Tristan Chai APAM’s pathway into physiotherapy began with a love of sport and a desire to stay connected to health, even if elite competition was off the cards. 

Tristan studied at the University of South Australia and, after graduating, stepped into his first role in private practice in Adelaide.

That job proved pivotal. Under senior physiotherapists keen to upskill new graduates, Tristan was encouraged to take up dry needling training early on.

‘That was my first hands-on exposure.’ 

With a Chinese Malaysian background, Tristan had always been aware of Chinese medicine. 

‘But that was my first practical experience of seeing how it affected clients—not just their pain but their sleep, muscle tension and recovery.’

As he began using acupuncture daily, Tristan noted the consistent feedback from patients. Their outcomes signalled that something deeper was at play than a simple local muscle effect. 

Eager to understand the broader mechanisms, he sought training beyond weekend courses, which at the time ‘weren’t really covering the depth that I wanted’.

That curiosity led him to complete a Master of Applied Science (Acupuncture) at RMIT University in Melbourne. 

The part-time, workshop-based structure allowed him to continue practising in Adelaide while studying. 

Tristan Chai.

Just as valuable was the diverse cohort—GPs, nurses, chiropractors and osteopaths—which encouraged critical, multidisciplinary thinking. 

One lecturer in particular left a lasting impression: a Taiwanese doctor who originally studied acupuncture to debunk it but went on to lecture in the discipline.

Tristan says this experience shaped his approach. 

‘Acupuncture is really good for the things it’s really good for.’ 

In other words, Tristan says, acupuncture requires the same clinical reasoning as any other physiotherapy tool. 

‘If someone has arm pain, acupuncture might help—but they could also have a broken bone. You need to make sure the other things are sorted first.’

After thousands of hours of practising and refining his skills, Tristan became involved with the APA’s Acupuncture and Dry Needling committee in South Australia, later serving as the chair.

This opened doors to national events, including organising international keynotes for APA conferences.

What stood out most for Tristan was connecting with clinicians who challenged assumptions and approached acupuncture with depth and scientific curiosity. 

‘There are some great thinkers in that space.’

Today, Tristan directs Good Physio, a private practice in Glenelg. 

He also leads the health and performance department for the Adelaide 36ers professional men’s basketball team and he continues to teach on the APA’s national dry needling course. 

Tristan was invited into teaching as part of the original handover cohort when the new, unified APA curriculum was introduced—an initiative designed to ensure consistent standards across the country. 

‘It means you know what key competencies everyone has when they leave the course.’ 

Tristan’s acupuncture knowledge allows him to add nuance to the course, helping newer physiotherapists build confidence.

For Tristan, joining the APA Acupuncture and Dry Needling group has been professionally invaluable. 

Not only did it connect him with mentors and peers, such as respected educators Dr Jane Rooney, Dr Peter Selvaratnam and Cassandra Zaina, but it has also created a sense of community. 

Tristan says the Acupuncture and Dry Needling group offers a tight-knit environment where deeper, multidirectional relationships flourish. 

‘You end up having a really tight family with a lot of different interests. From a networking point of view, I have zero regrets at all.’

Tristan encourages any physiotherapist considering a pathway in acupuncture or dry needling to get involved with the group.

Beyond education, he says the benefits lie in mentoring, exposure to advanced reasoning and the opportunity to build lifelong professional connections.