Concussion Management

At Sydney West Sports Medicine, we prioritise the health and well-being of athletes, and that includes a proactive approach to sports concussion management. Recognising the importance of athlete safety, we offer a comprehensive concussion management programme designed to safeguard your athletes and support their optimal recovery.

With a commitment to excellence and athlete-centric care, Sydney West Sports Medicine stands at the forefront of sports concussion management. We understand that a concussion is more than a physical injury—it impacts an athlete's life and aspirations. Our approach goes beyond recovery; it's about empowering athletes to return to the game they love with confidence and resilience.

Put your trust in SWSM for unparalleled sports concussion management. Prioritise safety, prioritise health, and let's ensure that your athletes are back in the game stronger and safer than ever.

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Expert Assessment: Our team of experienced healthcare professionals specialises in concussion assessment, ensuring accurate and timely diagnosis. From on-field evaluations to advanced neurocognitive testing, we employ a thorough approach to understand the unique impact on each athlete.
Customised Recovery Plans: No two concussions are the same, and neither are our recovery plans. We tailor individualised rehabilitation programmes to address specific symptoms and challenges, guiding athletes through a safe and effective recovery process.
Education and Prevention: Knowledge is a powerful tool in concussion management. We provide educational resources for athletes, coaches, and parents to raise awareness, recognise early signs of concussion, and implement preventive measures.
Collaborative Care: Our interdisciplinary team collaborates seamlessly to offer holistic care. From sports medicine physicians to physical therapists and neuropsychologists, we work together to provide athletes with comprehensive support at every stage of their recovery.
Return-to-Play Protocols: Safety is paramount. Our evidence-based return-to-play protocols ensure that athletes resume activity only when it's medically sound to do so. We prioritise long-term health over immediate returns, minimising the risk of re-injury.

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Contact a Concussion Specialist

For any queries or for further information on our range of Sports Performance & Testing services please contact Sydney West Sports Medicine on 1300 13 SWSM.

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Your Concussion Specialists

Sydney West Sports Medicine is owned and operated by a team of high profile sports medicine professionals. Our practitioners at Sydney West Sports Medicine are recognised as leaders in their field across many different sports. The team possesses an extensive client network at an elite and amateur sporting level, while also working with the general community on their health, disability, chronic conditions, and rehabilitation.

Dr Corey Cunningham

Director & Sports & Exercise Physician

Dr Corey Cunningham is a fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Medicine Physicians (ACSEP), having completed specialty training in Sport and Exercise Medicine. He is the current Censor in Chief, overseeing the ACSEP examination process.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and holds a postgraduate Masters in Sports Medicine from the University of NSW.

Dr Cunningham’s experience includes working with elite teams across many sports, including rugby, soccer, rugby league, paralympic sport, rowing, sailing and golf.

He is currently Chief Medical Officer for the NSW Institute of Sport, the Australasian PGA Golf Tour, Football NSW and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

He is part of the Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic Games Team, having previously fulfilled medical roles in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Team as well as Rio 2016 and London 2012 Paralympic Teams.

His interests include the management and prevention of injuries in all active people – from recreational to elite.

Dr Corey Cunningham

Kingsley Gibson

Director & APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Kingsley Gibson is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist who has been an NSW Institute of Sport Physiotherapy Consultant for the past twelve years and worked with the state’s top 750 elite athletes, coaches and managers.

Kingsley has had extensive experience with elite national teams. He has been involved with the Australian Indoor Soccer, Triathlon and Hockey teams. At a state level, he has been involved with NSW Gymnastics and Hockey teams. In 2001 and 2002 he was the head Physiotherapist and Medical Coordinator for the Sydney Kings Basketball team and the 2007 West Sydney Razorbacks.

In 2000, he was the Assistant Physiotherapist to the Sydney Olympic Games Polyclinic. Kingsley travelled with the Australian Women’s Hockey team to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and 2004 Olympics in Athens. From 2005 to 2008, he travelled extensively with the Australian Men’s Hockey team, the Kookaburras. Kingsley was a member of the Australian medical headquarters staff at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, working with eight sports and also filled the same position at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics with 4 sports including Hockey, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Shooting. In 2016 he attended the Rio Olympics with the Australian Olympic team working with beach volleyball, road cycling, open water swimming and diving. For his services and experience with Gymnastics, in the year 2000, the Commonwealth awarded Kingsley with a Sports Service Medal.

