Conditions treated

Sports Concussion & Return to Play

Graded, evidence-based return-to-play management for athletes recovering from concussion, from junior sport to senior competition.

Concussion in sport

Geelong has a strong sporting culture, from local football and netball clubs to rowing on the Barwon River, and concussion is one of the most common injuries I see in athletes of all ages. Managing it properly matters, both for safe recovery and for reducing the risk of further injury from returning too early.

Graded return to play

Rather than a fixed timeframe, return to sport follows a structured, step-by-step process, progressing from light activity, to sport-specific exercise, to non-contact training, and finally to full contact and competition, with symptoms monitored at each stage. If symptoms return at any point, the process steps back before progressing again.

Initial assessment and diagnosis support
Return-to-learn planning for students and junior athletes
Graded return-to-play progression in line with current concussion guidelines
Education for athletes, parents and coaches
Liaison with club trainers or treating doctors where appropriate

This is supported by additional training, including the Multimodal Management of Concussion course and the Complete Concussions certification, and a Clinical Support role with the Concussion and CTE Foundation.

Supporting Geelong's sporting community

I see athletes from football, netball, rowing and other local Geelong clubs at BodyLab, Roslyn Road, Highton. If you're a club, coach or parent after concussion education or guidance for your team, feel free to get in touch.

This page is general information and isn't a substitute for individual medical advice. Any athlete with a suspected concussion should be removed from play immediately and assessed before any return to training or competition.

Frequently asked questions

When can an athlete return to sport after concussion?

Return to sport follows a graded, step-by-step process, typically over at least 7-10 days from symptom resolution, guided by current concussion management protocols rather than a fixed timeframe alone.

Should junior athletes be managed differently to adults?

Yes, children and adolescents generally need a more conservative, closely supervised return-to-learn and return-to-play process, given ongoing brain development.

Can an athlete return to play on the same day as a head knock?

No. Current concussion guidelines recommend removing an athlete from play for the remainder of the session if concussion is suspected, regardless of how symptoms seem at the time.

Do you work with local football and netball clubs in Geelong?

Sports concussion is a core focus, and enquiries are welcome from local Geelong clubs, coaches and athletes about concussion management and education.