For this series of Q&As, we strike up a chat with a member of our wonderful leadership team so you can get to know them and learn about the fantastic work they do for our team and, ultimately, our clients.

First up in this series is Amy Neve. Amy leads the Physiotherapy team alongside Alex Scott. She has been with IRS for 13 years now, which is an amazing achievement in itself, not to mention stepping into the role of team leader where she guides, teaches, inspires and supports our team of Physios every day.

We loved finding out more about Amy and we hope you do too!

  1. To start, we’d love to hear a bit about your journey. What drew you specifically to the field of neuro physiotherapy, and what is it about this area that keeps you passionate?

Early in my career, I spent time in ICU, then switched to rehab. The contrast was huge, but the difference was clear: I absolutely loved the interactions with my rehab clients.

Seeing them achieve their goals is what drew me in and made me stay. It’s incredibly rewarding!

Now, my specific passion is neurological rehabilitation. Why? The variety of presentations and outcomes—even for the same condition—keeps every day interesting.

There’s always more to see and learn from the clients I work with, and that continuous discovery is what fuels my passion in this area!

  1. We believe in celebrating success. Could you share a story about a time your physiotherapy team had a truly meaningful ‘win’—perhaps achieving a fantastic client outcome, mastering a difficult caseload, or bringing a successful new initiative to life?

For a Physiotherapist, helping a client return to sport and recreational activities after an injury or incident is incredibly meaningful. This is because it provides huge benefits to their physical health, mental well-being, and social connections. My team has successfully helped clients get back to a wide range of activities, from extreme pursuits like snow skiing, rock climbing and wheelchair basketball to slower-paced ones such as modified cycling, golf, and walking groups. These are always truly meaningful ‘wins’.

  1. Effective collaboration is key in rehabilitation. Can you walk us through how you’ve worked with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to craft genuinely holistic, person-centred plans? How do you ensure the vital physiotherapy perspective is heard and woven seamlessly into everyone else’s goals?

Client goals are often unique and highly specific to an individual’s situation.

I recently worked with a client who loved the water before her injury but faced many barriers to safely entering a pool again. To create a workable plan, we engaged in careful, multi-disciplinary discussion that included:

  • GP: Discussing her medical conditions.
  • Occupational Therapist (OT): Reviewing her dressing and showering routine.
  • Dietitian & Continence Nurse: Addressing her diet and bowel regimen.
  • Family: Understanding her preferences (likes and dislikes).
  • Support Coordinator: Arranging funding for necessary equipment.
  • House Manager: Providing updates on her daily status.

This collaborative approach allowed us to establish a plan to get her back in the water at her local pool. The key to making sure my perspective as a Physiotherapist was integrated into everyone else’s intervention, was clear communication, which ensured “buy-in” and leveraged their valuable time and input.

  1. Leading a team is a rewarding but demanding role. We care about the well-being of our leaders. How do you personally look after your own energy and resilience? What are your key strategies for managing a busy workload and prioritising self-care?

Energy and resilience naturally change when you have a busy workload. For me, the key to staying re-energised is to step away from work and focus on other things I enjoy.

I use a multi-faceted approach to recharge:

  • Time in Nature: Working in my home garden brings me great joy, gives me sunshine, and connects me with animals (my dogs, birds, local possums, and Wally the wombat). I also get a sense of success when I can collect flowers or produce.
  • Physical Activity: Playing basketball and going to the gym are essential (non-negotiable) activities I do every week, even if my kids come along!
  • Learning New Skills: This includes cooking or craft classes at the local neighbourhood house, making footy banners for my boys’ football team, or learning to make terrariums and bonsai trees from YouTube videos.
  • Art and Culture: I make time for concerts, musical theatre, comedy shows, and more recently, rodeo and ute muster events.

I always find it rewarding to try something new!

  1. We know that complex rehabilitation is both emotionally and physically taxing on staff. What supportive strategies would you put in place as a leader to actively monitor and nurture your team members’ work-life balance and mental health?

To effectively monitor and support my team’s work-life balance and mental health, I would focus on several key areas:

  • Regular Check-ins: Conduct one-on-one catch ups frequently.
  • Feedback Channels: Provide opportunities for anonymous feedback.
  • Data Monitoring: Track things like overtime hours and leave usage.
  • Open Culture: Foster open communication and promote team connection.
  • Flexibility: Encourage flexible work arrangements.
  • Resource Provision: Share appropriate resources to support mental well-being.
  1. Since our team members often work autonomously in the community, feeling connected and supported is vital. What systems would you create to ensure they always have a clear avenue to debrief, seek guidance, and feel truly part of the team, especially when facing complex or challenging situations?

We build strong connections in our community team by focusing on three main areas: open communication, shared experiences, and mutual appreciation.

Here is how we maintain that connection:

  • Regular Interaction: We interact regularly throughout the day via Google Chat, Meet, or phone, both individually and as a team, to share knowledge and experiences.
  • Support & Fun: We check in with each other, play quick games (like “guess where I am”), volunteer to help each other out when possible, and celebrate all achievements, big or small.
  • Accessible Help: We use a shared calendar of events that every team member can access, providing an avenue for any clinician to seek help, no matter the situation.
  • In-Person Time: Most importantly, we maximise our time when we meet in person through social events and team lunches.
  1. Looking back on this year, what moments truly stand out for you and the physiotherapy team? What are the achievements or experiences that you’ll carry forward?

This year, the NDIS Changes have been a significant challenge for my Physiotherapy team and me.

Despite a cut to the Physiotherapy rate, there has been strong advocacy highlighting the value of our profession. My colleagues and I remain committed to providing the same high-quality services by focusing on two key areas:

  • Setting Realistic Expectations: We are clarifying what can and cannot be achieved for our clients.
  • Improving Work Efficiencies: We are reviewing and enhancing how we work.

Our strategies to adapt and improve include:

  • Embracing Technology: We are using AI to assist with recording meetings and documentation.
  • Addressing Cancellations: We have recently started analysing our cancellation data to find ways to reduce it and lessen its impact on our daily workflow.

Wow! Amy, thank you so much for taking time out of your full schedule to give us some insight into your role, your personal life and where you’ve come from. We’ve loved being able to share the wonderful things you do with our audiences.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for you and your team!