Our team
At Healthy Mates we are a team of friendly Allied Health professionals who are passionate about helping you achieve your goals. At our clinic you can be sure that our clinicians will strive to fix your issues no matter how big or small. Our team will not only help manage and treat your problems, we will aim to teach you the skills to confidently and safely manage your own body long term. The knowledge, skills and expertise of our clinicians in conjunction with our state of the art facilities will assure Healthy Mates is the one and only rehabilitation place for you.
Our team
At Healthy Mates we are a team of friendly Allied Health professionals who are passionate about helping you achieve your goals. At our clinic you can be sure that our clinicians will strive to fix your issues no matter how big or small. Our team will not only help manage and treat your problems, we will aim to teach you the skills to confidently and safely manage your own body long term. The knowledge, skills and expertise of our clinicians in conjunction with our state of the art facilities will assure Healthy Mates is the one and only rehabilitation place for you.
Jake Pallpratt
Director and Head Physiotherapist
Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physiotherapy
Jake has been an employee at Healthy Mates since 2017 where he started as a graduate physiotherapist. He then took on the manager and senior physiotherapist role in 2021 and more recently has taken over the practices in 2023 as director.
Jake has a strong passion for sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy and thrives off seeing clients return back to doing the things they love. He loves a challenge and loves working with all different age groups and walks of life.
Jake has extensive experience working with various athletes and elite sporting teams amongst the community these being, The Bendigo Spirit, Bendigo Strikers and the Bendigo Braves.
Jake has as undertaken additional courses in Dry Needling, ASCA Level 1 strength and conditioning and extensive studies in hip and groin rehabilitation. Jake believes in continuing professional development and encourages his staff to undertake further courses, ensuring the best and most up to date care is given to all clients. Jake has also spent previous years lecturing at La Trobe University Bendigo.
Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending quality family time with his partner and son and going back to his hometown of Benalla.
Jake has a love for playing football, going fishing and camping anything that involves being outdoors. Jake has had his fair share of injuries over the years of playing sport so he understands the physical and psychological impact of injuries.
Casey Livingston
Physiotherapist
Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice (La Trobe University).
Graduate Certificate in Physiotherapy – Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy (The University of Melbourne).
Casey is a senior physiotherapist within the clinic. Casey joined Healthy Mates in 2017, working as an Allied Health Assistant while she was completing her studies at La Trobe University. Casey commenced her role as a Physiotherapist in 2019.
Casey loves the ability to incorporate clinical pilates into her treatment plans and has completed additional study in this area.
Casey also has a special interest in women’s health physiotherapy and has completed a Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at The University of Melbourne. She enjoys working with antenatal and postnatal women to assist with their pregnancy journeys as well as with older women.
Casey enjoys treating musculoskeletal injuries such as Tendinopathies, muscle strains and pains, lower back pain and seeing individuals post Orthopaedic surgery, particularly post ACL surgery.
Casey enjoys participating in a variety of sports. She has previously played netball and tennis; however, has more recently been focusing on running, completing two half-marathons and plans to complete more! In her spare time, you will find Casey walking with her two dogs, spending time with her family and friends, enjoying time by the water at either the beach or the river, and barracking for the mighty Richmond Tigers!
Tom McKerrow
Physiotherapist
Bachelor of Exercise Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
Tom commenced his role at Healthy Mates in 2023. Tom has previously worked on the Neurological ward at Geelong Hospital and has a special interest in Neurological and Sports Rehab, particularly incorporating strength based training into his rehabilitation.
Besides working at Healthy Mates, Tom also works alongside sporting teams including The Bendigo Braves (NBL1), Bendigo Spirit (WNBL) and Bendigo Pioneers (NAB league). Assuring that Tom is quickly becoming experienced treating all types of sports injuries.
Outside of work, Tom has a passion for Football, running and listening to live music.