Kingsley has a keen interest in biomechanics and its relation to injuries, rehabilitation and the way in which Physiotherapy and various physio exercises can assist in the return to sport and/or work. He has particular expertise in shoulder, foot, ankle and knee injuries and is currently doing extensive work in the area of the lumbar spine and pelvic stability. Kingsley has also lectured extensively to many university graduates, Sports Physicians, GP’s and Massage Therapists, further demonstrating his vast expertise in Physiotherapy.

Kingsley Gibson

Brent Kirkbride

Director & APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Brent Kirkbride is an experienced APA titled Sports Physiotherapist. He has been the NSW Institute of Sports Physiotherapy Consultant for the past six years, working with the state’s top 750 elite athletes, coaches and managers. He has also been the Medical Coordinator for Athletics Australia since 2001 and was a previous member of the NSW Sports Physiotherapy group committee.

Brent has gained extensive experience with many elite national and state teams in a variety of sports, including working with the Sydney Kings Basketball, GWS AFL, National Men’s and Women’s Water Polo teams, Athletics and more. He has also worked as a Physiotherapist at major sporting events including the Olympic and Commonwealth Games providing Physiotherapy services to treat pain or injuries and ensure the athletes were continually performing their best. This experience allows Brent to bring a vast range of practical knowledge to our patients at Sydney West Sports Medicine.

Brent also has a keen interest in biomechanics and its relation to injuries. He is also interested in the ways in which Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can aid the return to sport and/or work. As a result of his experience with aquatic sports, Brent has developed a particular interest in shoulder problems, while his experience in athletics provides him with great knowledge in all running related injuries, especially overuse and tendon injuries involving the lower limb and pelvis.

Brent has lectured extensively to Sports Physicians, Physiotherapists, coaches and athletes on a variety of topics relating to injuries and effective management. He has been involved in studies that have been published in international medical journals.

Through his vast range of experience and knowledge, Brent is passionate about providing the highest quality of care for all patients. This ensures Sydney West Sports Medicine maintains its reputation as one of the premier centres for effective management of all types of musculoskeletal injuries in NSW.

Brent Kirkbride

Matthew Hicks

Clinical Manager & Physiotherapist

Matt has been working in private practice and sports physiotherapy since 2013. He has worked as Clinical Manager and Senior Physiotherapist at Sydney West Sports Medicine for the past 8 years.

Matt enjoys working with youth athletes and has extensive experience across gymnastics and football. He has attended multiple Australian Gymnastics Championships (Gymnastics NSW) and is part of the Gymnastics Australia Physiotherapy Network.

In football Matt has been a physiotherapist in the Future Matildas Program (2023) and Sydney FC Women's (2017/18). He works closely with NPL Football Clubs Mount Druitt Town Rangers and Blacktown Spartans with their youth and senior programs.

Matt is also very experienced with Workplace Injury Management and works closely with numerous National businesses, managing claims, early intervention and injury prevention programs. He works closely with Occupational Physicians(IMMEX), Rehabilitation Consultants and the workplace to optimise the care of injured workers.

Matt is a Clinical Physiotherapy Educator for Australian Catholic University (ACU), Macquarie University and University of Sydney. He is on the ACU External Physiotherapy Committee to optimise student placements in private practice.

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Matthew Hicks

Kaitlyn Castillo

APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Kaitlyn is a Titled APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist and Senior Physiotherapist at Sydney West Sports Medicine. She has extensive experience across various sports and organisations including Rugby League, NPL Football, Hockey, Athletics NSW, and Gymnastics NSW. Kaitlyn currently serves as the physiotherapist for the triathlon and canoe sprint programs at the NSW Institute of Sport.

Kaitlyn's background includes previous work as a swimming instructor, where she developed a keen understanding of swimming athletes. Kaitlyn’s patient care also draws from her own experience competing at National level Athletics and Surf Life Saving competitions and she remains active in running and gym workouts. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kaitlyn treasures time spent with her husband and young daughter.

