A background in competitive swimming led to an unexpected career choice for Vicky Tan.

Currently, a fourth year Bachelor of Physiotherapy student at Monash University, Vicky’s interest in physiotherapy first began through the injuries she would acquire while swimming.

“I spent a lot of time around physiotherapists and was immediately fascinated with how they worked and the magic they worked to get me performing my best. These trips to the physiotherapists were what sparked my interest in this field of work, and pairing that with the ability of being able to help improve other’s health and quality of life was something I knew I wanted to do.”

After deciding on physiotherapy, the choice came down to where to study. The program at the Peninsula campus was in-depth and looked promising, and Vicky found the free shuttle bus offered to and from the Peninsula campus an enticing offer. However, what sealed the deal for Vicky was the program itself.

“The program blends the theoretical and practical aspects of physiotherapy together extremely well, particularly with the simulations and case-based learning. The course provides insight between the practical and research sides of physiotherapy and exposes us to all disciplines of physiotherapy. In addition, the ability to work with other healthcare students, such as occupational therapists, further convinced me that Monash University was the place to be.”

Once she arrived at Monash and began studying, Vicky quickly found that making new connections was a highlight. She found that meeting people through social events helped grow her academic friend circle, which helped her get through the harder days of study.

Vicky has found her placements provided a great opportunity to hone both her clinical and theoretical physiotherapy skills. Vicky’s experiences during her hospital placement working in acute neurology and oncology at the Epworth were especially impactful.

“This was by far the most challenging, both academically and emotionally, as the patient population varied from spinal surgery to those with advanced cancer. This placement taught me not only the profound impact and importance of physiotherapy for these people but also witnessing the progress my patients had and being able to learn from my supervisors and the patients themselves to build confidence as a person and as a clinician.”

While studying, Vicky has also worked as a sports trainer with a local sports club. In the future, she hopes to combine her interest in support with a career in elite sports, or as a private practice physiotherapist.

“I hope to be able to provide outstanding client-based care to athletes to get them back to competing. I also hope to take part in new and up-and-coming research focusing on areas relevant to sports physiotherapy to continue to learn and gather knowledge to improve physiotherapy not only for athletes but everyone else as well.”

Finally, Vicky had some advice for those considering a degree in physiotherapy.

“Physiotherapy is both a challenging and rewarding course. There will be days that are hard and exhausting but also days that are fun and enjoyable. My advice would be to enjoy each day as it comes, make sure to look after yourself, and make a good group of friends and study buddies to support each other through the course.”

Find out more about Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons)