Last year, Queensland-based physiotherapist Ann Rahmann FACP achieved a rare milestone, becoming a Specialist Gerontological Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2024). 

This distinction makes her the second physiotherapy practitioner in Australia to specialise in this critical field.

By completing the rigorous specialist training program (STP), Ann has advanced her career while helping set a new standard in physiotherapy for older adults at a time when demographic changes are reshaping Australia.

‘A common perception among Australians is that most people over 80 live in supported accommodation like residential aged
care facilities,’ she explains. 

‘However, the opposite is true, with three in four Australians over 80 still living in private accommodation. 

'Physiotherapists play a vital role in enabling older adults to optimise their health and wellbeing to remain at home.’

Ann’s passion for highlighting physiotherapy’s role in supporting ageing in place runs deep. 

However, her journey into the profession began almost by accident.

‘I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. 

'At the University of Queensland open day, the physiotherapy department captured my interest with the range of clinical areas where physiotherapists could work. 

'My second preference was teaching art, which would have led me down a very different path,’ she recalls with a smile.

That open day launched her into a career spanning nearly four decades, multiple sectors and two continents. 

Over the years, Ann has built a reputation for clinical excellence and innovation. 

She has worked in public, private and university settings in Brisbane, and in her twenties, she spent four years in the United Kingdom working and travelling.

For the past decade, she has worked in the Queensland public health system—and jokes, ‘This is the first time I have worked for one organisation long enough to be eligible for long service leave.’

‘Two key things have maintained my passion at work: the joy of a client achieving a goal, such as walking independently for the first time, and seeing students I have taught become valued colleagues I work alongside.’

Splitting her week between two roles—three days as a gerontological physiotherapist in the community rehabilitation team and two days as the research coordinator for the Community and Oral Health Innovation and Research Centre—Ann effectively bridges her work in direct patient care with her research initiatives.

‘I really enjoy working clinically with clients to achieve their rehabilitation goals now that they are back at home… and collaborating with my allied health and nursing colleagues to implement client-focused, evidence-based therapy,’ she says.

Beyond community rehabilitation, Ann has a passion for managing people with vestibular disorders and regularly teaches courses alongside her colleagues to help physiotherapists enhance their skills in this complex yet rewarding area.

An unexpected chapter in her early career stands out. 

Ann Rahman with her catch.

In the mid-1990s, while completing a graduate certificate in gerontology, Ann needed to undertake a clinical practicum. 

Drawing on her brief stint at the Harley Street Clinic in the United Kingdom—where she was exposed to aquatic physiotherapy—she approached a local aquatic practice in Auchenflower, Brisbane.

‘I took on a varied case load, including antenatal classes, inpatient orthopaedic clients, clients with neurological conditions and those with persistent pain. 

'I loved the variety of work each day, and I ended up staying there for more than 10 years, until the pool was demolished and the practice relocated to the other side of Brisbane,’ she recalls.

This experience not only expanded her clinical skills but also led her to pursue a PhD. 

Her research demonstrated the benefits of early aquatic exercise following joint replacement surgery. 

‘My randomised controlled trial showed the positive impact of aquatic exercise on early recovery of strength, mobility, self-rated pain and function,’ she says.

Despite her extensive experience, Ann was determined to refine her clinical practice further. Ten years after achieving the APA Titled Gerontological Physiotherapist credential, she enrolled in the STP to formally review and update her clinical reasoning and client management skills.

‘I have always participated in professional development activities, and I know that I do not treat clients the same way now as I did four or five years ago,’ she explains.

Her decision to specialise was never about accumulating credentials but about rigorously testing her methods through peer review.

‘Because I have been practising as a physiotherapist for close to four decades, many younger physiotherapists presume I am an “expert clinician”. 

'However, unless you have put yourself forward for clinical management evaluation by peers at an expert standard, the profession
shouldn’t necessarily presume that years of experience automatically equate to expert clinical practice,’ she stresses.

One of the most meaningful rewards of undertaking the STP has been overcoming self-doubt. 

‘I have always suffered from significant impostor syndrome, so one reward for me was the positive impact on my clinical confidence from successfully completing the program.’ 

This confidence boost has not only enhanced her clinical practice but also strengthened her commitment to professional advocacy.

‘One of the most important benefits of the STP is the inter-specialty training days, where trainees are exposed to advanced clinical reasoning and complex cases outside their own clinical areas,’ she says. 

‘Titling and specialisation are important tools for advocacy outside our profession, allowing other health practitioners and the public to readily identify physiotherapists with highly developed or expert skills, respectively, in specific fields of practice and facilitate early, appropriate referrals.’

Her hope is that more of her colleagues, especially those passionate about optimising physiotherapy for older adults, will complete the STP. 

‘It is a significant undertaking, but the increased confidence and skills will only enhance your clinical practice,’ she advises.

Balancing a demanding career and ongoing education with personal interests is a challenge many professionals face, and Ann is no exception. 

For her, the calm of a river or the ocean provides the perfect escape. Fly-fishing is a particular passion.

‘One of the things I really enjoy about fly-fishing in a river is the mindfulness. You must focus on your cast and the river flow, so you can’t think about anything else.

‘Working as a physiotherapist can be a busy and stressful role where you’re giving so much to your clients. 

'It’s important to have a way to switch off and be in the moment. 

Relaxing, disconnecting and practising mindfulness is essential for maintaining work–life balance and preventing burnout.’

Want to forge ahead with your career? Visit here or email acp@australian.physio for more information.

COURSE OF INTEREST
Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1—Parts B and C