science project and I cycled over to work the January crutching season for fun. You can imagine how I felt moving to Esperance :)

I qualified from Curtin University as a Physiotherapist in 1987 and spent the next few years travelling. I spent a lot of time in the outdoors, learning skills in scuba, rock climbing, bushwalking, and triathlons in Tasmania, Canada, the USA, and Patagonia.

In 1992, I returned to Australia to learn more and completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Physiotherapy at Curtin University, and in 1995, completed a Post Graduate Diploma in clinical acupuncture at the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine, Perth. I was the inaugural WA chair of the APA Acupuncture & Dry Needling Group and the WA representative on the APA Acupuncture Working Party which finalised the 'Guidelines for Safe Acupuncture.

 

After 2 years of study and exams, I completed my Specialisation in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in 2009 and happen to be the only rural and remote physiotherapist in WA who has achieved specialisation in any field of Physiotherapy. After 9 years of part-time study, I completed my PhD (Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation) at Curtin University in 2020, studying sleep patterns and their relationship to spinal pain and stiffness. Details about my research can be found here. I have presented by invitation at the APA biennial conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2019.

Book an online appointment with Doug

You can make a booking online with Doug here.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency