How did you get into sport?

Kate Beerworth - Head Physiotherapist for the 2 most successful national teams in Australia, the Matildas (Football) and the Australian Women's Cricket Team

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Kate has been a physiotherapist for close to 30 years with 2 of those decades working at the pinnacle of elite women’s sport in Australia. Initially seeing a diverse range of athletes through her own sports private clinic, she has then gone on to being a part of multiple World Cups with both the Australian Women's Cricket team and Football team, the Matildas. We catch up just after the recent 2025 clean sweep Ashes series win over England where we chat not only about the wealth of experience she gained with working with some of the best athletes in high performance sport but also the personal lessons and how she has been able to successfully navigate a stellar career working at the highest level of arguably the 2 most popular sports on the planet. 


Highlights from the episode…

  • After dislocating her patella as a young athlete and needing to see a sports physiotherapist, this inspired her to become a physiotherapist herself which in turn led to her becoming business partners with that same physiotherapist who treated her initially. 
  • We discuss the benefits of clinicians, especially female clinicians, stepping outside of their comfort zone and how this can lead to incredible opportunities, including how Kate was able to acquire a role with Football Australia with no prior experience in football. 
  • The uniqueness of women’s football where often players as young as 16 years old are being thrusted into the highest level of world football and the challenges that this comes with. 
  • Although uniquely being part of multiple World Cups, Ashes series and the 2016 Rio Olympic games, what has been the cost of working in sport for over 20 years? 
  • Having been responsible for delivering ACL injury prevention strategies in football across the nation, we chat about where are we falling short regarding reducing incidence and burden of ACL injury?
  • With no lack of research, advocacy and strategies around the importance of injury prevention, its adherence that is the challenge! How do we maximise adherence? 
  • Is injury prevention adherence an education issue or an incentives issue? 
  • How Kate was able to transition from the Matildas into another of Australia's most successful national teams. 
  • How Kate remotely monitors all national team players while they are away playing for their respective clubs all over the world and the tools they use to screen and keep track of players throughout the season. 
  • What a day in the life of a SSSM practitioner for Cricket Australia all while touring all over the globe consistently throughout the year. 


People mentioned:

  • Kate Mahony: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5TthNoykn5kz4El5jjZxjL
  • Jason Swan: https://www.wakefieldsports.com.au/our-team/physiotherapists/jason-swan
  • Mark Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbrown60/
  • Carmen Colomer: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Mn5jKSrO7mgzfrW9rEURC
  • David Battersby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-battersby-facp-89a51844/?originalSubdomain=au
  • Matt Whalan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-whalan-5b59a939/?originalSubdomain=au
  • David Bailey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bailey-94a44b62/?originalSubdomain=au
  • Peter Blanch: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FHpOBIanMmbQRkx9YjkUx

 

Kate Beerworth contact details: 

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-beerworth-64280811a/
  • X: https://x.com/kbeerworth?lang=en

Host: Luis Resa

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How did you get into sport?By Luis Resa