Jess McDonald

Jess grew up in Swan Hill and has over ten years’ experience working across the health industry. She is passionate about helping people understand their bodies, reduce pain, and move with confidence through thorough assessment, hands-on care, and tailored education.

Jess has worked across private practice and hospital settings, supporting people with acute injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, balance concerns, and persistent pain. While her early career was grounded in sports and orthopaedic physiotherapy, her clinical focus has progressively shifted towards supporting people with chronic, complex, and invisible conditions.

Earlier in her career, Jess worked extensively within sporting environments, supporting both developing and elite athletes. While working in Canada, she gained valuable experience treating figure skaters and athletes involved in alpine sports. Jess has toured internationally as a team physiotherapist with a professional Australian–Slovenian Road Series Cycling Team and has worked with international mountain bike riders. Closer to home, she has played and worked with women’s and men’s basketball teams, as well as netballers, supporting athletes through injury management, rehabilitation, and return to performance. This experience provided Jess with a strong foundation in movement analysis, load management, and rehabilitation — skills she now applies when working with people experiencing persistent pain and reduced confidence with movement.

Jess completed her Graduate Certificate in Sports Physiotherapy through La Trobe University, which underpins her strong assessment and clinical reasoning skills. Over time, her professional interests have evolved towards chronic pain, women’s health, and complex presentations.

Jess has completed further training and mentorship in TMJ care, hypermobility and Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), chronic fatigue, and other invisible illnesses. She has recently completed postgraduate study in Clinical Pain Management through University of South Australia, strengthening her evidence-based, biopsychosocial approach to persistent pain.

Jess brings a warm, supportive, and practical approach to care, helping clients feel heard, rebuild trust in their bodies, and return to meaningful movement at a pace that feels safe and achievable.

Jess is also a certified Netball Physiotherapy Provider.