Welcome to
Macquarie Hand Therapy
Looking for a NSW hand and upper limb therapist near you? Macquarie Hand Therapy is conveniently located in Macquarie University, proudly servicing its local community as well as the neighbouring suburbs of Macquarie Park, Epping, Marsfield, West Pymble and North Epping. All of our practices are committed to the best possible patient outcome. Our practices work closely with many hand units and surgeons across Sydney and are proud of these strong relationships.
Our Team
Alisa Knight
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
BPhty
Alisa is a physiotherapist who has developed a keen interest in Hands While working at The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Alisa has worked in multiple large trauma hospitals and hand units. Alisa comes with a strong interest in acute hand trauma injuries. She enjoys teaching and mentoring in hand therapy. She is also a self-taught oil painter and indoor plant lover.
Alisa is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA) and Certified Hand Therapist (USA).
Alisa consults at Macquarie Hand Therapy and Hills Norwest Hand Therapy.
Alisa can offer consults in Thai.
Belinda Stretton
Physiotherapist
Belinda completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney in 1995. She gained experience in managing hand and upper limb conditions while working in various public hospital settings in Sydney, regional NSW and the United Kingdom.
Belinda commenced working exclusively in hand and upper limb therapy in 2003 and has gained extensive experience managing acute, chronic and complex traumatic injuries in private practice. Belinda also enjoys treating rheumatological hand conditions and educating clients on managing chronic hand issues.
Belinda is an Associate Member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and is working towards becoming an Accredited Hand Therapist.
Belinda consults from Macquarie Hand Therapy on Tuesdays and Pacific Hand Therapy on Fridays.
Caitlin Lewis
Occupational Therapist
B.OccThy
Caitlin graduated as an Occupational Therapist from Australian Catholic University in 2019. She is from Sydney and
worked as an Occupational Therapist gaining experience in variety of settings including assistive technology, paediatrics and disability. She has developed her hand therapy skills working in a private hand therapy practice in Wagga Wagga.
Caitlin was inspired to become a hand therapist when she broke my finger playing basketball at 7 years old. Caitlin has a strong interest in treating hand conditions and is working towards her hand therapy accreditation with AHTA.
Outside of work, she loves playing football and netball.
Carrie Kwok
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
BPhty
Carrie completed her studies to become a Physiotherapist at University of Sydney in 2012. She worked in the public health sector domestically in Sydney and internationally, in London, before dedicating herself to Hand Therapy.
Carrie is a Certified Hand Therapist (Hand Therapy Certification Commission), Accredited Hand Therapist (Australian Hand Therapy Association) and a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. She has extensive experience in treating various upper limb conditions in Sydney and Melbourne, and has joined the Hand Therapy Group at the end of 2024.
Carrie thoroughly enjoys treating complex traumatic injuries, helping patients return to independence and their hobbies. When she is not working you’ll find her dabbling in sewing and cold process soap making.
Carrie is proficient in Cantonese and English.
Jessica Salmon
Hand Therapist
Bachelor of Applied Sciences Occ Therapy
Jess graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences Occ Therapy in 2008.
Since graduating, Jess has gained a range of clinical and leadership skills across a number of clinical areas in the public and private hospital settings in Australia and the UK.
In 2016, Jess found her passion for treating acute upper limb and hand injuries whilst working in the NSW state Wide Burns Service at Concord Hospital. It was this experience which sparked her interest and career in hand therapy. Jess has worked in the private hand therapy setting in Sydney South West for 2 years followed by commencing part time as a senior Occupational Therapist in the busy Canterbury Public Hospital Hand therapy service. Her previous role at the Canterbury Hospital has furthered her interest in treating trauma, complex wounds and scar management not to mention providing services to a large multicultural patient population which she found incredibly rewarding.
Jess is solely working part time in our Macquarie clinic rooms, she holds Associate membership with the AHTA and is actively working towards achieving her AHT.
Jess is a local to the Upper North Shore. When she isn’t chasing her two little children around she enjoys spending time at the beach and bush, a nice glass of red and not to mention a good cup of coffee.
Jess looks forward to meeting you and assisting you in your hand therapy journey.
Joel Valentine
Hand Therapist
Hi, I’m Joel, a Hand Therapist who loves helping people feel their best. I am a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and an Associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. I love the complex anatomy of the fingers, and enjoy helping people get back to what it is they love to do. When I’m not at work, I’m usually on the tennis court or in the park reading a book..
Jonathan Kuan
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
BHumanSc, DPT
Jonathan graduated with a Bachelor of Human Sciences in 2016 and a Doctor of Physiotherapy in 2020, both at Macquarie University. He has gathered experience in a range of clinical settings including musculoskeletal, sports, ICU and rehabilitation. Jonathan completed his final placement at Macquarie Hand Therapy in May 2020 prior to his graduation and commencement with the Hand Therapy Group.
Jonathan undertook a one-year sabbatical from the Hand Therapy Group in 2024 to work in a busy hand unit at Launceston General Hospital. He has gained extensive exposure in managing traumatic and complex upper limb conditions, ranging from fractures, tendon repairs and burn related injuries.
