09/10/2026
Allied Health Unearthed!
Meet Paddy, MCCI's Senior Exercise Physiologist.
"Don't disregard aged care. I think there's a stigma that aged care might be boring, but if anything, I think I have to think harder and use my brain skills more here than even in general population."
For Paddy, working in aged care means thinking creatively about how exercise can be adapted to each person's abilities.
"If someone can't get out of their chair and you want to work a certain muscle that normally you do lying down, well, how are you going to do that? You kind of have to think outside the box a lot more."
Paddy has worked in the fitness and exercise industry for many years, starting out as a personal trainer before returning to study as a mature age student. He completed an undergraduate degree in Coaching and Exercise Science, followed by a Master's in Exercise Physiology, and spent time working in professional sport.
Before joining MCCI almost five years ago, Paddy worked as an exercise physiologist in a physiotherapy clinic, supporting mostly younger people and the general population. With a young son at home and a long commute to work, he was looking for something closer to home and more flexible, which led him to MCCI.
These days, no two days are quite the same. Paddy works with clients in their homes, runs small group exercise sessions in MCCI's gym and, as a senior exercise physiologist, has also supported and mentored younger EPs as they developed their skills.
One of his favourite parts of the role is seeing people achieve something they weren't able to do before.
One client, an 85-year-old woman, had become nervous about leaving the house following COVID. She had lost strength and was no longer driving. After working on her strength and confidence, she sent Paddy a message to tell him she had managed to get back on the bus.
"It opened up just going to the shops and going to places that she used to know and seeing friends and things. It's moments like that."
For Paddy, those moments are what make the work so rewarding.
"Just give aged care a go. It's really rewarding."
