Pay Invoice
Feedback
Locations
Search
Three Little Words That Changed Everything
For most parents, hearing their child say “I love you”...
Freya and Louis
For Rocky Bay physiotherapist Freya Pritchard, World Physiotherapy Day on 8 September is more than a date, it is a chance to celebrate the life changing impact of physiotherapy on the people she supports every day.
Freya has been a physiotherapist at Rocky Bay for the past five years, drawn to the profession by her love of working with people and her passion for finding fun new ways to get people excited about moving their bodies.
One of those children is Louis, who has been supported by Rocky Bay since 2022. Freya began working with him in early 2025, taking over from his previous physiotherapist. Together with his parents and school team, Freya has seen him achieve incredible progress.
The story continues...
When Louis first started school, his main goal was to move safely around the classroom and playground using his Rifton Pacer walker, designed to assist with mobility challenges, learning to walk, stand and improve gait patterns. Freya worked closely with his education assistants, showing them how to support his movement and encourage his independence.
Soon, Louis was walking by pushing a chair across the classroom, using his walker to move around the schoolyard, and even tackling the obstacle course with support.
But in the last month, Louis has reached a milestone no one will forget, he has started walking independently, without his walker.
“He blew everyone’s socks off,” Freya says. “It started when he copied his younger brother, who was also learning to walk. Now Louis can walk five metres, turn around, and walk back without falling. That independence is just incredible.”
Physiotherapy has played a key role in making this possible, from providing the right equipment like the Rifton Pacer to supporting the school with a variety of seating options to help Louis engage safely and manage fatigue.
How we helped
“Physiotherapy is unique compared to other disciplines,” Freya explains. “Movement is such an important part of life at any age and having a physiotherapist who can help maximise your freedom and ease to move can be life changing.”
She also wants more people to understand that progress takes time, practice and teamwork. “It doesn’t happen overnight. Just like learning any physical skill, it requires repetition and collaboration, with families, schools and therapists working together.”
For Louis and his family, the impact has been enormous, it has meant greater independence, confidence and the chance to be more engaged at school and at home.
As for Freya, she hopes all the children she works with can achieve their own version of this success. “My hope for Louis, and for all the kids I work with, is that they can reach their full physical potential and have the opportunity to enjoy movement in ways that are meaningful to them.”
World Physiotherapy Day is a reminder of why she does the work she does. Freya feels it is a day to celebrate the wonderful hard work of physiotherapists around the world, making a difference in people’s lives. Beyond movement, physiotherapy can unlock independence and change lives.
A few words
“I love to have fun and I like to think outside the box…means I can come up with creative ways to support each child’s individual goals. I deeply care about the children and families I work with, hearing about their wins and successes is the most rewarding part of my role.”
- Freya
More stories
contact us