The dream of working as a physiotherapist for a major sporting team is often short-lived. In reality, many physiotherapy careers don’t start on the sporting field, but instead working long hours in an outpatient clinic within the same 4×4 cubicle each day.

With an emphasis on work-life balance, and providing choice for staff in terms of location and hours, Wellness & Lifestyles Australia is the largest physiotherapy department in South Australia.

Commencing a New-Graduate Mentor Program was a risk for W&L, but the high demand for their services almost made it a necessity. “We were a little hesitant at first” said Michael Peachey, W&L’s General Manager. “Once we had our first new-grad’s on board though, we realised their fresh perspective and enthusiasm fitted perfectly with what we’re trying to achieve.”

To make sure the program worked, W&L put a lot of thought into it first. With an in-depth induction, a structured mentoring program, a generous professional development allowance, higher rates of pay than the public system, and access to the largest network of physiotherapists in South Australia, success was always on the agenda.

It seems that it’s the new-graduate physiotherapists themselves who have really benefited though.

Peter Do, one of W&L’s first new-graduate physiotherapists, took every opportunity available to him within one of BRW’s fastest growing companies. “Here at W&L it wasn’t about how old I was, it was more about the contribution I made. It was weird. In a very short period of time I went from being a new-grad to a team leader. The mentoring I got from Kirsty Masters really set me up.”

Now, Peter is using his clinical skills as one of W&L’s ACFI Consultants, helping aged care facilities improve their government funding. “It blows my friends away when I tell them what I do. I’ve gone from treating one patient at a time, to now flying all around Australia, helping improve the lives of hundreds of people at the same time” said Peter. “My salary has gone up about 150 percent too!”

*For information on the W&L Physiotherapy New-Graduate Mentor Program, call Natalie on (08) 8331 3000.