by The official Launch Party for the Book ‘New Graduates Guide to Physiotherapy’ was held at Vital Core Physiotherapy on the 25th of October, and what a great night it was! Great company, and beautiful food from Hayley at Grazing Karma and Photography from Lofty Visions.
Thank you to everyone who made it so special (including my husband Ricardo who ran the bar and helped me clean up!)
Here’s an excerpt from the speech I gave on the night:
“Last week, I renewed my physiotherapy registration. On the digital form was a question: how many years will you continue to practice as a physiotherapist?
It’s the same question that was asked of physiotherapy new graduates, in a study from Curtin University in Western Australia. Of the 256 respondents, a staggering 65% of them anticipated leaving the profession within 10 years.
Who, starts a career, already looking for an exit strategy?
What is it about our profession that can make physiotherapists (especially new ones) want to jump ship?
13 years ago, I was fresh out of uni, I was confident, I had a spring in my step and felt ready to take on the world (of acute care physiotherapy at least.)
Just over 18 months later and things had completely changed.
At that point in my life, I didn’t even know if I could continue my work as a physiotherapist.
I was at breaking point and ready to quit.
Why you might ask? Well, I won’t tell you all the details, because I don’t want to ruin the plot of the story! (You’ll have to read the book to find out the rest.)
Fast forward to today and I feel so inspired and excited to be here, working as a physiotherapist in this very clinic (and surrounded by incredible practitioners.)
Looking back with wisdom I feel incredibly grateful for every step along the way, and all of the amazing people I have been able to share that journey with, many of whom are here tonight.
In the front of the book you’ll notice a loooong list of acknowledgements. In fact I have thanked a ridiculous number of people! (And even if your name doesn’t feature explicitly, still know that I appreciate you very much.)
And why so many thank you’s? Well, this book has been a long time coming, and I’ve had so much help along the way to make this dream come to life. And after all of the reading and study I completed during this process, one lesson that really became crystalised, is that gratitude is what life is all about.
The more thankful we truly feel, the more life gives us to be thankful for.
And so, I stand here, mostly to say thank you.
Thank you for your interest in this work and for your support.
Thank you for your kind words in emails, texts and in person.
Thank you, to some of you for the conversations we had over coffee many years ago as I began my deep dive into the literature on the profession and it’s highs and lows.
Thank you for being patient, and yet for still asking me how the book was going (for 7 years.)
Thank you to many of you for beta testing the book, and for your suggestions which I enthusiastically took on board, rewriting large sections and sometimes whole chapters based on this feedback.
And thank you to my clients, for all you have taught me – its one of those professions where you truly continue to learn and grow side-by-side. I’m forever humbled.
I’ll be honest it’s been an exhilarating yet sometimes scary process getting this book out into the world. I’ve had to be really vulnerable at times and grow into the person I needed to be to in order to be able to share this message about wellbeing and resilience.
One thing I learned actually just after I finished writing this book (thanks to American author and vulnerability researcher Brene Brown), is that on the other side of vulnerability there’s always a deeper level of connection. And every time we feel fear it’s ultimately just another opportunity to dig deep and find courage within.
It is my sincere wish that New Graduates Guide To Physiotherapy inspires both experienced and novice practitioners to face their fears, find courage within, grow in resilience and continue to joyfully help others, for as long as they possibly can.”
Elizabeth is a Physiotherapist, Naturopath and Author who lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband and little boy. When she is not working and writing you will find her adventuring in the hills with family and friends.
This blog post contains excerpts from Elizabeth’s first book ‘The New Graduates Guide to Physiotherapy’– Available now!
Please share with friends, family and colleagues you feel will benefit from this information! Thank you, in gratitude. xx
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