Developing real-world skills through clinic and community physiotherapy in Wollongong
At SAVVY, we’re passionate about supporting allied health students through meaningful, hands-on placement experiences. Our physiotherapy student placements in Wollongong are designed to help students build confidence, apply evidence-based practice, and understand how personalised care makes a real difference in people’s lives.
For Charley, a Master of Physiotherapy student at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), her placement at SAVVY offered valuable exposure to both clinic-based and community physiotherapy settings.
Building experience beyond the hospital setting
Charley commenced her physiotherapy placement with SAVVY in November 2025, working under the supervision of Physiotherapist Bridget. Having previously completed placements in hospital environments, Charley valued the opportunity to broaden her experience and see how physiotherapy is delivered across different settings in the community.
Working in both clinic and community environments allowed her to better understand how tailored physiotherapy care supports independence, function, and long-term wellbeing.
Exposure to diverse physiotherapy services
During her placement, Charley worked with a wide range of clients across musculoskeletal, neurological, and aged care physiotherapy. This variety helped her strengthen her clinical reasoning, assessment skills, and adaptability when working with people of different ages, abilities, and health needs.
Charley also appreciated the chance to encounter conditions she hadn’t seen before, describing this exposure as an important part of her development as a future physiotherapist.
What stood out about the SAVVY approach
A key takeaway from Charley’s placement was SAVVY’s focus on individualised, evidence-based care delivered by clinicians who genuinely care about their clients.
“The SAVVY difference is its commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based care that is individually tailored and delivered by clinicians who genuinely care about their patients and clients.”
She described the SAVVY team as welcoming and encouraging, creating a positive learning environment where students feel supported to ask questions, build confidence, and grow their skills.
Supportive supervision and practical learning
Strong clinical supervision played an important role in Charley’s placement experience. She valued the guidance provided by Bridget, particularly the clear explanations of clinical reasoning and regular constructive feedback, which supported her transition towards graduate-level practice.
Charley also enjoyed learning about technology used in physiotherapy practice, including tools such as VALD systems and electrical stimulation, giving her insight into how technology supports assessment, rehabilitation, and outcomes in modern physiotherapy care.
Supporting future physiotherapists at SAVVY
Student placements are a vital part of developing confident, capable allied health professionals. At SAVVY, we aim to provide physiotherapy students with real-world experience, strong supervision, and exposure to diverse client populations within a supportive, team-focused environment.
We’re proud to support students like Charley as they take the next steps in their physiotherapy journey and contribute to the future of high-quality, community-focused healthcare.
