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.

As I reflect on the past six months of my journey as a third-year physiotherapy student at ACU, I can honestly say it’s been a challenging yet transformative semester—one filled with growth, hard work, and a renewed sense of direction. This semester has been particularly intense, not only in terms of academic load but also in the depth of clinical content and the emotional learning that comes with being on the cusp of real-world practice.

This semester, I undertook some of the most hands-on and complex subjects so far, including Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 3, Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Practice 2, Neurological Physiotherapy Practice 1, and Justice and Change in a Global World. Each subject demanded a lot from me—physically, mentally, and emotionally. While the learning was rich and rewarding, I often found myself mentally drained after long days of labs, clinical scenarios, and late-night study sessions. There were times when it felt like I was barely keeping up—but somehow, I did.

One of the most confronting yet rewarding parts of this semester was tackling neurology. It’s an area I was initially intimidated by, but surprisingly, I found myself really drawn to it. Learning to work with patients recovering from stroke or brain injuries and seeing how physio can be a part of rebuilding their function and independence was incredibly powerful. It gave me a new respect for how intricate and resilient the human body and mind really are.

Balancing study with my part-time role at the Queensland Children’s Hospital as an Allied Health Assistant has continued to shape me in ways I didn’t expect. While some days are exhausting, being immersed in a team of passionate paediatric physiotherapists has kept me motivated. I’ve grown more confident in my ability to interact with children and families, and it’s cemented my desire to work in paediatrics long term. Watching the small wins—like a child taking independent steps after weeks of work—reminds me exactly why I chose this profession.

This semester also brought some personal highs and lows. I had moments of self-doubt—especially leading up to our practical exams, where I felt the pressure of needing to perform clinical skills under observation. But I also felt immense pride when I passed those assessments, knowing how far I have come. One moment I’ll never forget is receiving my results after weeks of stress and seeing that all the effort had paid off. There was a deep sense of relief and gratefulness—not just for the grades, but for the opportunity to keep going and growing.

Outside of Uni, I’ve tried to make time for balance. One of the biggest highlights this semester was attending my third Indigenous University Games, which were held in Perth this year. Over four intense and exciting days, we competed in basketball, netball, touch football, and volleyball. I had the privilege of captaining our team, which was an incredibly meaningful experience—not just from a leadership perspective, but also in terms of connecting with culture and community. It’s always one of my favourite weeks of the year. The atmosphere is unmatched, and being surrounded by other First Nations students from across the country creates a strong sense of pride and belonging. It reminded me of the importance of culture, movement, and community—all things that ground me.

Looking forward, it’s a bit surreal to realise I’m nearing the end of my degree. If all goes well, this time next year I’ll be preparing to step into the workforce as a qualified physiotherapist. My hope is to stay with Children’s Health Queensland if possible, either in their inpatient paediatric team or in an outreach role that brings care to rural and remote communities. I know there’s still a lot to learn, but I feel like I’m finally seeing the pieces come together—and I am excited to keep moving forward.