Leanne Rath

Leanne has gained extensive work experience with The Australian Ballet (2006-2008), The Australian Institute of Sport (1998 – 2005), the Olympic Games (with The Australian Gymnastics Team, Sydney 2000), the Commonwealth Games (Manchester 2002) and in private practice. She currently works with pre-professional classical dancers from a variety of Melbourne-based dance schools and has consulted with the Carlton AFLW Team in season 2024.

Leanne’s area of special clinical interest includes theory-based practice for contemporary sport / skill and pain domains and how that frames return to sport for pain and injury. Her experience across hip, pelvis and groin injury; foot and ankle injury; chronic pain presentations; dance injury management/prevention; gymnastics injury management/prevention; athletic and running injuries is now combined within this framework when working with people in pain and specifically, any athlete in pain. She also lectures extensively on these topics.

Leanne co-wrote the Explore Pain 3 day course (with Tim Cocks) for all health professionals working with people in pain (2022). She holds an advisory position with Sports Medicine Australia on the Member Education Advisory Committee (2024-2026).

Leanne has further experience in sports injury management including international appointments with the Australian World University Games Track and Field Team (1998), The Australian Swimming Team (1997), The Australian Women’s Volleyball Team (1998-2003), The Australian Netball Team (1993-1996) and the Australian Masters Hockey Team (1991/1992). Her national work experience has covered most Olympic sports including AIS men’s soccer, AIS track and field and AIS women’s volleyball program. She was also assistant physiotherapist to North Melbourne Giants Men’s NBL Basketball team (1996-1997) and provided general servicing to both residential AIS programs and camp based sports passing through the AIS (1998-2005).

Leanne’s professional experience in dance includes working as physiotherapist to The Australian Ballet (2007 – 2009) and consultant physiotherapist to Bangarra Dance Company, Sydney Dance Company and The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company. She is a co-founding member of a local dance network of professionals working with dancers (2023). This group is working toward providing a team of professionals for all dancers presenting for care.