Ashlee Lance APAM always knew she wanted to work with children. 

Combining clinical excellence, personal conviction and a commitment to improving healthcare access, the founder of an innovative paediatric physiotherapy practice in Bendigo, central Victoria, is transforming how rural families receive essential care.

Ashlee’s dedication to closing the healthcare gap in rural areas earned her the 2023 Anne McCoy Award, a peer-nominated accolade recognising outstanding contributions to paediatric physiotherapy in Victoria.

‘I was absolutely shocked when I found out I had won the Anne McCoy Award,’ Ashlee says. 

‘When you look at the list of previous winners, it’s just incredible. 

'Anne McCoy was a trailblazer and her work has influenced so many of us. To even be mentioned in the same breath is an enormous privilege.’

The Victorian branch of the APA’s Paediatric national group has been presenting the award biennially since 2004. 

The award honours Anne McCoy’s lasting contributions to children’s healthcare and her support for paediatric physiotherapists.

Ashlee’s commitment to paediatrics began long before her national recognition. 

In 2005, she joined one of the early cohorts of La Trobe University’s Bendigo-based physiotherapy program. 

At the time, she says, the small group of 13 students spent the first two years in Melbourne before completing their studies within the central Victorian city.

‘It was a unique experience,’ Ashlee recalls. ‘We were able to build a strong sense of community and support each other through the challenges of the course.’

After graduating in 2009, Ashlee honed her skills at prestigious institutions, including the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and Ballarat Specialist School. 

But it wasn’t until she returned to Bendigo that her vision for rural paediatric care truly took shape.

In 2010, she helped establish a community-based paediatric physiotherapy service at Bendigo Community Health Services—one of the first public services of its kind in the area. 

At the time, families in the region had to travel hours to access community paediatric care. 

The clinic focused on early diagnosis and intervention, making services more accessible for high-risk and less advantaged families.

‘Families were struggling to access the support they needed,’ Ashlee explains. ‘I knew we had to do something to fill that gap.’

The clinic collaborated with paediatricians to support high-risk children, particularly those from low socio-economic backgrounds
and with complex presentations. 

Ashlee worked with the paediatric team to establish a growth and development clinic, designed to assess and monitor premature and at-risk infants.

Ashlee’s work did not go unnoticed. 

In 2013, she was awarded the Rural Allied Health Professional of the Year Award by the not- for-profit government agency Rural Workforce Agency Victoria.

The recognition highlighted the critical role that allied health professionals play in regional communities and reinforced Ashlee’s dedication to improving healthcare access for rural families.

In 2021, Ashlee took what she describes as a ‘bold step’, founding Treehouse Paediatrics. 

Initially a one-person home-visit service, the practice quickly grew into a multidisciplinary clinic with a team of 20 allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, art therapists, speech pathologists and allied health assistants.

Treehouse Paediatrics offers a neurodiversity-affirming model of care with a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional physiotherapy. 

The clinic’s services are designed to cater to a wide range of needs, including sensory processing differences and developmental learning differences. 

In addition to direct care, Ashlee and her team have developed training programs for healthcare professionals, coaches and community groups to promote inclusion and understanding for neurodivergent children.

‘I’m autistic myself so I understand firsthand the challenges that neurodivergent children and their families face,’ Ashlee says.

‘There’s often a lack of understanding, within both healthcare settings and the broader community. 

'We wanted to create a place where neurodivergent children feel supported, understood and celebrated for who they are.

‘We see so many kids who’ve struggled to find the right support. 

'Our goal is to break down barriers that prevent neurodivergent children from fully participating in community activities. 

'Sometimes, simple changes like adjusting the sensory environment or providing clear communication can make a huge difference.’

Ashlee’s impact extends beyond individual patients. 

At Treehouse Paediatrics, she is also dedicated to attracting and retaining skilled clinicians in regional areas. 

The clinic offers structured graduate positions and provides mentoring for early-career physiotherapists, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare professionals is supported and developed.

‘We want students and new graduates to know that amazing things are happening in regional areas. 

'There’s so much opportunity to learn, grow and make a difference here. The work is incredibly rewarding.’

Ashlee is adamant that clinical excellence isn’t confined to the big city hospitals—in regional Victoria, skilled clinicians are making an enormous difference every day.

‘Sometimes people assume that the best care is only available in metropolitan centres,’ she says. 

‘But there are so many dedicated, talented clinicians doing incredible work in rural and regional Victoria. I’m proud to be part of that.’

As Treehouse Paediatrics continues to grow and to earn regional business awards, Ashlee’s influence is expanding. 

Among other groups, she is a member of the Murray Primary Health Network clinical advisory council, where she advocates for a paediatric allied health voice in discussions on health commissioning and workforce development in central and northern Victoria.

Ashlee is proud that her commitment to rural healthcare, neurodiversity and innovative paediatric care is helping to transform lives and to shape the future of healthcare in regional Australia. 

The Anne McCoy Award stands as a testament to her ongoing dedication.

‘I don’t do this work for awards,’ she says. ‘But it’s rewarding to know that others value what we’re doing. 

'My focus has always been on making a real difference for families and ensuring that kids get the support they need.’

For more information about the Anne McCoy Award, contact Victorian Branch Manager Rose Horvat at rose.horvat@australian.physio.