As your president-elect, I’ve often been asked why I chose to become a physiotherapist—a question that piques the interest of media and members alike. 

Like many physiotherapists, my journey began with a positive encounter with the physiotherapy profession during my youth.

I was born in Forbes, western New South Wales, on Wiradjuri lands, and later moved to Narrandera in the Riverina, where I faced a personal health challenge at 14. 

I developed reactive arthritis in both knees, causing severe joint pain and swelling.

My journey to treatment began with a GP referral to take a six-hour drive to Sydney to see a paediatric rheumatologist. 

There I underwent fluid drainage, began a lengthy course of anti-inflammatory medication and was prescribed rest. 

The shift from an active lifestyle of cycling, swimming and tennis to a sedentary one was difficult and I was also told that bilateral knee replacements might be in my future by age 40.

Two years later, at boarding school, a note from my GP excluded me from sports. But a wonderful PE teacher referred me to a physiotherapist at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

During a thorough assessment, I discovered that while my arthritis had resolved, muscle imbalances and pain lingered. 

With a tailored exercise regimen and knee taping for patella realignment, I could finally return to my favourite activities.

Before this, I had no idea that physiotherapy existed and often wonder how my experience, my mental health, might have improved if physiotherapy was better integrated and supported within primary care.

This journey significantly influenced my career. 

Over the past 30 years, I’ve been dedicated to developing aged care physiotherapy practices in regional and remote areas.

Recognising in 2000 the lack of physiotherapy services in smaller communities, I initiated fly-in fly-out services. 

These programs have consistently aimed to reduce falls, improve mobility and alleviate pain, enriching quality of life despite
ongoing cuts to government funding for residential aged care.

Surprisingly, even as health literacy improves, there’s still limited understanding among aged care workers regarding manual handling and exercise benefits. 

During training sessions, I encourage aged care staff dealing with pain to seek local physiotherapy assessment and treatment. 

Yet the consistent feedback is about the unaffordable costs and lengthy waitlists.

These realities fuelled my decision to join the APA New South Wales Gerontology committee in 2007 and the APA Board of Directors in 2017, driven by my desire to support the APA’s advocacy journey. 

My candidacy for APA national president stems from the same conviction about addressing access barriers, especially in remote and regional areas. 

While I recognise that government support for expanding public and private physiotherapy services will take time, our commitment remains unwavering.

My journey as a physiotherapist was sparked by transformative personal experiences and a desire to positively affect others’ lives. 

I continually challenge myself to uplift those in similar situations, convinced that everyone should have the opportunity to recover, manage their symptoms and lead active lives without unnecessary pain or avoidable disability. 

This reflection aligns with the APA’s vision: that every Australian should have access to a physiotherapist. 

Although it’s a challenging objective, it is incredibly rewarding and fuels our mission to improve healthcare delivery nationwide. 

I invite each of you to join this mission, break down barriers one conversation at a time, advocate passionately in your workplace alongside fellow health professionals and your patients, and remain committed to making quality physiotherapy a cornerstone of Australian healthcare. 

Together, let’s ensure that all individuals receive the care they deserve, no matter where they live.