Name: Nick Kenny
Position: Director/Physiotherapist
Place of work: Active Performance
Tell us about your role and what a typical day looks like?
There is no typical day in my role. If I am in Cairns, I will be working with my team or my patients in our Cairns clinic or I could be working with one of the local sporting teams we partner with. If I am out of town, I will be somewhere in either Cape York or Arnhem Land working with my patients in their homes or taking them out bush to a billabong, creek or beach for physio on Country.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being a part of our brilliant team and I am proud of the positive impact they have on the lives of many people who have limited access to health care. Although the work is often challenging, it is incredibly rewarding to share the challenges and success with my team and to see them grow both professionally and personally through their work. I also feel deeply privileged to have the opportunity to travel to so many beautiful and remote communities, and to have met and worked with so many inspiring and resilient First Nations people.
Is there a particular patient story or experience that has stuck with you?
There was a young man with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) who I had known and worked with for many years. He had a dream to attend an important cultural ceremony in Numbulwar, which only happens once every 11 years. He was in 24/7 residential care in Darwin and needed full-time support around the clock. Along with three of his male family members, we supported him to attend the ceremony where he met with many of his family who he had not seen for years. Afterwards we drove to his grandfather’s homeland, which he had never visited before. It was a beautiful remote bay on the East Arnhem coast, and we camped and fished and lived off the land as his relatives did in generations before. In those eight days, we drove over 2000km, ate all types of bush tucker, bathed in billabongs and beaches, and returned exhausted but deeply grateful for an incredible experience we shared together.
There is no typical day in my role. If I am in Cairns, I will be working with my team or my patients in our Cairns clinic or I could be working with one of the local sporting teams we partner with. If I am out of town, I will be somewhere in either Cape York or Arnhem Land working with my patients in their homes or taking them out bush to a billabong, creek or beach for physio on country.
Why do you choose to work in a regional, rural, or remote area?
It bothers me that so many First Nations people living in these remote areas do not have access to the health support they need. Despite this, they do their best to care for themselves and each other. Their resilience inspires me and their willingness to share their culture and country is humbling. I feel like doing this work is the most impactful use of my skills as a physio. Through this work I continue to learn and grow both personally and professionally and it has enriched my life in many ways.
What do you like to do outside of work when you are out and about in your community?
When I am back home in Cairns on weekends I like to go camping and/or exploring the many local freshwater swimming spots. I also enjoy trail running, endurance sports, and following the Northern Pride and Brisbane Broncos when they play.
NQPHN is proud to support health professionals in our region. Active Performance, in Cairns, delivers the Multidisciplinary Allied Health Teams program to Croyden, Georgetown, and Mount Garnet. Funded through Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), Active Performance works with local GPs and other local primary care providers in rural and remote communities.
Active Performance
Active Performance is a multidisciplinary allied health business comprising of a team of 14 therapists including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and allied health assistants. The business has two bases of operation in Cairns and Groote Eylandt, and its core business is First Nations rural and remote health. Active Performance regularly visits over 400 NDIS participants across 24 communities throughout FNQ, Cape York, TSI, The Gulf, and East Arnhem Land.
Health Workforce Spotlight: Dr Prasad Kumar
Every patient’s story stays with me. Being part of their journey; from the beginning through to the end; is a privilege I don’t take lightly. It’s not just about treating an illness; it’s about supporting both the patient and their family through every step of the process. That connection and trust is what makes the work so meaningful.