Luke McDonald APAM describes his introduction to physiotherapy as a ‘diagnosis by exclusion’. 

While studying physical education in high school, Luke became fascinated by anatomy and, after exploring multiple allied health professions, realised that physiotherapy was the one that captured his interest.

Luke studied at La Trobe University, entering with the common ambition of becoming a sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist. 

He imagined himself travelling the world with professional athletes. 

However, clinical placements quickly shifted his aspirations. He discovered that he preferred rapid assessment, problem-solving and high-acuity environments to long-term rehabilitation. 

‘I liked the faster pace, the in-and-out diagnostics: “What’s the problem?” followed by rapid treatment, reassessment and moving on.’

This natural pull towards complexity and variety led him straight into acute hospital care and he has remained at Austin Health for the past decade. 

His first exposure to the ICU was unforgettable. 

The diversity of the conditions and sheer breadth of knowledge required felt overwhelming. 

‘I realised that I was not very well prepared for this… it’s any and every patient population, with a layer of critical illness. 

'The volume I needed to learn was enormous.’ 

Luke McDonald.

Yet that challenge—complexity, pace and heterogeneity—was exactly what intrigued him.

Luke developed two strong interests: cardiorespiratory physiotherapy and education. 

As a senior ICU physiotherapist and clinical educator, he now works extensively across training, capability building and credentialing. 

He credits Austin’s culture with helping him develop these roles in tandem. 

The department’s expanding educational team and strong research culture allowed him to contribute to the more structured, needs-based learning programs, rather than the ‘Who’s got something interesting to present on Tuesday?’ model he recalls from early in his career.

His passion for ICU physiotherapy practice is also why Luke chose to join the APA Cardiorespiratory national group. 

The group provides a valuable platform where his clinical interests, research involvement and ICU expertise align. 

He sees it as a way to engage with colleagues who share similar clinical challenges and contribute to national conversations that drive the profession forward. ‘Physiotherapists play a crucial role in caring for the critically ill. 

'Connecting with others in a strong network is important for the profession.’

For Luke, the importance of physiotherapy in the ICU was never clearer than during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He describes COVID as fundamentally reshaping healthcare but not in the way many first assumed. 

‘Everyone thought it was a space and equipment problem. Then we realised it’s a personnel problem. 

'We don’t have enough staff to safely care for patients.’ 

As the head of Austin’s implementation of the Department of Health COVID-19 training grant for allied health, Luke helped prepare physiotherapists to step into ICU roles, expand the workforce and meet unprecedented demand.

The experience heavily informed his ongoing work in workforce capacity, including advanced practice and the development of robust training structures. 

In addition to being a member of the Cardiorespiratory group, Luke collaborates closely with the APA Advanced Practice (including Emergency Department) national group through his PhD research and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health Fellowship. 

This collaboration supports his vision for embedding advanced practice into the career pathway for ICU physiotherapy and supporting the broader cardiorespiratory skills that physiotherapists bring to critical illness.

Luke would like to encourage other APA members to join the Cardiorespiratory national group for its professional benefits, collective knowledge sharing and impact. 

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists, Luke says, hold a distinctive and essential place in healthcare, especially in acute and critical care environments.