Cooper McLean
Exercise Physiologist
Bachelor of Exercise Science/Master of Exercise Physiology
Cooper started out at Healthy Mates as an Allied Health Assistant whilst studying his degree at La Trobe Bendigo. Following this, he transitioned into the role of Exercise Physiologist. Cooper has also taken on the role of High Performance Manager for the Bendigo Pioneers in the elite talent pathway since 2022 and continues with that role today.
Cooper is very passionate about Strength and Conditioning for junior and senior athletes. Cooper loves to see athletes and all people improve and gets a massive kick out of when people start to feel noticeable differences in their performance or everyday life.
Outside of work Cooper enjoys getting outdoors, gardening, riding his e-bike, running or playing the guitar and piano.
Ayla Papallo
Physiotherapist
Bachelor of Applied Science/ Masters Physiotherapy
Ayla commenced work with Healthy Mates in 2023 as a graduate physiotherapist
Before commencing her work with Healthy mates Ayla gained a lot of skill and experience as a Reformer Pilates Instructor taking classes for multiple years whilst studying physiotherapy. Ayla has completed her Dry Needling course and has a strong interest in Strength and Conditioning.
Ayla regularly attends Crossfit and will often compete in crossfit competitions. Ayla also enjoys running, swimming, surfing, travelling and going for walks (just about all things outdoors and fitness related).
Ayla is very competitive, especially when it comes to board games
Anna Escalante
Services Support & Admin Manager
Visual Arts Cert III, Design Cert IV, Diploma of Fine Arts, Diploma of Business Administration, Allied Health Assistance Cert IV
Anna has been with Healthy Mates since June, 2021. She started as an Allied Health Assistant, then became a full time Administrative Manager. Anna mainly looks after the administration, operations and some financials of the business, whilst occasionally practicing rehabilitation exercises with clients.
Prior to her role at Healthy Mates, Anna worked in the disability sector for 10 years. Being around people and helping others is her passion and what also comes naturally to her. With this experience, Anna really loves working at Healthy Mates by having a mixture of responsibilities and having the pleasure of being around wonderful people.
Anna is currently studying Double Diploma of Business and Social Media Marketing.
Anna grew up on a farm just outside Bathurst NSW, where the V8 races are held. Although she isn’t a big fan of the V8’s, instead she loves European sports cars, such as the Bugatti Veyron. In 2009, Anna was nominated for “Best student throughout NSW Award” from all her teachers, having the highest amount of distinctions (12) in her class through all her arts courses. Anna also loves cats of all sizes!
Growing up, Anna has always been very active and artistic. Throughout her school years, she has travelled throughout NSW for sprinting and athletics events, and in her downtime, would be painting and drawing. After her studies, she was represented at a high end gallery in Mosman Sydney, for several years; displaying her love of Australian landscapes and animals through works of water colour & oil paintings. Since the move to Bendigo, Anna has developed a part time business named Little Sweet Art, where she produces kids illustrations of adorable Australian animals and also has landscape paintings at The Painted Brush & Co. Anna also loves animals, travelling, hiking and being in the outdoors such as going on multiday hiking trips or camping. One of her dreams is to finish all the hiking trails through the Dolomites!
Sachchidanand (Sunny) Chaudhary
Accounts Manager – business graduate
Sunny joined Healthy Mates in 2022 as an Accounts Manager, where he oversees administration, payroll, business, and finance operations.
He is an avid follower of the English Premier League, cheering passionately for Liverpool FC.
Originally from Nepal, Sunny moved to Australia in 2018 after completing his bachelor’s degree to pursue further studies and better opportunities.
He initially worked as an account officer in a retail store in Melbourne for a couple of years before relocating to Bendigo in 2022 to escape city life.
Sunny is also very keen and passionate about stock market trading and investing, always ready to offer market advice.
Sunny enjoys living and working in Bendigo, finding the blend of community and tranquillity a perfect match for his lifestyle.
He appreciates the slower pace compared to city life and is enthusiastic about the opportunities and connections he’s making.
Sunny is looking forward to settling down in here.
