Cape York Leaders Program tertiary scholar Layla Broderick is studying for a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at CQUniversity and has completed her second year in a Cadet Program. Layla has been gaining hands-on experience across Cape York while building the knowledge and skills she hopes to bring back to community. Hear from Layla in her own words below:
I am currently in my second year of Physiotherapy and have just begun my second year with the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services Allied Health Cadet Program. This cadetship has given me the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working alongside Allied Health teams across Cape York, which has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
In late 2025, I was based in Cooktown, supporting outreach services into Hope Vale, where I worked with patients and saw firsthand the importance of delivering care in remote communities. In February 2026, I continued my placement in Weipa, supporting patients across Weipa, Napranum and Mapoon. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the health challenges in our region and strengthened my commitment to contributing to better health outcomes for our people.
During my summer break, I undertook one of my second-year subjects, Medical Pathophysiology, to reduce my study load for the second semester of this year. Although it was academically challenging, completing it early has given me a stronger foundation in understanding how the body responds to illness and injury, allowing me to engage more deeply with my current second-year subjects. These subjects build on foundational knowledge by exploring key areas of physiotherapy, such as the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal systems, as well as functional anatomy and biomechanics. Having this prior knowledge enhances my ability to understand and apply the content rather than learning it alongside them for the first time.
More recently, I’ve faced a personal challenge. After returning to AFL just a fortnight ago, I broke my finger and required surgery. This has impacted my ability to fully participate in the practical components of my course and has made me rethink how I stay connected to sport while balancing my studies and recovery.
Through all of this, I am becoming more focused on the role I want to play, not just in supporting people with existing health conditions, but in understanding how primary prevention and early intervention can support individuals and families to lead strong, healthy lives.
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