Decade of local care changing lives

On the tenth anniversary of his Springfield Central physiotherapy clinic, local dad Adam Atherton looks forward to transforming more lives at home and abroad.

Orion Family Physiotherapy staff Megan Canning and Yvonne Baker with owners Emma and Adam Atherton. IMAGE: EMMA SCHAFER

ADAM Atherton and his Orion Family Physiotherapy team are in the business of transforming lives.

The practice celebrated 10 years and more than 14,000 patients on Tuesday, but that figure did not include the HIV affected women and children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) supported through its incorporated charity iCare4U.

Mr Atherton and his wife Emma co-found the charity about two years ago with two long-time friends based in PNG.

By the end of next month, they will have built the country’s first dedicated respite centre for women and children who are marginalised and living with the effects of HIV.

They had already facilitated the adoption of two HIV affected babies.

Many hundreds more had been reached through its delivery of care packages to schools and churches.

“Success is about yourself, but significance is about others,” Mr Atherton said, quoting a friend who had inspired his ventures.

“There’s nothing wrong with a successful life but I think for me the return on investment for a life well lived is a life that has impacted others.”

It was this same attitude that saw him give up a ­potential basketball career over in America to study physiotherapy in Brisbane.

“What physiotherapists do is transformative. I’ve had multiple patients look me in the eye and tell me they would not have wanted to live if they had to continue in pain,” the soon to-be father of five said.

Orion Family Physiotherapy has also donated about $100,000 to Westside Community Care (WCC) who support struggling families ­locally.

Pastor Phil Cutcliffe of WCC said Orion Family Physiotherapy donations had gone towards a community bus, physio and migraine clinic sessions and vouchers and food parcels for struggling families.

“I am thrilled that Adam started this business and that it has done so well here in Springfield over the past ten years,” he said.

“I feel this way because Adam and the business are most kind, generous, caring, engaging, proactive and community minded.”

Young athletes and Springfield sporting teams have also benefited from its sponsorship.

“We’re a values based business and we focus on people,” Mr Atherton said.

“We really care and we hope that is felt in the community.”

Mr Atherton also empowers, educates and encourages new and recent graduate physiotherapists through his Complete Clinician ­Institute.