After 13 years of serving the New England community, physiotherapist Katie Dailhou has opened her own practice in Inverell, creating a space where empathy, accessibility and results take centre stage.
Katie Dailhou Physiotherapy is already making its mark for its calm, inclusive approach, particularly for older adults looking to stay strong and mobile, and for children with autism, ADHD or mobility challenges. Katie also supports clients managing conditions such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, offering treatment tailored to each individual’s needs.
“I’m getting a lot of people who have gone to two or three physios and haven’t really got anywhere, and then come to me and we manage the injuries or symptoms within a couple of sessions,” Katie said.
“I feel like I’m a bit niche, but I just love helping people and being part of the community.”
Her empathy runs deep, shaped by personal experience.
“My father was born with a disability, so I was born into that caring role from the start,” she said.
“It’s made me really passionate about what I do and about making treatment affordable and accessible for everyone.”
Katie’s home-based practice is set up to make clients of all ages and abilities feel at ease. The space is quiet and relaxed, with fidget toys and plenty of flexibility for young clients who need to move.
“If kids need to run around or if we need to do things differently, we just do it,” she said. “It’s about making therapy work for them, not forcing them into something uncomfortable.”
Her commitment to inclusivity extends beyond the clinic. Katie collaborates with SAS Martial Arts and Boxing Gym, providing affordable taping and injury education for young fighters from all backgrounds. “We’re trying to make treatment and education affordable for them too,” she said.
“They’re not there to make money; they just want to help the community, and so do I.”
After leaving a previous workplace that no longer aligned with her values, Katie took the leap to start her own business earlier this year.
“It was scary,” she said. “But I had such supportive friends, patients and my partner saying, ‘You can do it.’ I just knew it was time.”
Currently working two days a week in her own clinic while continuing part-time aged care work, Katie plans to grow her business steadily.
“I’d love to eventually go full-time and run strength and conditioning and hydrotherapy classes,” she said. “I want it to be about staying strong and ageing gracefully. It’s a privilege to get older, and we should be training for that.”
In a region where chiropractic care is more widely recognised, Katie said she was surprised at how many people don’t know what a physiotherapist does – even people she has known for a long time. So she’s also working to raise awareness about the profession and how they can help.
“A lot of people didn’t know what physios do,” she said. “They thought I was just a massage therapist.”
“So I’ve been doing posts on my Facebook page explaining what we can help with, and it’s been amazing to see people go, ‘I didn’t know that.’”
She particularly likes helping people who have had no success with other treatments, and has found each time she posts one of her educational pieces about how physiotherapists can help, she gets lots of messages from people who didn’t know physio was an option.
“And then they come to me and they go, I’ve had this pain for six years. I’ve been to Chiro’s for six years and nothing. I’ve come to you and I’ve got less pain in one session.”
Her passion for education and empowerment shapes everything she does. “I want people to manage themselves, not rely on endless appointments,” she said.
“I’ll see you a few times, get things under control, then space it out until you’re confident.”
Katie also brings a strong sense of community and fairness to her work. She supports NDIS, Medicare and private health clients, and makes an effort to keep her services affordable.
“I just want people to be able to get the help they need,” she said.
For Katie, the reward comes from seeing people regain confidence and independence. “When someone tells me they’ve been in pain for years and they finally feel better, that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
Asked what advice she would give someone starting their own business, Katie said it’s about courage and learning along the way. “Just do it,” she said. “There’s never going to be a perfect time, and you never know what opportunities you’ll come across. Keep learning, keep growing, and don’t be afraid to say yes to new things.”
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