Her specialisation in running biomechanics and its impact on injury is a particular interest, guiding her in conducting running assessments and screenings for her patients. As a senior physiotherapist in the clinic, Kaitlyn is dedicated to ongoing education, supervising physiotherapy students on placement and leading regular professional development sessions.

Kaitlyn finds fulfillment in tailoring rehabilitation programs that address diverse workplace and sports-related demands, assisting individuals in returning to their chosen activities with personalised care.

Kaitlyn Castillo

Caitlan Skillicorn

APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Caitlan is an APA Titled Exercise and Sports Physiotherapist at Sydney West Sports Medicine with a passion for helping athletes reach their peak performance. She is also the Head Physiotherapist for the Central Coast Mariners A-League Womens Team. Being personally frustrated by spending many seasons sidelined due to injury, Caitlan became a physiotherapist to better manage athletes back onto the pitch so they can spend more time playing. Caitlan has worked with a wide range of sports and teams from grassroots through to professional level, primarily based in football as well as rugby.

Caitlan has a keen interest in knee injuries, especially ACL rehabilitation and enjoys the challenge of helping athletes confidently return to the pitch stronger and more robust then they were before. She has a thorough understanding of the physical demands of football which enables her to design effective strength and conditioning programs that optimise performance while minimising injury risk.

Caitlan is passionate about empowering athletes to take control of their health and performance through education and personalised care. Whether on the field or in the clinic, she is driven by the desire to see her clients succeed and achieve their full potential. She is always looking to learn more and is a big advocate for continuing professional development to give her clients the best possible care.

Caitlan Skillicorn

Michael Wahlen

Physiotherapist

Michael graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelors of Sport and Exercise Science before going on to complete his Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney. Michael's passion for Physiotherapy has developed through his own background in sport particularly in soccer and cricket.

Michael has gained a wide range of experience from working in numerous high level sports settings including with Prospect United SC, Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC, Newington College Soccer, Athletics NSW, Netball NSW and Softball NSW.

Through his experience, Michael has gained a keen interest in the management of acute and chronic sporting and work injuries and enjoys working with clients in the rehabilitation process to ensure their return to work or high-performance sport. Michael looks to achieve this through the implementation of a combination of evidence-based treatment techniques including exercise prescription and manual therapy. Michael is also a strong advocate of continual professional development and lifelong learning.

Michael Wahlen

Joel Atkins

Physiotherapist

Joel graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelors of Exercise and Sports Science before continuing on to complete his Masters of Physiotherapy. His passion for physiotherapy arose from his involvement in soccer and touch football from a young age. You could still encounter him on the soccer pitch, but more likely to find him climbing outdoors in his time away from work.

Joel has worked with a variety of elite sporting populations including the FFA Future Matilda's program, NSW Blues and Cricket NSW pathways systems, Gymnastics NSW and Prospect United SC. He also has a keen interest in ACL rehabilitation, developing and implementing the High Performance ACL program run at Sydney West Sports Medicine.

Joel takes pride in developing sporting/workplace injury frameworks and values the importance of key communication within the sporting team. He has a keen interest in acute injury management and the process of optimising injury recovery and performance throughout an athlete's recovery period.

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Joel Atkins

Michael Illett

Physiotherapist

Michael Illett

Joe Gillespie

Physiotherapist

Joe Gillespie

Hugh Melchior

Physiotherapist

Hugh Melchior

Erin Blundell

Physiotherapist

Studying at The University of Sydney, Erin completed a Master of Physiotherapy in 2020 and holds a Bachelor of Exercise & Sport Science. Erin is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) with a keen interest in sport and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

She has provided physiotherapy for several sporting organisations including Athletics NSW, Netball NSW and GPS Rugby. Erin is a National level Track & Field athlete, competing in the 800m/1500m events.

From a junior level, Erin has been involved in high performance sporting environments that fostered her passion for Physiotherapy. Erin also has experience establishing strength and conditioning programs with a view to help people manage osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain and functional dysfunction.

Erin is a firm advocate of individually tailored treatment and believes in supporting people of all ages through their recovery; educating about the body and training movement patterns to help people achieve their performance goals - whatever they may be.

Erin Blundell