Monique Vujcich, Matakana Physio

I started working with Robyn Weston as a self-employed contractor in February. At the moment I am doing 12 to 15 hours a week at the clinic in Matakana, but I also do cccupational rehabilitation work on the other days. This is the first step towards fully owning my own business so I am very excited and privileged to be learning from Robyn. As a local girl, it’s awesome to be able to put something back into the community and be working as a young health professional in an area where I grew up and went to school.Leaving my job in Auckland was a big step. I worried about whether I would get the support I had in Auckland for my professional development and whether I could afford to become self-employed as I have a mortgage. I had a big pros and cons list – but the pros outweighed the cons so that made it easy to make the decision, especially when I was travelling up to two hours a day – I love having a 20 minute return trip to work!

In 10 years I see myself owning Matakana Physio and bringing new treatment ideas to the practice, and I would also like to do some postgraduate studies.

Advice: If you want to do it, do it. You have to do what makes you happy and what you love, but make sure you don’t jump into it without thinking it through and ensure you have supportive people around you.