Welcome to
Northern Beaches Hand Therapy
Looking for a NSW hand and upper limb therapist near you? Northern Beaches Hand Therapy is conveniently located in Frenchs Forest, proudly servicing its local community as well as the neighbouring suburbs of Allambie Heights, Beacon Hill, Forestville and Oxford Falls. 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
Alana Thomakos
Physiotherapist, Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
BPhty, CHT
Alana graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2020. She started her career working at Royal North Shore Hospital, gaining experience in many different areas including Intensive Care, Musculoskeletal, Neuro, Orthopaedics and Fracture Clinic. She has since achieved the qualification of Certified Hand Therapist (USA) and is an associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
Alana has many years of experience from treating a wide range of hand and upper limb injuries. She particularly enjoys helping people recover from traumatic injuries and treating paediatric patients.
Outside of work Alana enjoys waterskiing and spending time with her big family!
Alana consults from Pacific Hand Therapy and Northern Beaches Hand Therapy.
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.
Davide Tieppo
Physiotherapist
BPhty, Grad Cert Sports Physio
Davide graduated from LaTrobe University in 2009 with a Bachelor in Physiotherapy and went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Sports Physiotherapy in 2013. Since graduating, Davide has always had an interest in the upper limb and has worked in a variety of private practice, hospital and sports settings (in both Melbourne and London). In 2020, he found his passion for hand therapy, and has been developing and expanding his knowledge on the subject ever since.
Emma Douglass
Occupational Therapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
B.OccTh
Emma graduated from Australian Catholic University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Emma initially started her career working in the public hospital sector in various areas including Acute Stroke Unit, Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation, Intensive Care and Aged Care. Emma transitioned into working full time in hand therapy in 2022.
Joanna McGlashan
Occupational Therapist
Joanna completed a Bachelor of Occupational therapy with First Class Honours from University of Newcastle in 2018. Since graduating she has gained experience across a range of settings including working in aged care community services, outpatient rehabilitation and paediatric occupational therapy. Joanna has a strong interest in treating hand conditions and injuries. She is completing further study to extend her skills and expertise, working alongside leading hand surgeons and therapists.
Outside of work, she enjoys ocean swimming and walking her dog.
Joanna consults at Northern Beaches Hand Therapy and Pacific Hand Therapy in Dee Why.
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..
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.
Rebecca Crowley
Physiotherapist, Accredited Hand Therapist (AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)
Rebecca has been working in hand therapy since 1993, having graduated in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney in 1988. She gained much of her early hand therapy experience working at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Hand Unit treating patients with a wide range of injuries and conditions. She has been working at Hand Therapy Group across several practices since 2006.
Northern Beaches Hand Therapy is located at the new Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest.
Looking for a New South Wales hand and upper limb therapist near you? Northern Beaches Hand Therapy is conveniently located in Frenchs Forest, proudly servicing its local community as well as the neighbouring suburbs of Allambie Heights, Beacon Hill, Forestville and Oxford Falls. 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.
This purpose-built, multi-disciplinary facility is co-located with Peninsula Orthopaedics on Level 7 of the Northern Beaches Hospital. The practice is staffed by experienced hand therapists, all being Accredited Hand Therapists with the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
We look forward to welcoming you to this brand new state-of-the-art facility in Frenchs Forest.