Source: University of Otago
For more than 20 years Otago physiotherapy students have been volunteering weekends to take strangers to the emergency department.
It’s all part of the deal for School of Physiotherapy students who volunteer thousands of hours as medics for local sports teams – managing acute injuries, doing pre-game strapping, and even accompany players to the hospital when needed.
Though facilitated by the School, the service is not part of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree.
School of Physiotherapy lecturer Professor Gisela Sole says about 40 students volunteer about 4.5 hours a week for 15 weeks equating to about 3,200 hours a year helping the local sports community.
In 2023 though, that number has more than doubled. Eighty-four students have volunteered – 64 doing it in Dunedin and 17 in other places.
“It is fantastic to see our students providing such an altruistic service to kiwis across the nation. It is clear they have a genuine passion for physiotherapy practice and a desire to give back to their local community, helping to make sports safe and accessible to all,” says Professor Sole.
Rebecca Hourigan volunteered in Dunedin and Sophie Wilson in Palmerston North.
A fourth-year physiotherapy student, Rebecca says she grew increasingly interested in rehabilitation and physical education while studying sport and exercise nutrition for a Bachelor of Applied Science.
Physiotherapy student Rebecca Hourigan says the experience she gained volunteering as a sports medic with the Kaikorai Rugby Club was “priceless”.
This led to her second degree in physiotherapy, which she feels is an underrated profession.
“It’s not just about helping people when they’ve hurt themselves, it about their holistic wellbeing, taking preventative measures to ensure they don’t get hurt, and encouraging them to live their best lives – volunteering as a sports medic encapsulates this in a very practical sense.”
Volunteering at the Kaikorai Rugby Club had been a “priceless” experience that allowed her to interact with people she might not have, learn about the management of sports clubs, get practical experience, and support people in need.”
She strongly encourages other physiotherapy students to volunteer, even if it’s just for a season, because the hands-on experience is so helpful in increasing confidence.
Sophie says volunteering as a sports medic benefitted both her professional and personal skills.
Volunteering as a sports medic while on placement in Palmerston North has increased Sophie Wilson’s personal and professional confidence.
From Dunedin, she is doing her fourth-year placement in Palmerston North, where she volunteers with the Fielding Rugby Club.
“It’s been hands-on experience, where I’ve had to learn about injuries, make quick assessments on how to manage them, and share with players how they can prevent long-term complications.”
Personally, she had enjoyed giving back, growing her contact networks and more quickly become a part of the “Palmy” community.
She encourages other physiotherapy students to volunteer as medics regardless of whether they want to be a sports physiotherapist eventually or not, because it helps improve communication and teamwork skills as well as shoring up what has been learned in class.
Sophie’s clinical supervisor helped her get involved with the rugby club, but students can also reach out to clubs themselves if they would like to volunteer.
“Most medic opportunities come from reaching out to people and I emailed several clubs but ended up taking up a volunteer position that my supervisor found as that was the right fit for me,” Sophie says.
“Also, I’ve found that opportunities tend to stem from taking up other opportunities; so be proactive and search out experiences because you’ll likely find yourself in exciting places you had never previously considered.”
Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Schutte.
