My name is Logan Walsh, and I am a proud Kamilaroi man, who grew up in Roma on the traditional lands of the Mandandanji people in Southwest Queensland. I graduated from St Johns School in 2022 which is where I spent my whole primary and secondary school years – from Prep right through to year 12. In 2023 I moved to Brisbane to begin my university journey at ACU and started studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Currently I am in my second year of university and am really enjoying my degree.

Personally, I think physiotherapy will be a rewarding career. I love working with people and I have an interest in sports and how the body works. In pursuing a career in physiotherapy, I hope I can a make meaningful difference in people’s lives and help them achieve their goals.

As a current Allied Health Assistant at Children’s Health Queensland this opportunity has not only cemented my pursuit to become a qualified Physiotherapist but spiked an interest specifically in Paediatrics. As such, when I graduate, I aspire to be employed as a full-time Physiotherapist, potentially specialising in Paediatrics, where I will play a vital role in society by enhancing mobility, function, and overall wellbeing of our future generations. If I were to continue my employment with Children’s Health Queensland as a qualified Physiotherapist, I would love to work within outreach teams that travel to remote and regional Australia to provide healthcare to children that have limited access to professional healthcare services.

Ultimately, however, I want to become a culturally safe physiotherapist that engages with community and improves Indigenous health in Australia. I want to progress into higher leadership roles where I can advocate for inclusive practices that share and celebrate the oldest living culture in the world.

In reaching this goal, I will continue to learn and educate myself not only in the field of Physiotherapy but also Indigenous culture and the ongoing impact on colonisation. I will Endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of how to work with Indigenous communities through authentic and meaningful engagement and become a culturally safe physiotherapist that not only provides aid in rehabilitating injuries, managing chronic conditions, and fostering development, but ensures culturally safe healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The first six months of this year have been both challenging and rewarding, and I feel like I have grown significantly both personally and professionally.

Academically, this semester has been one of the busiest of my degree. So far I have completed three clinical placements across different areas of physiotherapy. I completed my neurological placement at the Mater Hospital, my cardiorespiratory placement at Lismore Base Hospital, and most recently my ICU placement at Princess Alexandra Hospital. Each placement challenged me in different ways and helped build my confidence as I move closer to graduating. Working with patients in complex hospital settings has reinforced why I chose physiotherapy and has strengthened my clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork skills.

One of the highlights of the semester was my rural placement in Lismore. Living and working in a rural community gave me a greater appreciation for the challenges people face in accessing healthcare and highlighted the important role physiotherapists play in improving outcomes despite limited resources.

Like most semesters, there were also challenges. Balancing placements, university assessments, work, and personal commitments required careful time management. There were times when the workload felt overwhelming, particularly while preparing for practical assessments and completing assignments alongside full-time placements. However, these experiences taught me resilience and reinforced the importance of staying organised and asking for support when needed.

I am incredibly grateful for the support provided through the scholarship. It has continued to ease the financial pressure associated with studying, particularly with the costs of travel, accommodation during placements, and everyday living expenses. Knowing I have that support has allowed me to focus more fully on my studies and making the most of each placement opportunity.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, I have two placements remaining before graduating: one at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, focusing on musculoskeletal physiotherapy, and one at Greenslopes Private Hospital, focusing on orthopaedics. I am excited to continue developing my skills and preparing for my transition into the workforce. My goal remains to secure a Queensland Health graduate position, ideally at Queensland Children’s Hospital, where I hope to begin my career as a physiotherapist.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. It has made a genuine difference throughout my degree, and I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunities it has helped make possible.