Stefanie Gangell
Botanic Ridge,Australia
Summary
Compassionate Grade 2 Outpatient Physiotherapist at St John of God Health Care with over 12 years experience. I successfully launched the Spasticity Clinic and mentored junior staff. With expertise in neurological rehabilitation and a passion for patient advocacy, I drive quality improvement projects that enhance service delivery and empower patients on their recovery journey. I enjoy working with patients in all areas.
Overview
8
8
years of post-secondary education
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Grade 2 Outpatient physiotherapist
St John of God Health Care
Frankston, VIC
08.2017 - Current
- All points as per Grade 1 physiotherapist
- Lead physiotherapist of Spasticity Clinic, working alongside Dr. Chris Baguley
- Launched Spasticity Clinic in 2023
- Managed Physiotherapy student portfolio, coordinating and supporting Grade 1 and 2 staff, assisting physiotherapy students, and liaising with Monash University and Federation University
- Managed Quality portfolio, promoting and advocating for completion of quality projects to enhance service delivery
- Guided physiotherapy student through 4th year research project on chronic pain management, overseeing application and ethics approval process
- Mentoring junior staff
Casual Grade 1
Epworth Richmond
Richmond, VIC
03.2016 - 12.2022
- Prioritized patients for weekend care based on clinical urgency.
- Ensured efficient management of weekend patient caseload to maintain quality care.
- Assessed and treated patients in neuro ward, cardio, and ICU, including neurosurgery cases like craniotomies, spinal surgery, and stroke.
Grade 1
St John of God Health Care
Frankston, VIC
11.2015 - 08.2017
- Independently assessing and treating patients within the rehab setting; including a mixed caseload of musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological patients. Eg Multi-trauma, CABGs, COPD, head trauma, chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, hydrocephalus.
- Independently managing WorkCover and TAC patients; including plan extensions
- Oversaw a quality portfolio for the physiotherapy department, enhancing departmental standards and practices.
- Conducted twice weekly Chronic Disease Management and Cardiac Rehabilitation programs for oncology, COPD, and cardiac patients, delivering educational sessions to improve patient outcomes.
- Executed various quality improvement projects to enhance departmental practices; updating surgeon post-op protocols; reviewing and updating the physiotherapy exercise sheet; reviewing the process of completing a quality project.
- Leading and participating in physiotherapy department in-service's.
- Educated nursing staff on proper use of transfer machines, gait aids, and equipment for multi-trauma patients, ensuring safe and effective patient care.
- Completed Conducted SENSE assessment to evaluate the progress of stroke patients, for a research project through The Florey Institute.
Casual Grade 1
Eastern Health
Box Hill, VIC
11.2015 - 04.2016
- Managed ICU independently on weekend, ensuring seamless patient care
- Independently assess and treat patients in the ICU and acute surgical ward
- Utilize time management and prioritisation skills to review all appropriate patients within a five-hour shift
- Applied effective time management techniques to assess patients within a five-hour shift. and prioritisation skills to review all appropriate patients within a five-hour shift
- Performed Ventilator Hyperinflation to support respiratory function in patients. and transferred patients with tracheostomies safely
Grade 1 Rotating Position
Eastern Health
Box Hill, Vic
01.2014 - 11.2015
- Rotations completed: Angliss Hospital; musculoskeletal and neurological rehab, Box Hill Hospital Cardio; acute surgical and ICU, Maroondah Hospital GEM, Angliss Hospital Acute general medicine and orthopaedic outpatients, and, Wantirna Rehabilitation Centre Community Rehabilitation Program
- Assessed and treated diverse patient populations across the entire healthcare continuum, ensuring comprehensive care delivery
- Mentored and supervised physiotherapy students and junior staff in acute and ICU settings, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence
- Independently assessed and treated patients across the whole healthcare continuum of care, and all types of patients
- Mentored and supervised physiotherapy students and junior staff, especially in acute and ICU setting
- Managing complex patients in ICU; including ventilated patients, ICUAW, Guillain-Barré syndrome.
- Led weekly group physiotherapy sessions to promote patient engagement and rehabilitation.; including Pilates group, joint replacement groups, CDM groups
- Completed a quality project; an educational resource on ICU acquired weakness for physiotherapists, and commenced work on a clinical guideline on the management of ICUAW in the acute setting
Customer Service Representative, part time
GS1 Australia
Mt Waverley, VIC
08.2010 - 12.2013
- Developed strong customer relationships to encourage repeat business.
- Performed administrative tasks such as filing paperwork, updating databases and generating reports.
Education
Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Physiotherapy -
La Trobe University
Bundoora, VIC 01.2010 - 01.2013
Victorian Certificate of Education -
Avila College
Mount Waverley, VIC 01.2004 - 01.2009
Skills
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Spasticity assessment and management
- Chronic pain management
- Pain management techniques
- Gait analysis and training
- Manual therapy
- Hydrotherapy techniques
- Dry needling techniques
- Kinesiology taping
- Clinical leadership
- Student supervision
- Patient advocacy and empowerment
Referees
Claire Maier: Grade 3 Physiotherapist. SJOG Frankston Rehab.
Phone:0493 313 966
Sam Buchanan: Health and Wellbeing Manager, Monash Health.
Phone: 0405 653 992
Email:sambuchanan42@gmail.com
Recent Courses Completed
- Advances in Back Pain Diagnosis and Exercise Prescription 2019
- Exercise to optimise balance, mobility and fall outcomes for older people 2023
- Optimising the underperforming student by Monash Uni 2024
- Upper Limb Spasticity Assessment and Management 2025
- Lower Limb Spasticity Assessment and Management 2026
- Advanced Dry Needling Refresher by Jorgen Forsberg 2026
Timeline
Grade 2 Outpatient physiotherapist
St John of God Health Care
08.2017 - Current
Casual Grade 1
Epworth Richmond
03.2016 - 12.2022
Grade 1
St John of God Health Care
11.2015 - 08.2017
Casual Grade 1
Eastern Health
11.2015 - 04.2016
Grade 1 Rotating Position
Eastern Health
01.2014 - 11.2015
Customer Service Representative, part time
GS1 Australia
08.2010 - 12.2013
Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Physiotherapy -
La Trobe University
01.2010 - 01.2013
Victorian Certificate of Education -
Avila College
01.2004 - 01.2009