The EPC prides itself on the experience and expertise of staff in the assessment, treatment and delivery of exercise services. There is a strong emphasis on continual staff education and development with staff involved in teaching and research within UWA.

All staff are accredited with the relevant professional bodies and Medicare or Private Health rebates may apply for services.

Directors

The operations of the EPC with the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health is overseen by the directors below who are academics and researchers within the school.  Alongside the EPC staff, the directors ensure close collaboration between SSEH, the community and researchers.

• Dr Bonnie Furzer
• Dr Peter Peeling
• Professor Brian Dawson
• Professor Tim Ackland
• Dr Grant Landers

Meet the team

Dr Bonnie Furzer (PhD)

Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) & Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)

Director - UWA Exercise & Performance Centre

Lecturer - School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health 

Areas of Expertise

• Exercise training for health and function
• Cancer recovery and rehabilitation
• Chronic and/or complex conditions
• Exercise and mental health 

• 

  Kids and teens exercise programs

Bonnie has extensive experience working with chronic disease and injury, implementing multifaceted exercise programs that incorporate aerobic, strength and Pilates based exercise to deliver optimal benefits for clients.

Following completion of her undergraduate degrees, Bonnie completed her PhD thesis investigating the role of exercise and complementary therapies in the rehabilitation of cancer patients. Both her clinical and research work is focused broadly on the implementation of exercise interventions for physiological and/or psychosocial benefit in special populations including children, youth, chronic disease and mental health. 

Bonnie is highly active in the translation and dissemination of research into practice including regular presentations at research, service and community forums, and the management and delivery of community based exercise services for ‘at-risk’ and/or under serviced groups.  In 2011 Bonnie established the Thriving program for kids and teens, with service partnerships and support from UWA, ESSA, Telethon, WA Drug and Alcohol Youth Service, and more!

Alongside her role as a lecturer at UWA, including supervision of doctoral and honours students, she is active in professional education including national delivery of accredited Paedaitric Exercise Rehabilitation courses in 2015 and 2016, and her role as an educator for Mental Health First Aid, and art of motion - training in movement.

Kemi Wright

Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) & Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) - UWA PhD Candidate

Coordinator - UWA Exercise & Performance Centre 

Areas of Expertise

• Exercise training for lifestyle and function
• Chronic and complex conditions
• Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
• Kids and teen exercise programs

Kemi has experience working with a variety of clients from children to older adults, with a range of chronic and complex conditions. She has experience developing and implementing multifaceted exercise programs that incorporate aerobic, resistance and Pilates exercises.

Following her undergraduate degree, Kemi won the Robin Moss Prize, being deemed the best student amongst those completing the course for the Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Health) in 2011 based on academic merit and community service.

Kemi is currently completing her PhD involved in paediatric exercise rehabilitation, investigating how to improve physical activity engagement in children with low movement proficiency.  In addition to her role at UWA EPC she is also involved in teaching and clinical supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students at UWA.

 Nafyn Pattiaratchi

 Physiotherapist   

Areas of Expertise

• Sports related injury and rehabilitation
• ACL post-operative rehabilitation and return to play
• Cervicogenic (neck related) headache
• Spinal pain
• Occupational injury prevention
• Athlete development – youth and female

Additional Qualifications

• Grad Cert Sports Physiotherapy
• Dry Needling
• Mulligan Technique
• Diagnostic Real Time Ultrasound
• Power Taping
• Commander Muscle Testing

Nafyn completed his physiotherapy degree at Notre Dame Fremantle in 2008. Since then his career has seen him spend time in rural and remote areas and across the globe. His goal with patients is to maximise quality of life and increased performance through evidence based practice.

Currently, in addition to his role at UWA, Nafyn is a physiotherapist for the Perth Glory Football Club and play a vital role in the maintenance and management of elite footballers across all age groups in WA.  Nafyn also has extensive experience in occupational health having spent over 3 years in the mining sector.

Being the sports mad person that he is; Nafyn's special interest is in sport related injury and rehabilitation. Whether it be ball, endurance or extreme sports, or the weekend warriors, Nafyn's wealth of experience in this area provides his patients with cutting edge physiotherapy management.

 Dylan Warner

Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) & Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)

Areas of Expertise

• Athletic Testing
• Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
• Strength and Conditioning
• Chronic Disease Management
• Paediatric Exercise and Health

Additional Qualifications

• Level 2 Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCA) (In Progress)

• 

  Sports Medicine Australia Level 1 Sports Trainer
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Contemporary Pilates Instructor 

Dylan began at UWA in 2011, where he completed an Undergraduate Bachelor of Exercise and Health Science degree by the year 2013. The following year, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma of Exercise Rehabilitation. Throughout this period Dylan gained valuable experience working at Essence Lifestyle Gym in Claremont, where amongst other achievements he helped many clients accomplish their goals through coordinating ‘Living Longer Living Stronger’ classes.

Whilst studying, Dylan was also able to be passionately involved within the UWA Paediatric Exercise Programs including Unigym, Thriving and the Uni-Active program helping to teach fundamental movement skills to Primary School students.

In the future, Dylan hopes to further his skill set in the athletic testing and strength/conditioning fields. In his spare time you might find Dylan on the gold course or walking his dog 'Rio' at the beach.

Deborah Kounis

Physiotherapist

Update coming soon! 

Stephanie Kwan

Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)

Areas of Expertise

• Musculoskeletal injury prevention
• Paediatric exercise and health

Additional Qualifications

• Mental Health First Aid

Steph, originally from Newcastle (NSW), completed her Undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology in 2011 in Sydney. Following this she spent time working in onsite injury prevention and rehabilitation for heavy industry (trains, planes, construction and mining) and healthy lifestyle coaching, around the Hunter Valley and Sydney area. From this this she gained a wealth of knowledge in musculoskeletal occupational injury prevention, and experience in developing healthy lifestyle programs and running group exercise classes.

Steph moved over to UWA in February 2016, chasing her passion in paediatrics, which was sparked during her undergraduate days. In addition to her role at the UWA Exercise and Performance Centre, she is also part of our UWA Paediatric Team, and is passionatley involved in the Thriving and Unigym programs, helping teach children fundamental movement skills, building their confidence, and help find a love for physical activity, as well as assisting in the development of the Minigym program. 

During her down time, Steph is passionate about food, mainly the eating of it, as well as spending time at the beach, and watching sport or movies 

UWA High Performance in Sport and Industry Research Group

The UWA EPC works closely with the School's High Performance in Sport and Industry Research Group to ensure translation of the latest research into practice. This relationship ensures ongoing research opportunities, and allows cutting-edge sports science research findings to be disseminated to our clients using the EPC services. This interdisciplinary research theme encompasses the School’s research activity over five decades, related to maximising human performance at the highest level in sporting and industry settings.