When Pippa Flanagan MACP reflects on the moment she first became aware of physiotherapy, she laughs at the simplicity of it. 

As a teenager watching Home and Away, Pippa saw a character receiving hydrotherapy after a spinal injury and immediately wanted to know ‘what that job was’. 

‘I still remember asking my mum, “What’s that job? That’s a cool job; that’s what I want to do. I want to work in a pool.”’

While she later discovered that hydrotherapy wasn’t her calling, the seed was planted. 

Pippa’s love of human biology, sport and working with people carried her through physiotherapy studies at Curtin University, where she completed her undergraduate degree in 2002, followed by a postgraduate degree in sports physiotherapy in 2008. 

She is now entering the final year of her PhD on improving care for patients presenting to emergency departments with low back pain.

Today, the APA Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist works as an advanced practice physiotherapist at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia, primarily in the emergency department (ED). 

Pippa has also practised in the orthopaedic virtual fracture clinic and the neurosurgery spinal assessment clinic. 

She joined the hospital before it opened and has now been part of the ED team for almost 11 years. 

‘At Fiona Stanley we have wonderful doctors, nurses, allied health, managers… the culture’s great. In ED it’s like a family.’

What keeps Pippa energised is the unpredictability and problem-solving inherent in her ED advanced practice role. 

‘You just never know what’s going to come through the door.’ 

She loves the variety and the cognitive challenge of assessing undifferentiated musculoskeletal presentations. 

‘The role enables me to use my clinical reasoning as a physio but also think with a broader medical hat on… it’s very stimulating.’

Pippa joined the Western Australian branch of the APA Advanced Practice (including Emergency Department) national group a few years ago—initially as a committee member, then secretary. 

Pippa Flanagan.

Now she serves as chair of the Western Australian branch and a national committee member. 

Her involvement has been pivotal for her own development as well as her contribution to the profession. 

‘You get connected to pretty incredible advanced practice physiotherapists. 

'When I hear about how they work within their own models of care, it inspires me to look at ways of developing and improving our services locally.’

One of the most significant opportunities has been contributing to the development of the APA National Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Competency Framework and the APA’s advanced practice titling pathway. 

Working closely with the Australian College of Physiotherapists, Pippa says she gained insight into how national competencies and structured career pathways are built—knowledge that deepened her commitment to shaping the future of advanced practice roles.

‘Those opportunities have strengthened my passion to continue to progress advanced practice training and education, not just for musculoskeletal advanced practice but moving into other areas as well.’

For Pippa, this is exactly why APA members should consider joining a national group or committee. Advanced practice roles are evolving rapidly and require strong advocacy. 

The committee also plays a vital role in professional development. 

‘As advanced practice physios, we often fall into a gap between medical education and physiotherapy education. 

'Having people who work in advanced practice roles on the committee to identify PD needs and opportunities is important.’

Pippa’s own career has been shaped by mentors, colleagues and a moment of bold decision-making. 

Her postgraduate sports qualification led to international travel with the Australian women’s cricket team. 

Throwing her hat into the ring for an early hospital role—despite ‘not having the criteria’—became the turning point that set her on the advanced practice pathway. 

‘Don’t be afraid to give it a go. It may push you to grow in ways you didn’t know you could.’