To mark World Physiotherapy Day on 8 September, we’re celebrating the difference physiotherapy can make – helping people stay active, improve their health and participate fully in their communities.
Making movement more accessible: Person-centred care at Bayside Health
September 8, 2026
Kooweerup Hospital Physiotherapist Zachariah Ellins with Community Strength and Exercise Group participant Jenifer Tooley.
For 82-year-old Jenifer Tooley, a small change introduced by the Physiotherapy Team at Kooweerup Hospital has made a big difference to her experience of the Community Strength and Exercise Group.
Held three days a week, the group supports local community members to improve strength, balance and physical function, reduce falls risk and remain active. It also provides opportunities to ask questions, learn about exercise and connect with others.
For Jenifer, however, hearing loss was making it difficult to fully participate.
She was sometimes unable to follow exercise instructions, missed sets or technique cues and found it difficult to join group conversations. She also felt socially isolated.
“I didn’t know anybody’s name,” Jenifer said.
A simple solution with a big impact
Physiotherapist Zachariah Ellins, known as Zach, and the team recognised that Jenifer was not the only participant experiencing these challenges.
Zach explored options to improve accessibility, including audio loop technology. While this would provide an effective longer-term solution, it would require funding and approval.
In the meantime, Zach worked with the Allied Health Team to find a practical solution using technology already available in the community room.
The team introduced live captions on the room’s large television screens, allowing participants with hearing difficulties to read what staff and other community members were saying in real time.
The difference was significant.
Jenifer became more confident following exercise instructions, asking questions and joining conversations with other participants. She was able to participate more fully in both the physical and social aspects of the program.
Staff also noticed fewer missed instructions and less need to repeat information individually.
For Zach, the experience highlights the importance of listening to consumers and adapting care to meet their individual needs.
“Sometimes removing a simple barrier can make all the difference to a person's health, wellbeing and sense of belonging,” Zach said.
The experience reflects the broader role of physiotherapy in helping people remain physically active through safe, personalised and accessible exercise – a key message of World Physiotherapy Day 2026, which highlights the role of physiotherapy and physical activity in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
At Kooweerup Hospital, the Community Strength and Exercise Group shows that physiotherapy is about more than exercise. It is about helping people move with confidence, stay connected and get the most from their health and wellbeing.
Find a physiotherapy service closer to your home
Bayside Health provides physiotherapy services across our Regional Hospitals:
Kooweerup Hospital’s Community Strength and Exercise Group.
Kooweerup Hospital’s Community Strength and Exercise Group.