Debates Day 2 - Wednesday 14 February 2007
Parliamentary Record 12
Debates for 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; Parliamentary Record; ParliamentNT
2007-02-14
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES Wednesday 14 February 2007 3903 Pippa was born and educated in London, graduating as a physiotherapist from the University of London in 1983. Pippa worked at the London Hospital for four years before travelling to Australia on a working holiday visa, first working in Central Australia at Glen Helen in 1987. Upon her return to the United Kingdom, Pippa immediately applied to emigrate to Australia - well done, Pippa. Pippas qualifications as a physiotherapist facilitated her emigration and she returned to Alice Springs to work as Chief Physiotherapist at the Alice Springs Hospital in 1989. Pippa worked at the Community Health Centre and at the Old Timers Day Centre prior to opening her own physiotherapy clinic on Traeger Avenue in 1994. This clinic continues to grow under her leadership. Initially, Pippa operated as a sole practitioner and now she manages four physiotherapists, two massage therapists and a dietician. In 1996, the clinic achieved accreditation under the Australian Physiotherapy Association guidelines and continues to be accredited to this day. The clinic provides outreach services to Yulara and to remote Aboriginal communities. Recently, as a community service initiative, the clinic has opened a lymphoedema clinic, a joint initiative with the Division of Primary Health Care and Palliative Care. It also conducts Healthy Heart classes with Healthy Living NT at the Alice Springs Hospital. The clinic is also a provider to Northern Territory Institute of Sport athletes. Pippa continues to provide quality antenatal care as an educator at the Childbirth Education Centre on a voluntary basis. She unselfishly donates her time and sports medicine expertise to the local netball, Rugby League, Australian Rules, softball and Rugby Union competitions. In addition to utilising her skills, involvement in sport assisted her transition to Australia. Crossing into many cultures of the Red Centre, Pippa gained almost immediate acceptance into the Centralian community. Pippa has also travelled with local teams at Alice Springs, Territory and national representative levels on numerous occasions, on call 24 hours a day looking after our athletes, young and old. It is something she takes in her stride and has proved to be an invaluable member of any team. In 1991 when she became an Australian citizen, Pippa sang the national anthem in front of 8000 people at the Traeger Park diamond. Pippas role at the Alice Springs Masters Games as Physiotherapist and Sports Medicine Clinic Coordinator is well known to many and certainly appreciated by all who come to know her during the week-long games. Pippas involvement with the Alice Springs Masters Games commenced in 1990 and, commencing in 1993, Pippa has been a member of the Arafura Games Sports Medicine Team. Commencing in 2002, Pippa volunteered her skills and expertise as Sports Medicine Coordinator for the Central Australian Mountain Bike Challenge. Pippa has been President of Sports Medicine Australia Central Australian Branch since 2001, and is responsible for the education of sports trainers in Central Australia, voluntarily making sport in the Centre safer for all. In 2001, Pippa was appointed to the Physiotherapist Registration Board of the Northern Territory, a ministerial appointment, and elected chair in 2006. This board oversees all regulatory matters concerning physios in the Territory and, as chair, she also sits on the Australian Physiotherapy Council, which is responsible for reviewing physiotherapy competency standards throughout Australia, and for accrediting university courses, ultimately governing the future of the physiotherapy profession within Australia. Pippas love of sports medicine is clear and, in 2001, she became one of only 200 people in Australia who are accredited sports physiotherapists, recognition of her advanced sports physiotherapy skills. In 2006, Pippa carried the Queens Baton in the Commonwealth Games baton relay and was appointed Sports Physiotherapist at the Melbourne games, working as part of the Australian team in the athletes village. Pippa was named Northern Territory Telstra Westpac Business Woman of the Year in 2006, due recognition of her enormous contribution to business in the Centre, Territory-wide and, indeed, nationally. Pippa works tirelessly to promote physiotherapy and the opportunities of working in Alice Springs. She has presented at state, national and international conferences, enthralling audiences with anecdotes of her life in the Centre. Pippa mentors many young Centralians by lecturing and providing workshops at schools, careers nights and through work experience opportunities. Pippa has also been published in national and international physiotherapy journals, and continues to encourage youth to pursue opportunities available in Alice Springs. Pippa continues to assist people to reach their goals and is committed to providing excellent physiotherapy and sports medicine coverage to all - truly amazing achievements for this wife and mother of two, who she simply loves. I know Pippa well. I respect her enormously and was delighted when she, with Mildred Inkamala, was awarded the honour of Centralian of the Year.