Bianca Ferreira can’t wait to get moving on her physiotherapy career.

The 23-year-old, who will graduate from the University of Sydney this year with her Masters in Physiotherapy, is now applying for positions in a bid to kick-start her career as a physiotherapist in 2015.

“It’s quite daunting because right now there are so many students that are graduating and I have to really be open-minded as to where I go,” she said.

“I am happy to move just as long as I get that experience and I’m getting that supportive working environment.”

Bianca is the national student chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and she’s also a graduate representative on the APA’s musculoskeletal physiotherapy committee.

Bianca was studying a Bachelor of Health Science and considering a career as an occupational therapist when her dad’s prostate cancer diagnosis inadvertently changed the direction of her career path in health.

“My dad had to go to the physio to do pre-op exercises,” she said.

“I used to go with him to his physio sessions. The way they approached his situation and gave him the ability to take control of his own health through exercise and education, you could just see the improvement in him and it helped him to become more positive.

“I thought - wow, I really want to be a part of that process, and that experience just changed my mind.”

Bianca said a variety of placements during her physiotherapy studies, from musculoskeletal outpatients to rehabilitation in a geriatrics ward and cardio placements, enabled her to experience the wide range of diverse positions the physiotherapy profession has to offer.

“It’s also amazing how different physios have different approaches, they interpret evidence in different ways,” she said.

“It’s good to get all of those different experiences and put them into the mix - you can’t be close minded.

“The one thing I’ve learnt is you always have to keep an open mind and also your treatment needs to be based on the patient and prioritised based on the patient - not because you have seen that shoulder injury before and you’ve done this and that on someone else, you have to do what’s best for that person.”

Bianca now aspires to work in musculoskeletal practice and she’s looking forward to being a part of a team of health professionals, all working to assist patients or clients.

While she’s preparing to graduate from her Masters, Bianca says she plans to continue her education.

“There’s so many additional courses I want to do just so I can be the best physio that I can be,” she said.

“I’m pretty interested in the different techniques and I just want to keep adding on to my skills.”

Bianca can be contacted via email at bfer8164@uni.sydney.edu.au