Ava Pun, fourth from the left in the front row, and her colleagues in the Department of Physiotherapy at Nepal’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children.
Completing a community placement in Nepal was not only a rewarding way for alumna Ava Pun to conclude her Bachelor of Physiotherapy studies, but also an experience that brought her closer to her own family.
Having recently joined the Wellington Hospital’s inpatient team as a rotational physiotherapist after graduating in December last year, Ava shares a bit about what lead her to Nepal during her studies and why her time there meant so much to her.
While studying at the University of Otago, Ava found out the six-week community placement she would need to complete her studies could be done overseas and so reached out to Nepal’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC) to see if they would be open to letting her work there.
This institution stood out not only because it is a non-profit organisation that provides holistic care to children with physical disabilities, but because Ava’s mother also worked at this institution over 20 years ago.
“Although my family is from Nepal, I was born in Christchurch and spent most of my schooling years in India at St Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong and Mussoorie International School in Uttarakhand, before returning to New Zealand for university in 2020,” Ava says.
“I had never lived in Nepal long-term so this placement allowed me the opportunity to follow in my mother’s footsteps and connect with my family roots whilst also learning from the rare and complex physiotherapy cases present at the HRDC.
“The trip was especially meaningful as it was my first time in eight years celebrating Dashain with my family. Dashain is Nepal’s biggest cultural festival which focuses on the importance of family, gratitude and togetherness.
"Being able to reconnect with my culture, spend such a significant time with loved ones, and give back to my community in a meaningful way made the trip truly unforgettable. It’s something I will always carry with me.”
Christchurch-born physiotherapy alumna Ava Pun completed her last placement in Nepal before graduating from the University of Otago.
Ava’s mother would share stories of her time at the HRDC, which is what inspired her original intention to connect with the organisation.
HRDC’s unique approach stood out to her as they not only treat patients but actively work to reintegrate children back into their communities and provide ongoing support to them and their families.
Ava says seeing the significant effects of holistic care like this moved her deeply and is a learning she first came across in her studies in Dunedin.
She says she loved studying at the School of Physiotherapy and learnt a great deal about the importance equitable healthcare, a sentiment echoed in a very real way during her time in Nepal.
Though originally interested in pursuing a path in medicine like her mother and grandfather had, Ava found herself changing course after being drawn to physiotherapy while she was completing her Bachelor of Science majoring in Anatomy.
This was due to the hands-on and practical nature of the occupation, and how she could see the real-world impacts it had on patients in need.
As a rotational physiotherapist at Wellington Hospital, Ava will continue gaining more experience in a variety of fields. While she already has an early interest in neurorehabilitation and paediatric physiotherapy she says that, no matter where she goes, she plans to take the knowledge and experience she has gained on equitable and holistic care with her.
-Kōrero by Kelsey Swart, Health Sciences Communications Adviser
Undergraduate physiotherapy study
Physiotherapists are health professionals essential to the rehabilitation and maintenance of optimal physical ability and healthy lifestyles.
Study Physio