“I grew up in Gippsland and decided I wanted to be a physiotherapist in Year 9, as I loved learning about anatomy and the body in physical education, giving and receiving shoulder massages while watching TV as a family, and had an active childhood skiing, snowboarding, running and dancing. I was met with "you know it's hard to get into," by my careers counsellor. I was determined to make the grades, and I did.

I began my Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree in 2005 at Monash University. We were the first students going through this fresh course and everyone was excited, students and teachers alike. I liked the Monash Peninsula campus as it was smaller than some of the bigger universities in the city, and coming from a rural area, it felt welcoming and homely, as it was set amongst beautiful grounds and everyone knew you by name. We spent lots of time working in teams and doing hands-on practicals, practising all the skills on each other,  so it was an easy environment to make lots of friends. The best part was going down to the beach for a swim in our lunch break.

After university, I moved back to Gippsland for a few years to work a mix of private hospital and private practice to further solidify my skill set, mainly working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. I then moved to Northern British Columbia in Canada, sat my written and practical exams to qualify as a Canadian physiotherapist, and worked in the ski fields. Gippsland called me once again, and I have called it home since, working in private practice, and opening my own business nearly two years ago.

I have now been practising for over 15 years, working as a musculoskeletal and women’s health physiotherapist. I have recently been awarded the title of  Continence and Women’s Health Physiotherapist by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, one of only two in Gippsland, after completing extensive studies and examinations. I work in two different GP clinics, treating musculoskeletal and women’s health conditions: anything from back and neck pain, sports injuries, pregnancy and post-partum checks, including return to exercise, incontinence and endometriosis.

Physiotherapy has been a rewarding career, and I love being able to offer high-quality services to the regional area. I love that I was able to choose my own path and that it has easily fit around my family, having been able to bring up three sons on our farm. Scholarships through Monash and Rural Workforce Agency Victoria have helped me to study and progress in my career to become the experienced clinician I am today, so regional patients can have specialised care without the need to travel.”