Physiotherapist Amy Dibley Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
When young physiotherapist Amy Dibley came back from her five-year OE she needed a job.
So she bought a massage table and an EFTPOS machine and headed out into the country.
Five years later, Amy is running ten physiotherapy clinics, eight of them are in rural towns and recently won the top prize at the Enterprising Rural Women awards.
Amy's business, Physio Direct, provides an option for people who might struggle to access treatment in their closest city. They currently have clinics in Raetihi, Ohakune, Taumarunui, Murapara, Putaruru, Matamata, Te Aroha, Oxford, Belfast in Christchurch and Rotorua.
Amy says while growing the business has been easy, finding physiotherapists to work in the rural clinics hasn't – physiotherapists are on the skills shortage list in New Zealand
Amy used her own experience of travelling and working overseas to set up a model that would lure international physiotherapists here.
"I decided to start targeting young physios from the UK who were looking for an adventure and a bit of excitement."
Amy provides them with accommodation, a car, a computer and a phone.
Every six months the physios have an opportunity to move to a different clinic within the cluster, giving them another region to explore.
When a couple of her physios went to visit the South Island and didn't want to come back, Amy set up clinics in Canterbury.
"It's just different and beautiful. I wanted to be able to have a clinic there to be able to offer the whole New Zealand package, you know, North and South Island. Work for for us we can give you everything," she says with a smile.
