Get to know your NDIS physiotherapist, Louise McPhillips
We’ve asked our lovely physiotherapist, Louise, a couple of questions so that you can get to know her!
Why did you become a physiotherapist?
I became a physiotherapist as I have always had a desire and vocation to help other people to live the best to their ability and help people towards living a better quality of life. I was always fascinated by the human body and biology in school, and with my love and passion for movement and exercise, I knew physiotherapy was the career for me.
What has led to your passion for working in disability?
I feel an immense feeling of achievement when helping someone with a disability or severe impairment overcome significant barriers to complete simple everyday tasks which helps improve their quality of life and wellbeing. It is incredibly rewarding to know I am making a difference in someone’s life in the work that I do and I enjoy the challenges that come with it.
Do you have a memorable experience of assisting a client to achieve their goals that you’d like to share?
Throughout my career so far I have worked in a variety of settings such as private and public hospitals and now community. A client that I will always remember was one I treated in hospital post emergency abdominal surgery. This client was severely unwell and spent a significant amount of time in ICU. When they came to me on the ward they had significant weakness due to the prolonged time spent in bed. The client’s goal was to walk out of hospital in time for Christmas. I saw this client twice a day with the help of physiotherapy aid for 5 months, for strengthening exercise program and mobility practise, and from taking 30 mins to sit to the edge of the bed with assistance of 3 people, the client walked out of hospital independent with a walking stick in time for Christmas. This was so rewarding and the client worked so hard and was so appreciative and grateful for my commitment to achieving his goals.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to keep active and since moving to Sydney I have been enjoying the early morning active lifestyle! I enjoy running, swimming, going on walks or hikes and exploring this beautiful new city!
What is your favourite sport or physical activity?
Running!
In another life, if you weren’t a physiotherapist, what do you think you’d be doing?
I had an opportunity to take a scholarship for athletics to the US after school but turned it down, so who knows maybe I would have become a professional athlete!
What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you? Do you have a hidden talent?
Unfortunately no hidden talents, although I have an excellent memory for remembering birthdays.
What is your favourite movie, book and holiday?
Movie: Good Will Hunting
Book: American dirt
Holiday: Italy
Thanks so much to Louise McPhillips for sharing more about herself and her reason for working in disability with our community!! We hope that you’ve enjoyed getting to know her! If you’d like to arrange services with Louise or another of our therapists, please contact us today!
Louise McPhillips provides Active Ability’s physiotherapy services on the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Specifically, you will find her in or around Bondi, Randwick, Coogee, Rose Bay, Botany, Little Bay, Malabar and Vaucluse.