14/12/2024
🎉✨ We're thrilled to share that our incredible physiotherapist, Lawrence Shaw, has been featured in today's papers! 📰👏
This well-deserved recognition is a testament to his unwavering dedication, hard work, and passion for helping others. Lawrence continues to inspire us all with his commitment to improving the lives of his patients and advancing the field of physiotherapy.
Congratulations, Lawrence! We are so proud of you and all that you've achieved. Keep shining and making a difference! 🌟🙌
Article:
An article by Ioane Asioli about our physiotherapist Lawrence Shaw published in the FIJI SUN (SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14-15, 2024)
NOTHING BEATS HARD WORK
Going Places As a Sports Physio
Lawrence Shaw's dedication towards his career as physiotherapist has allowed him to meet and work with many athletes from various sporting federations. "I've been a physio for eight to nine years now," he told SUNsports, "I've been with Fiji hockey for five years, since 2019.
Early beginning
Shaw originally hails from Bau, Tailevu, with maternal links to Navatuyaba Village in Rewa. "We were basically raised in Kinoya, Suva," he said. "Our grandparents stayed in Lami and Raiwaqa, so we were also raised in Raiwaqa and Lami." Shaw attended Marist Brothers Primary School from 2000 to 2007. He attended Marist Brothers High School from 2008 to 2012. "I completed a diploma in sports science at Marist Brothers High School through the sports academy programme," he said. Shaw earned a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree at the Fiji National University (FNU) School of Medicine in 2017. Shaw also represented Fiji in karate at the Oceania Championships in 2008 and 2011. "I also took part in the World Karate Junior Championships in Turkey in 2012," he said.
Family support
The Shaws are a sporting family who have participated in sports like hockey and rugby. "The thing that got to me most is injuries. I've injured my ankle, popped my shoulder, and broken my right wrist," Shaw said. He is often seen by a physiotherapist due to his numerous injuries. "I injured myself once and went to see a physiotherapist, then I thought to myself that I could consider this as a career," he recalled. "From there on, I never looked back." Shaw said he enjoys meeting and socializing with people in his line of work. He strongly believes an individual needs to be passionate to pursue a career as a physiotherapist.
"You can't just do it for the sake of doing it, and family support is also needed," he said.
"The good thing is that my workplace is quite understanding; they support these things as well."
Make use of what you have.
Shaw said they had to learn and adapt to the resources available. "In Fiji, we don't have the supplies that other countries have, so we have to work with what we have," he said. "For the minority sports, which I would like to work more on, funding is the main thing they need." Shaw said there needs to be more funding for minority sports in order to grow them. Shaw said the physiotherapist he used to work with for rehabilitation is his current boss. "My boss's name is Apao Erasito, and we work in a clinic at Bureta called Pasefika Physiotherapy Pte Limited," he said. "I was with the hospital for a while, then Fiji Rugby, after that Pasefika Physiotherapy was looking for a physio, so I joined them."
Record
• Hospital (Physiotherapy Department): 2018–2019.
• Fiji Rugby: 2018–2019.
• Suva and Marist Rugby: 8 years.
• Pasefika Physiotherapy: 2019 to date.
Career highlights
Shaw said he was fortunate to be part of the national team that travelled to Oman for the Hockey World Cup from January 27–30 this year. "We had the World Cup Qualifiers, the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands, and the World Cup, all within six months," he said.
"I travelled with the team; we were in Brisbane, Australia, and in the next few months, we had to go to the Solomon Islands.
"We came back, then, after a short turnaround, within two months, we were in Dubai, then Oman."
Role models
Shaw said his parents have been his biggest role models. "I've seen them work hard while putting their heads down," he said. "If you work hard enough, you'll basically get the rewards later." Looking ahead, Shaw is hopeful that more young physiotherapists will join the field of sports physiotherapy. "As a physio, you would decide whether you would go to the hospital, private clinics, or sports," he said. "My main target is to get more young physiotherapists to join the sports profession because we are getting older. We want younger physios to come and help." Shaw said the younger physios would be of great help towards minor sports like hockey, badminton, and squash. "There would be a need for more physios to get more exposure and talk to the younger physios that there's more to it than just going to hospitals and clinics," he said. Shaw said physiotherapy is a good profession suitable for the upcoming generation. "I urge young people out there to keep working hard to reach their goals," he added.
