A Proud History in North Melbourne: The Story of Errol Street Physiotherapy
For 30 years, Errol Street Physiotherapy has been part of the North Melbourne community, helping people recover from injury, manage pain and get back to the things that matter most.
Errol Street Spinal & Sports Physiotherapy opened its doors in 1996, quickly earning a reputation as a trusted destination for people dealing with pain and injury. Ben Smith joined the team in 2004 and in 2013, partners Ben Smith and Shane O’Sullivan moved the clinic to its current home at 52 Errol Street and broadened what it could offer, adding Podiatry and Remedial Massage alongside physiotherapy.
The clinic became known for pairing a strong local community focus with a genuine commitment to sport and elite sport.
Over the years, the team has grown with people who have built their careers here. Podiatrist and Partner Sam Turner has been part of the clinic for more than a decade, Paul Bamford has been a long-standing member of our Remedial Massage team since 2013, and Physiotherapist Courtney Kennedy, who joined in 2018, is now a partner. In 2023 we were delighted to welcome Sue Gertzel, a much-loved North Melbourne physiotherapist who has cared for the local community for many years, to the team.
Part of the local sporting community
Errol Street Physiotherapy has always been at its best close to the action. Over many years, our clinicians have supported local clubs and athletes, including UHS-VU Football Club, the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club (MUGARs), the North Melbourne Cricket Club’s Premier League team, Kensington and Flemington Colts junior football, Melbourne University Soccer and Uni Blacks football. From junior players taking their first steps in organised sport to premier-level athletes, we’ve been on the sidelines, in the change rooms and in the clinic when it counted.
A New Chapter, Built on the Same Foundations
Today, Errol Street Physiotherapy continues as part of Life Performance Health – North Melbourne, having joined with In Stride Health Clinic and Life Performance Sports Medicine to form a broader multidisciplinary network, from elite to everyday.
The name on the door has changed, but the foundations haven’t. The same familiar faces, the same personalised care and the same ties to the local community carry on, now backed by a wider team of clinicians, more expertise and an integrated approach to rehabilitation and performance.
We’re proud of the legacy built by everyone who has been part of Errol Street Physiotherapy since 1996, and grateful to the North Melbourne, Kensington, West Melbourne, Flemington, Parkville and Carlton communities who have supported us along the way.
