Suzie Goodall, Director and Senior Titled Sports Physio at Powerhouse Canberra, combines her love of health and sports with a dynamic career in physiotherapy. Driven by a passion to help athletes excel, Suzie has worked with top teams like Australia’s Kookaburras, achieving her dream of supporting elite athletes on home soil. With a commitment to delivering world-class care locally, she thrives on helping clients recover stronger and faster, all while balancing a busy practice and a love for adventure.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your field, and how did you get started?
I’ve always loved health and sport and knew that just being a Registered Nurse wouldn’t be enough to travel with an Australian team, so why not add physio into the mix as I would have more to offer, which is how I got my first gig with Hockey Australia back in 2005.
What moment in your career are you most proud of, and why does it stand out to you?
Working with the Australian Men’s Hockey Team, the Kookaburrras. My goal was to work and travel with an Australian team and I have now worked with both Men’s and Women’s Junior and Senior Australian hockey teams and travelled the world with them. However, the pinnacle was working with the Kookaburras for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Home soil, number one team in the world at the time and I felt like I had finally realised my dream.
What are your favourite things about living and working in the Canberra region?
There is such a great opportunity to be involved in different sports at local, national and international levels, especially for a sports physio. There is always hope that the AIS will one day come back to full life and house a multitude of athletes.
What advice do you have for young people looking to enter the working world?
Never get to the point where you say “If only I …”.
Make the most of any and every opportunity that comes your way because you never know which one will lead to that dream you have been wanting.
What drives you to continuously enhance your professional skills?
I just want to be the best at what I do. I want to be that person who gets people back doing what they love, better, faster and stronger. I want to bring world class, locally.
How significant is the support of family and friends in helping you throughout your career and life?
Huge! There is no way I could have done what I’ve done without my unbelievably understanding husband – can you believe he even expects ‘free’ physio! My family and friends have always been there to not only support me through the tough times but also to cheer me on from the sidelines.
Have you faced any major challenges in your career? If so, how did you overcome them?
Running your own business is always challenging especially during Covid times or when team members move on. This is why you need a support network outside of work.
Outside of work, what activities or passions keep you energised?
When I do manage to steal time away from my business, I love to hit the roads on my motorbike, watch some girly Hallmark movies, and love a good trashy Mills & Boon romance novel.
What are your top tips for creating a healthy work-life balance?
Ah, I don’t believe I have worked that one out yet! But the most obvious thing is to leave work at work and find ‘me’ time. I would certainly suggest you do this at the start of your career because it is very hard learning to do this midway through.
Powerhouse Canberra
National Hockey Centre, 196 Mouat Street, Lyneham
