CAREFIRST - Key Persons
Andrew was a competitive road & track cyclist to an international level until an injury limited his cycling.
After a 4 year OE in the UK, Andrew returned to NZ in 1995 to start his university study
Qualifications
Bachelor in Health Science, (Physiotherapy), 2000,
Anna grew up in Auckland and was very involved in competitive swimming and Surf Life Saving. After studying Physiotherapy at AUT in Auckland, Anna moved to New Plymouth to work. She thoroughly enjoyed the Taranaki lifestyle and eventually relocated here permanently with her family in 2012.
Anna has a holistic approach to treatment and enjoys helping people achieve their goals.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) 2001
Liz joined Physio@Carefirst in May 2022 as a receptionist, prior to the Physio role she had completed a 24 year career with Progressive Enterprise Ltd.
Liz really enjoys her new job, especially assisting the patients and supporting the Physio team, as no two days are ever the same.
In Liz's leisure time she goes on long walks, solves Sudoku and Wordle puzzles and reads.
Job Titles:
- Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Nathan is born and raised on a dairy farm in coastal Taranaki and attended Francis Douglas Memorial College. During his youth he was a keen athlete competing in a number of individual sports. This paired with his strong interest in health and wellbeing led to him studying Physiotherapy at Auckland University of Technology.
While studying Nathan continued to compete in the sports of triathlon, duathlon and athletics and attended multiple world
Nathan has been working in New Plymouth for three years and joined PHYSIOTHERAPY@CAREfirst in 2019. He has worked extensively with Rugby, swimming and athletics.
Raised in New Plymouth, Nick is a former Francis Douglas Memorial College student who has a keen interest in sport and health.
After leaving school Nick studied Physiotherapy at Auckland University of Technology, graduating in 2015.
Nick went straight into working in private practice following university, and has just returned to New Plymouth after two and a half years working in the UK and Hawkes Bay.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy), 2015
Nick has undertaken further training in Dry Needling
Sarah joined PHYSIOTHERAPY @CAREfirst at the start of 2020 in a part-time capacity after working in a variety of administration and support roles in other New Plymouth organisations.
Sarah loves the opportunity she has to meet patients and support the Physiotherapy team.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends, baking, collecting old books, reading and knitting animal soft toys.
Simeon was born in South Africa but raised in Auckland. He has always had high interest in sport and adventure which drew him to New Plymouth.
During his high school years at Westlake Boys, he grew a liking of anatomy, sports and biomechanics which naturally led him into Physiotherapy.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) 2021
Raised in the Bay of Plenty by two very active parents, Zara found a love for sport in her high school years which came with a fair amount of injuries.
Through her rehabilitation, she found the profession of physiotherapy that combined helping people and being involved in sport.
After meeting her husband in Whakatane hospital, Zara moved to Northern Ireland and Scotland for 2 years before settling back in the Bay of Plenty.
Her husband's medical training then led him to take up a job at Taranaki Base Hospital, which is how they ended up in the mighty Naki.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) at AUT, 2016. Currently studying towards a Masters of Health Science at AUT.
Work Experience: Zara started her physiotherapy career as a Rotational Physiotherapist at Whakatane Hospital from 2017 to 2018 before moving overseas. She then spent two years working as a locum in the UK in a variety of settings - outpatients, acute respiratory, medical, and private physiotherapy clinics.
Since arriving back to New Zealand in 2020, Zara has worked in a Sports physiotherapy Clinic working with athletes in a variety of settings, especially rugby at club and provincial levels, the NZ speed climbing team, runners and rhythmic gymnasts.
Interests: Triathlon, biking in any form, hiking, and baking to fuel all the adventures!