Jonathan is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA) and is a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
Outside of work, you can find Jonathan on the water, either kayaking or fishing in his tinny!
Jonathan is proficient in Malay and has basic proficiency in Mandarin and Vietnamese.
Lina Hwang
Occupational Therapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
BAppSc(OT), AHT, CHT
Lina completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney in 2018. She gained experience in a range of clinical settings including rehabilitation, paediatrics, community services with NDIS participants and hand therapy.
Lina fell in love with hand therapy from her placement in Westmead Public Hospital and started working exclusively in hand and upper limb therapy in private clinic where she expanded her knowledge in managing acute, chronic and traumatic injuries. She joined Hand Therapy Group in 2023 and enjoys working closely with highly experienced Accredited Hand Therapists and hand surgeons in the team. She has a special interest in hand trauma and tendon injuries.
Lina is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA), a Certified Hand Therapist (USA), and a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
Outside of work, Lina enjoys playing tennis as well as reading a book with a lovely cup of coffee.
Lina is proficient in Korean and English. She currently consults from the rooms at Hills Norwest Hand Therapy and Macquarie Hand Therapy.
Natalia Piet
Occupational Therapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
BAppSc(OT), PostGradDip(Hand Therapy), CHT
Natalia graduated with a degree in Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) from the University of Sydney in 2012. Since graduating, Natalia has been working in hand therapy in the Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, gaining extensive experience in acute, chronic and complex traumatic upper limb injuries. In 2015, she completed the Sydney Hospital Hand Therapy Clinical Fellowship with a project on the effectiveness of hand therapy intervention following the release of Dupuytren’s contractures. Natalia also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Hand Therapy through the University of Derby in the UK in 2017.
Nina Thompson
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
MRes, BPhty, AHT, CHT
Nina graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2013. In 2024, she completed a Master of Research focusing on ulnar-sided wrist pain after distal radius fractures. Nina is a PhD candidate at Macquarie University, where she is continuing to research ulnar-sided wrist pain. Nina started her hand therapy career in the public sector and has worked at Hand Therapy Group since 2018. She has extensive experience treating all forms of hand injuries, and particularly enjoys helping people recover from hand trauma and sports injuries. In her leisure time, Nina enjoys running and rock climbing.
Robbie Milford
Occupational Therapist, Hand Therapist
Occupational Therapist, BAppSc (OT)
Robbie graduated from The University of Sydney in 2022, after completing his Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy. He started in hand therapy as a new graduate, working regionally at Bathurst Hospital completing a mixture of outpatient hand therapy, fracture clinic and acute inpatient care. Robbie is committed to ongoing learning & professional development – he is an associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and is currently completing the AHTA-endorsed Hand Therapy Fellowship to further his knowledge & practice. He has an interest in sports related injuries, from sprains to fractures and dislocations, and loves helping people to get back on the sporting field. When he’s not in our Hills Norwest or Macquarie Clinics, you’ll find him running, cycling, hiking and camping.
Sally Yates
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
BHlthSc, MPhty, MScHandTherapy, AHTA (AHTA), CHT
Sally graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2011, and a Master of Physiotherapy in 2013. She has worked in a variety of public hospitals and private practices within NSW, QLD and TAS, where she has gained extensive experience treating acute, chronic and complex traumatic hand and upper limb injuries.
In 2020, Sally graduated with a Master of Science with Distinction in Hand Therapy through the University of Derby, UK. This involved a research project evaluating the use of relative motion orthoses to improve active PIP joint motion, which was published in the Journal of Hand Therapy.
Sherry Hu
Hand Therapist
AHTA, Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
Sherry graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) in 2008. She has gained extensive experience and a strong interest for treating acute and complex traumatic upper limb injuries through working in multiple public hospital trauma hand units including at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, South Western Sydney Hand Centre (Fairfield Hospital), and Sydney Hospital. Sherry completed the Sydney Hospital Clinical Fellowship in 2021 with a project comparing triquetral fractures managed in cast versus an orthosis, and continues to work at Sydney Hospital in a part time capacity.
Sherry is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA) and Certified Hand Therapist (USA).
Sherry consults at Macquarie Hand Therapy.
Macquarie Hand Therapy opened in 2010 to provide hand and upper limb services to people in the northwest region of Sydney.
Macquarie Hand Therapy is conveniently located in Macquarie University, proudly servicing its local community as well as the neighbouring suburbs of Macquarie Park, Epping, Marsfield, West Pymble, Gordon, St Ives and North Epping. All of our practices are committed to the best possible patient outcome. Our practices work closely with many hand units and surgeons across Sydney and are proud of these strong relationships.
We pride ourselves in offering patients the latest evidence-based treatment approach in hand therapy, information, equipment and administrative services.
The practice is considered a centre of excellence for hand therapy, receiving referrals from consultant hand surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, general practitioners and physiotherapists.
It is a state-of-the-art facility, co-located with a number of leading Sydney hand surgeons on the grounds of the Macquarie University Hospital and Clinic. The practice has maintained the Standards required for Physiotherapy Accreditation with QIP (2017). Macquarie Hand Therapy is an Accredited Physiotherapy Practice.
