I started Surf Coast Physio & Pilates in 2018, just six months after the birth of my first baby and shortly after our family moved from Melbourne to the Surf Coast.

At that point, I had been a physiotherapist for around 15 years, working across the UK, New Zealand and Australia in both public and private healthcare. My background was in musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and sports physiotherapy, but over time I found myself increasingly drawn to pelvic health. After completing my Postgraduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne in 2016, I knew I had found the area of physiotherapy I was truly passionate about. Then I became a mum.

Despite all of my training and knowledge, I experienced first-hand just how challenging pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period can be. There were so many aspects of my own recovery that could have been smoother with the right support. It reinforced something I had already been seeing clinically for years. Women are chronically under-serviced during this stage of life.

When we arrived in beautiful Torquay, I quickly realised there were no physiotherapy services dedicated specifically to women's and pelvic health. Looking around at the number of young families moving into the area, I could see there was a real need. What started as a small business was really a passion project, driven by a desire to make sure women had access to the care I wished was more readily available.

For the first few years I worked from home. Word spread quickly, and it became obvious just how much demand there was for pregnancy, postnatal and pelvic health physiotherapy. I felt incredibly privileged that so many women trusted me with their care. Before long, I was able to welcome Lucy and Stacey to the team, both of whom are still with us today, then the team has grown with Jacqui, Jemma, Rochelle and Pim joining us too!

As demand continued to grow, the opportunity arose to lease a space in the new Torquay Medical Hub. It was the chance to build the clinic I had always imagined. We were able to thoughtfully design every part of the space and expand our services to support not only women, but men with pelvic health concerns, complex pelvic pain, prolapse, bladder and bowel conditions, pregnancy and postnatal rehabilitation, strength rehabilitation and Pilates.

Today, I have the privilege of working alongside an exceptional team of physiotherapists and administration staff who genuinely care about every person who walks through our doors. Many of our clinicians have undertaken postgraduate pelvic health training, and we are passionate about continually learning and bringing the latest evidence into our practice. Alongside running the clinic, I continue to teach courses to physiotherapists and ignite their passion for the best area of physio!

I'm incredibly proud of what Surf Coast Physio & Pilates has become, but I'm equally proud of the culture we've built. I wanted our clinic to feel calm, welcoming and supportive, somewhere people feel listened to and leave with a clear plan and renewed confidence.

These days I'm also mum to two energetic children and have an incredibly supportive husband. Like so many parents running small businesses, life is wonderfully full. There are school drop-offs, after-school activities, team meetings, complex clinical cases and plenty of moments where it feels like I'm trying to be in two places at once.

I'm so grateful I took the leap and followed my passion. Building this clinic has been one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've ever done. But I also think we do other women, particularly mums in business, a disservice when we pretend it all comes easily. It doesn't.

So here I am, still learning, still striving to provide the very best care I can, surrounded by an incredible team, and feeling incredibly fortunate to spend my days helping people navigate some of the most important stages of their lives. I wouldn't change it for the world.