The Council is pleased to announce that Melissa Locke, former Board Chair and internationally recognised physiotherapy leader, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Australian Physiotherapy Council Service Award.
Melissa has been recognised for her significant leadership contributions to the Council’s work, and the broader Australian physiotherapy profession over many years.
Throughout her more than a decade involvement with the Council, Melissa’s impact on the Council has been profound and sustained:
- She served as Board Chair from 2021 – 2024, and before that served as Chair of Assessment Committee, and Nominations and Remuneration Committee member
- Oversaw strategic projects that contributed to a 30% increase in domestic physiotherapy graduates and a 68% rise in international assessment completions, directly addressing workforce shortages
- Led initiatives to strengthen accreditation standards for Australian physiotherapy education programs, ensuring graduates meet global benchmarks
- Championed the transformation of clinical assessments to simulation-based models, improving fairness, scalability, and candidate experience for internationally qualified physiotherapists
- Brought international best practices into Council governance
Melissa consistently demonstrated alignment with the Council’s purpose of safeguarding standards and advancing physiotherapy. She embodied the Council’s values of integrity, excellence, and collaboration by fostering partnerships across universities, regulators, and global physiotherapy bodies. Her governance style emphasized transparency and inclusivity, creating a culture where staff and stakeholders felt valued and supported.
Melissa’s tenure at the Council was marked by strategic vision, operational excellence, and transformative leadership. Her contributions strengthened physiotherapy standards nationally, aligned with the Council’s mission and values, and positioned the profession for future success. These achievements make her an outstanding recipient for the Australian Physiotherapy Service Award 2025.