I am the Senior Physiotherapist in the Acute Orthopaedic team (Acting Section Head Physiotherapist for the Acute Orthopaedic team when the Section Head is absent). My role

here at CM Health is to assess and treat acute and elective Orthopaedic patients – these can include Total Hip and Knee Joint replacements, Cervical and Lumbar Spine Decompressions, Spinal Cord Injuries and Fractures to the Upper and Lower limbs. I also see patients in the Emergency Department who present with acute lower back pain, BPPV (dizziness), Hyperventilation, or who have fallen and require balance and mobility assessments. Supervise and educate Junior Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy students from AUT. Provide education sessions for Nursing staff and nursing students. Promote Physiotherapy to High school students in South Auckland.

What I love about my job is the interaction with other health professionals (Nurses, Doctors, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists etc). Building trusting relationships with patients and their families, particularly the Samoan patients who don’t speak English. Getting patients back on their feet following a traumatic event.

A positive challenges for myself in this organisation is enabling the students and Junior Physiotherapists to make safe and autonomous treatment decisions.