The Australian Ballet partnership: research experts

Our unique partnership offers an environment where experts from both La Trobe and The Australian Ballet are able to collaborate in a dedicated environment.

Emeritus Professor Jill Cook

La Trobe University: Professor in musculoskeletal health

Emeritus Professor Jill Cook is a professor in musculoskeletal health in the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM). Emeritus Professor Cook’s research areas include sports medicine and tendon injury. After completing her PhD in 2000, she has investigated tendon pathology, treatment options and risk factors for tendon injury. Emeritus Professor Cook currently supplements her research by conducting a specialist tendon practice, and by lecturing and presenting workshops both in Australia and overseas.

Dr Sue Mayes AM

La Trobe University: Senior Lecturer, Physiotherapy

Dr Sue Mayes AM was the Principal Physiotherapist of The Australian Ballet between 1997 and 2025. She managed the Artistic Health department of The Australian Ballet and treated the diverse injuries of the professional ballet dancers. Sue graduated from La Trobe University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy), a Graduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy in 1996 and PhD in 2017, titled Hip joint health in professional ballet dancers. Sue is currently Senior Lecturer, Physiotherapy at La Trobe, and was awarded a La Trobe University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018. Sue consults for elite athletes in the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia and for other professional sports teams internationally. Sue has been invited to present at conferences, including International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conferences, and the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport. She also lectures regularly throughout Australia and internationally. Sue was awarded an Order of Australia in 2020.

Dr Jodie McClelland

La Trobe University: Head of Department Physiotherapy Podiatry Prosthetics and Orthotics

Dr Jodie McClelland is a lecturer and researcher in physiotherapy at La Trobe, and a registered physiotherapist with more than 15 years of clinical experience. After completing her PhD in 2009, Jodie continued her research training through a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Delaware (USA) in the Physical Therapy and Biomechanics and Movement Science programs.

Jodie has collaborated with sporting organisations such as the Australian Football League, A-League and Australian Rugby League.  She publishes her research regularly and has presented at many international conferences. Jodie is collaborating with The Australian Ballet to evaluate how biomechanics in dancing may relate to dancer injury.

Dr Ebonie Rio

La Trobe University: Sports physiotherapist and Associate Professor

Dr Ebonie Rio completed a PhD in tendon pain, with her novel research leading to changes in rehabilitation practise around the world. She is a postdoctoral researcher in the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM), and is currently involved in a variety of projects investigating tendon pain (particularly in the lower limb), as well as other areas including innovative new rehabilitation techniques. Her experience includes involvement with the Australian Institute of Sport, The Australian Ballet, the Commonwealth Games and Summer and Winter Olympics, and 18 months travelling with Disney’s The Lion King stage show.

Professor Kay Crossley

La Trobe University: Director of the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM)

Professor Kay Crossley’s main research focus is on the prevention and management of patellofemoral pain and early-onset osteoarthritis after sports-related injuries. Kay is a physiotherapist with many years of experience in clinical sports physiotherapy. She has contributed to a number of sports medicine and physiotherapy texts, including every edition of Brukner and Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine.

Partnership-affiliated researchers

• Professor Russ Hoye is the Dean of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University. His research interests are in corporate governance, public policy, volunteer management and the impact of sport on individuals and society. He has secured more than A$3.75 million in research funding and has been chief investigator on three Australian Research Council grants and two Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grants.
• Dr Pam Kappelides is a senior lecturer in sport management at La Trobe University. Her research is focused on volunteer management; sport participation and inclusion of disadvantaged and minority groups (such as females, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and people living with a disability); community engagement; and the impact of sport participation and development in sport, health and recreation. She specialises in qualitative research methodology and evaluations.

La Trobe University postgraduate students

• Jess Frydenberg is a physiotherapist (pelvic floor physiotherapy expertise) and Masters candidate. Her project explores the prevalence and impact of pelvic floor disorders in performing artists.