Waiheke Whānau

Working as a private practice physiotherapist is an interesting job, as while we work with people all day, every day, it is actually quite rare that we get to work with other physios.

I believe that this is a big problem for physios professionally, as the only way we can progress and become better for our patients is by being challenged and helped by others who are in the same field but think differently.

I want to be surrounded by people who can help and challenge me. So, I have always looked for every opportunity to work with any other physio I can. I want to see how others approach similar problems, and learn from the creative solutions they have come up with.

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to travel to New Zealand to learn and work with an amazing group of physio’s and pilates instructors on Waiheke Island. I learnt so much working with them, including the Maori term for extended family - Whānau.

Whānau - 2. (noun) extended family, family group, a familiar term of address to a number of people - the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society. In the modern context the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 3; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 52-54;)

Connect Studio

Let me quickly introduce Connect Studio, a Physiotherapy and Pilates studio on Waiheke Island. It was founded by a titan of a physio, Nick Torrence and his business partner and Pilates extraordinaire - Charlotte (Chaz) Long. They have created a welcoming space on an idyllic island for people to come to heal their bodies with treatment and movement.

This studio has a seamless flow from Physio to Pilates, where the Physio’s and the Pilates instructors work together effortlessly. I think the name is actually quite apt, as these they have truly ‘connected’ the two disciplines.

I learnt alot from these guys but my biggest take away from them is their solution to a huge problem with have in private physiotherapy.

The Affordability Problem

New Zealand has quite a different health care system for private physiotherapy, combine this with respectively much lower wages to Australia and few really have enough money to afford physio.

What most would do with a lower appointment fee, is shorten the appointment time or treat multiple people at the one time, leading to a diminished service. Pilates is a clever solution to this problem that makes treatment more affordable without diminishing its quality.

This clinic is conscientious of the cost of physio to the patient and helps to transition out of physiotherapy earlier and into a group pilates session with highly trained Pilates instructors who have a direct line into their treating physio if anything should go amiss.

Ultimately it is a physios job to prepare their patients to manage on their own. This is such a lovely intermediary step where patients feel supported and safe, while being able to stay within their physio budget without shortening the time they spend rehabilitating their bodies.

I am always concerned that Physiotherapy is a luxury in a cost of living crisis. Approaches like this do a lot to improve the accessibility of physiotherapy, and it deserves to be commended. I have every intention of incorperating this idea into People’s Physiotherapy in the future.