Victoria Purdy
Associate Hand Therapist
BPhty (Physiotherapy)
PGDip (Health & Science)
About Victoria
After qualifying as a physiotherapist from Otago University in 1996 I briefly worked in my home city of Wellington before moving to the North Shore, Auckland. I initially worked as a rotational physiotherapist at Middlemore hospital and was fortunate to spend time working in burns and plastics and hand therapy. Since Middlemore I have had a varied career path with time spent working in paediatrics at Wilson Centre, Takapuna, ACC and for various rehabilitation companies.
I completed the Hand and Upper Limb Therapy paper a number of years ago but chose to focus on injury prevention and rehabilitation within the workplace after a period of time at ACC. For the past 15 years, I have focussed on health within the workplace and have a strong background in injury/illness management, complex pain, worksite assessments, task analysis, ergonomic advice and manual handling.
I have always been interested in the impact work activities have on upper limb pain and the various management options both in the clinic and workplace. I have recently joined the team at O Hands as an Associate Hand Therapist looking to therefore extend my knowledge whilst gaining hand therapy registration. Working with Stephanie, Ellen and Odele is a privilege and wonderful to be able to reconnect after training and working with them previously.
Anneke Hielkema
Associate Hand Therapist
BHSc (Physio)
PG cert Acupuncture
About Anneke
Hi, I’m Anneke! I grew up on the North Shore of Auckland, before spending a few years in Wellington and then the Middle East – returning to Auckland to go to university. I graduated in 2014 with a degree in Physiotherapy, working in musculoskeletal and vocational rehabilitation.
I returned to university in 2016 to complete a post graduate certificate in Western medical acupuncture and have continued to work in private practice musculoskeletal & vocational physiotherapy before commencing a Hand therapy associateship in 2019.
Hand therapy has been a significant interest since commencing my undergraduate training in 2011. Quality of hand and upper limb function has a significant impact on participation in the relationships and activities that are meaningful to us and our overall wellbeing and independence. Seeing and experiencing first-hand the impact of losing this function made me particularly keen to be part of helping others recover and manage these sometimes-complex injuries and changes in our bodies. I am currently working toward a post graduate diploma in health science and continue to have a keen interest in exercise rehabilitation and the power and impact movement medicine can have on our whole person, body
and mind.
When not working/studying I enjoy being in nature, yoga, and spending time with friends, family and animals.