Here are 10 things I learnt on my latest physiotherapy placement:

1) Confidence is a skill.

Just like learning any new skill – the more you practice, the better you get. Confidence is like any other skill. Those who practice confidence the most are the most confident.

2) Fake it til you make it.

The first few weeks I struggled communicating with patients. I was too passive. I doubted myself. I was a few steps behind. I was surprised to find that the first step to turning this around was simply talking loudly and clearly. Sometimes, your actions come first before the inner belief follows.

3) The public health system is flawed.

From an outsider’s perspective, I saw some of the flaws. At times, it can seem the public health system’s motives are not necessarily effectiveness or efficiency, but of minimising legal liability. Given this is funded with taxpayers’ money, it makes you ask – are there better ways we can do x?

4) Most adults are technology illiterate.

For adults who operate technology and computers for a living, I saw many staff struggle with basic concepts, such as browser windows and tabs. Things the average primary school child is proficient at. I think this speaks to the exponential rate that technology is continuing to move forward.

5) Rising house prices created a new group of people.

These are the “asset rich, cash poor” people of Sydney. On home visits, I saw many elderly patients who are living in multi-million dollar properties that they bought decades ago. But from seeing the inside of homes and how they lived, they had little liquid assets on hand. My intuition asks – “would it make sense to liquidate your hard assets and live more comfortably for the rest of your life?”

6) Working in the city is expensive.

Time stuck in traffic, transport costs, parking costs, expensive takeaway lunches, morning coffees all add up quickly. I imagine most people would be shocked if they did the financial and time calculations on all these activities.

7) Experiences, not material possessions, is all you have.

I listened to patients in their 50’s who have only have a year to live. I heard them reminisce about that time they spent 3 years travelling with their partner, not about the shoes or clothes they own.

8) Australia is aging.

My supervisor told me “15 years ago, 60% of the patients I saw were under 40 years old. Now, 80% of the patients I see are over 75 years old. It’s only trending higher. By 2025, it will be past the tipping point.”  The data reflects this too. It is more expensive to have children than ever before, and people are living longer than ever before.

9) People take health for granted.

People tend to think they are invincible… until they are not. They never think they will be the type of person who needs 10 pills a day for their 5 chronic diseases… until they are. A little prevention goes a long way, but we are wired to take the easiest path.

10) A steady salary is the best thing, or the worst thing?

Nassim Taleb said “The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates and a monthly salary”. If you don’t manage your finances well and you live paycheck to paycheck, you can develop a dependency. I saw glimpses of that. I think this was a lesson in being proactive with your personal finances. But I really wouldn’t know, I’m not in their shoes.