The Council is preparing to bid farewell to our highly respected Board Chair Melissa Locke, who concludes her tenure at the end of 2024. We take this moment to reflect with profound gratitude on her remarkable contributions and the lasting impact she leaves with us all.
Over her years with the Council, Melissa has unified us around a shared vision: "ensuring tomorrow’s physiotherapy workforce." With unwavering commitment, she has guided us to serve our stakeholders at the highest standards and prepare the next generation of physiotherapists who will provide care to Australians for years to come.
Melissa’s journey with the Council spans more than a decade, including serving as Board Chair since 2021. Her leadership includes chairing the Assessment Committee, championing the transformation of our clinical assessments to simulation, fostering the growth of accreditation for Australian physiotherapy education, and leading the Council’s response to the evolving needs of the health workforce.
To many in the physiotherapy community, the name Melissa Locke is synonymous with dedication, vision, and passion—a commitment that has shaped the profession itself. She has dedicated much of her life to it.
Her outstanding contributions include her roles as Vice President of World Physiotherapy, Board President and life member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist, recognised by the Australian College of Physiotherapists. She has enriched the profession through teaching and clinical education roles across various universities, and the list of her accomplishments is as vast as it is impactful.
While Melissa’s public roles speak to her professional stature, her influence extends to the countless lives she has touched—whether through her compassionate care for her young patients, her mentorship of staff at her private practice, or her genuine investment in the Council team. Melissa’s compassion, dedication, and inspiring leadership have created an environment where everyone around her feels supported and valued.
As Melissa’s Chair role concludes soon, we are pleased to announce that Associate Professor Michael Reynolds is our Chair Elect and will step into the role from 1st January 2025.
Please join us in acknowledging and thanking Melissa for her tireless work to advance the Australian physiotherapy profession and provide governance leadership at the Council.
