In the competitive world of private practice physiotherapy, standing out from the crowd is crucial for the sustained growth and success of your practice. 

One strategy that clinics can leverage is the pursuit of professional awards. 

These accolades do more than just adorn a trophy shelf; they are a testament to the clinic’s dedication to excellence, innovative practices and high standards of patient care.

Winning awards can significantly enhance a clinic’s reputation, attract new clients and instil confidence among existing patients.

Prizes also have the capacity to garner media attention and traction on social media and can be used in marketing materials to spread your practice’s message to a larger audience. 

Award logos can be prominently displayed on the clinic’s website, on social media and in other promotional materials.

Accolades also benefit your team, giving them recognition for their hard work and boosting morale and pride in the workplace.

They can increase job satisfaction and raise standards as the team strives to maintain and even exceed the expectations of an award-winning clinic.

Small business awards, frequently organised by local newspapers, local councils or chambers of commerce, serve as a significant recognition of outstanding local enterprises. 

These awards are designed to honour and reward businesses that have made notable contributions to the community, highlighting their achievements and encouraging continued excellence.

The nomination and voting processes typically involve community participation, allowing locals to voice their appreciation for businesses that provide exceptional service, innovation or impact.

This community-driven aspect not only enhances the credibility of the awards, but also fosters a sense of pride and support at a grassroots level. 

Ultimately, these accolades elevate the profile of small businesses, providing them with valuable publicity and reinforcing their vital role in the local economy.

Jim’s a winner and a grinner

Winning the Best Physiotherapy Practice category of the 2020 Australian Small Business Awards was an unexpected triumph for Jim Liakos APAM and his private practice, Bankstown Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre in Sydney, New South Wales.

However, to win the same award again this year has been a dream come true for Jim, who dedicates the achievement to the team behind him and the practice.

‘We didn’t think we’d get it again [in 2024] and when we did it was fantastic, such a great honour. 

'It’s good for the community because we’re a community-based physio practice. 

'We really appreciate all the clients, the patients, the team here, the organisers of the awards and the rest,’ Jim says.

Capitalising on winning multiple awards has been a high priority for Jim and the team of seven other physiotherapists, a massage therapist, an exercise physiologist, admin staff and a part-time marketing manager. 

The practice used their social media platforms to immediately communicate news of the win to a broader audience. 

Meanwhile, a flyer relaying the details and significance of the accolade has been circulated to medical practitioners in the
immediate area. 

Both strategies aim to boost the clinic’s patronage and visibility above competitors in the marketplace.

When entering the practice, clients are greeted by a decal on the clinic’s sliding door announcing the win, while the stylish glass awards are positioned in the foyer to maximise exposure. 

Jim is a firm believer in spreading the word about the work he and the team do at the clinic as far and wide as possible.

‘There’s a bit of work involved in entering awards; it’s not an easy process. But it’s worth doing. 

'And physio wise, anything we do to market ourselves is important because there’s everyone else out there in the marketplace now. 

'Getting physiotherapy out to the community and to the doctors, to let them know that we’re around, is critical,’ Jim says.

Located on the grounds of Bankstown Hospital, the clinic offers a range of services and has a particular focus on hand rehabilitation and working with plastic surgeons on people who experience trauma. 

Jim, a qualified hand therapist, says the practice has two managers among its staff, one to look after the hand aspects of the clinic and the other to manage everything else. 

Having those two managers has allowed Jim to reduce his client list and to focus more on driving the business forward. 

He started by employing a part-time marketing manager back in 2015, which significantly increased the practice’s profile in the community. 

Entering awards forms a key metric of the marketing manager’s remit. 

Jim says the marketing manager seeks out opportunities to promote the clinic in many ways, while the practice simultaneously engages with the community via social media channels. 

Younger team members have ownership of maintaining and growing the clinic’s social media presence, which has helped to reach a new audience and bring in more clientele. 

*The business also tracks how new clients are referred to the clinic and has a dedicated focus on maintaining its database.

‘Once you’re established or you’ve been around for a while, work on your database. 

'The existing customer offers so much more return on investment than a new customer,’ Jim says. 

‘You can also use your database to promote your nomination for awards, which can then help to boost your votes if you ask your clients to vote for you. 

'You have to have the passion to want to win and the drive to seek that recognition. 

'It’s something physios don’t do enough of and it is a good way to drive recognition for the profession as a whole.’

Triple win for Queensland practice

Having been nominated for a Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Award in 2022, the directors and owners of IntegratePHYSIO, Yamini Kapoor APAM and Sam Bhojwani MACP, were not expecting to win the same award, the Moreton Daily Award for Customer Service Excellence, the following year. 

The private practice owners were humble about their nomination in the 2023 awards and were delighted when they were announced as the winners.

‘We didn’t open the clinic thinking that we would win an award or anything like that,’ Yamini says. 

‘We just entered because a couple of people prompted us to do so because we were doing such good work. 

'We’re very simple people; we’re not red carpet people. But winning the awards was like the cherry on the cake, honestly. 

'It felt really good to win. We were very happy and our team was delighted too.’

Yamini and Sam opened IntegratePHYSIO in the north Brisbane suburb of Warner in 2020. 

Yamini Kapoor APAM and Sam Bhojwani MACP

Prior to that, they had worked independently as sole practitioners since emigrating from India as students in 2010.

IntegratePHYSIO was established as a musculoskeletal and sports injury outpatient service and has since expanded to include a focus on women’s health and mobile physiotherapy. 

The pair opened a second clinic at Narangba and now have a team of 18 staff comprising physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and six administration staff across the sites.

The business won a further two awards, the prestigious 2023 City of Moreton Bay Business of the Year and the 2023 Pine Rivers Small Business Award (health and fitness category). 

Sam was also announced as a finalist in 2022 in the Australian Allied Health Awards’ Physiotherapist of the Year category. 

The accolades and recognition, Yamini says, have proven to be a big morale boost for the team as well as inspiring them to continue to lead the way in customer service.

‘We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service with each patient, every time—that’s our motto,’ Yamini says. 

‘When someone attends our clinic, we want them to have a good experience and leave feeling satisfied. 

'If you show empathy, you show that you care as a clinician and as a business; people notice that.’

Plaques strategically positioned at each of the clinics acknowledge their awards success. They also act as a conversation starter with patients, says Yamini. 

Equally, the awards send a message to the community that the business’ employees are capable and trustworthy, Yamini says, which underlines IntegratePHYSIO’s high customer service focus. 

On top of this, the awards process helps highlight the valuable work that physiotherapists do in their local communities.

‘Physiotherapists can make a big impact on people’s quality of life. 

'This needs to be spoken about—there should be more events that honour physios. 

'We are independent practitioners and we have so much knowledge behind us—anatomy, physiology and more—plus we listen to and help people,’ Yamini says.