Kristen Pickles

Senior Physio Therapist

Meet Kristen …

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I began my Physiotherapy career in New Zealand in 2004. I have worked in public and private settings in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Most of my work over the last 20 years has been in the areas of Hand Therapy, Burns and Plastics and more recently Upper Limb Neurological rehabilitation.

I enjoy working as part of a team in busy trauma hospitals, helping people who have had life changing injuries return to doing things that are important to them, such as hobbies, leisure activities and work. 

I have worked in non-clinical roles including Occupational Rehabilitation, helping people return to work after injury. 

Where have you worked, and how has that shaped your approach?

I have worked in many interesting places, but one that stands out is when was part of a team of volunteers who flew to Sierra Leone to help local staff set up a plastic surgery unit. 

My role was to teach the Physiotherapist (one of three in the country) thermoplastic splinting and rehabilitation skills for Burns and Plastics and amputee patients. This experience challenged me to find out how to achieve an outcome with less resources than I was used to working with, and taught me to be creative.

What qualities help you make a difference?

The qualities I bring to my clinical and medicolegal work are empathy, warmth and creativity. I enjoy hearing people’s stories and learning about the things that important to them. 

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy spending time riding bikes with my husband and two young children, travelling and visiting friends and family locally and overseas. My family are in New Zealand and we visit them regularly. My husband’s family are in the United Kingdom and we are planning a big trip to visit them next year.