The Team: 

Sonja Belle -  Managing Director
B.Sc (Occupational Therapy), Grad. Dip. Human Resource Management

Sonja Belle is the Managing Director of Occupational Fitness Solutions and Co-Director of MTM Physiotherapy.  Sonja’s experience has predominantly been in injury management working in a variety of vocational settings (both State and National) to assist injured workers back to work through a case management model. 

During her term with three Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies, Sonja became a preferred provider to a number of medium and large sized organisations.  Her work extended to include risk assessments, development of duties manuals, ergonomics, training in areas pertaining to employee and occupational health, functional assessments and general management. 

A postgraduate degree in Human Resource Management compliments many of the services Sonja provides to corporations.

Michael Wood - Director
B.App.Sc (Physio), Grad. Dip. Sports Physio

Michael Wood is the Managing Director of MTM Physiotherapy.  His 20 years of postgraduate experience as well his recognition as one of Australia’s leaders in Sports Physiotherapy have attributed to MTM gaining contracts with several Western Australian and Australian sports teams.

Michael's career has taken him to International sporting competitions including the 2006 and 1998 Commonwealth Games (Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur), Hockey World Cup (Pakistan), Champions Trophy (Malaysia) as well as the National Soccer League Grand Final both in Perth and in Sydney.

With his experience over the years, Michael has specialised in sports physiotherapy and has a special interest in treating knee and shoulder injuries.

Within his role at Occupational Fitness Solutions, Michael works closely with corporate groups to develop and manage outcome based exercise programs (to assist injured workers back to work) as well as preventative programs aimed at reducing employee illness and injury. 

Yvonne von Guttenberg - OSH Consultant/Physiotherapist
B.Sc (Physio) Grad Dip OSH

Yvonne graduated from Curtin University in 1996 where she started work in the NW of Western Australia including the Kimberley and Geraldton regions. 

Yvonne joined our team in 2002 specializing in the treatment of neck pain, acupuncture and chronic pain.

Yvonne has recently completed her Post Graduate studies in Occupational Health and Safety.   This combined skill set enables Yvonne to work on projects including the development of employee fitness tests, assessing employee fitness for work, ergonomics, worksite assessments, risk assessments, occupational health and safety training and manual handling. 

Candy Stephenson - Occupational Therapist
B. Health Sc. M.O.T

Candy graduated from Curtin University with a Masters of Occupational Therapy as well as a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Health and Safety).

Her recent work experience is courteous of the Perth mining “boom” working in a fly in/out capacity in the State’s northwest. Here Candy’s work included the facilitation of onsite health promotion and injury prevention programs focusing specifically on back care and manual handling. This experience as well as her background in occupational health and safety has attracted many organisations to request Candy to perform work including risk assessments, workplace audits and inspections, preventative training, ergonomics and workers compensation management.

Andrea Acalinovich - Vocational & Exercise Rehab. Consultant/OSH Consultant
B.Sc (Ex. Phys) Grad Dip OSH

Andrea graduated from the University of Western Australia as an Exercise Physiologist in 1999 before completing her postgraduate studies in Occupational Safety and Health at Curtin University.

Andrea has worked in a number of OSH roles for organisations including distribution and retail, progressing into a senior position with a Western Australian utility. Her work has included both metropolitan and regional Western Australia, facilitating an understanding of a wide range of work environments and cultures.

Most recently, Andrea has focussed on injury management and the management of workers compensation for large organisations. Corporate health promotion is also a keen interest for Andrea.

Sarah Fandry - Physiotherapist/Pilates Instructor/Level 1 Sports Trainer
B.Sc (Physio)

Sarah graduated from Curtin University in 1998 before she started work in private physiotherapy clinics.  Here she has assessed and treated a wide range of acute to chronic musculoskeletal injuries as well as various preventative programs throughout Australia and the United Kingdom. 

Pertinent to her role at Occupational Fitness Solutions is Sarah’s previous work at a corporate wellness company based in London where she facilitated numerous seminars in back care, manual handling and injury prevention in the workplace.

Sarah currently combines work including the development of employee fitness tests, assessing employee fitness for work, ergonomics, worksite assessments, risk assessments, occupational health and safety training and manual handling with her role as an Injury Management Consultant at the Water Corporation. 

Miriam Blakemore (B. Sc OT (1992):  Miriam has worked for 14 years as an Occupational Therapist specialising in occupational health and safety.  Miriam has extended her skills to training holding a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training.  She has worked for a number of State and National based organisations including IRS and CRS.

Kathryn Hookham (B. Sc Physio (1996), Cert IV Health Promotion):  Kathryn has worked as an in-house Physiotherapist/ Injury Management Consultant for Alcoa, Wagerup.  She has worked on projects including the development of employee fitness screening tests, assessing employee fitness for work, ergonomics as well as numerous one on one projects such as worksite assessments, risk assessments and manual handling. 

Helen Mortimer (B. Sc Human Biology, B Sc (Hons) Physio):  Helen has worked as an in-house Physiotherapist/ Injury Management Consultant for Amcor.  Here her work includes acute injury management, ergonomic assessments, manual handling training as well as the development and supervision of work hardening programs.  She is trained in Pilates.

Glynnis Steed (B. Sc PT (1979):  Glynnis has worked for 28 years as a Physiotherapist recently diversifying her acute injury management and community expertise to work within occupational health and safety.  Glynnis has extensive experience in musculoskeletal injuries.

Boris Kazakov (B. Sc Dietetics):  Boris has developed and facilitated a number of diet related workshops such as “Quick Recipes for Busy Executives”.  He assists in writing and updating Allan Borushek’s Calorie and Fat Counter Book, undertakes health assessments, features in a Channel 31 Health and Lifestyle program, is a Consultant dietician to Perth Glory Football Club as well as a lecturer at TAFE to exercise and fitness students.

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Access to profile Perth Physicians

Our work with a number of profile athletes and sports team affiliates us with a number of Physicians including Dr Gary Claydon, Dr Carmel Goodman, Dr Peter Steele and Dr Ken Maguire.  All have close working relationships with the team of Therapist listed above, located within a 10-minute drive of our office.  Due to our working relationship, clients are often booked in as a priority.

Dr Gary Claydon (MBBS FRACGP Dip Sports Med):

Dr Claydon is a Partner at Seacrest Medical Centre, Sorrento, a multidisciplinary medical centre servicing 600 000 consultations per year. As well as General Practitioners, there are nursing staff, two podiatrists, a dietician and nearby Pathology Centers.

Dr Claydon has a particular interest is in Sports Medicine and Occupational Health, tutoring trainees in General Practice.  His experience in sport includes:

• Perth Glory Team doctor (1997-2003)
  
• Perth Reds Superleague Team doctor (1996-1997)
  
• Overseas touring doctor with Australian national U20 soccer  (1996/7), AIS soccer tours (994-7,2000) and Australian Women's hockey (1999).
  
• World swimming and triathlon championships, Perth.

Dr Claydon’s experience in Occupational Health includes work with: Path transit; Airlite; Allight; Brunel; Trench Sports; Arena Stadium/ Challenge Stadium; Transfield Services; Serco as well as numerous recruitment agencies for mine sites within Australia.

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