Leanna Testa, a mother of two from Longreach in Western Queensland, sought specialist help for abdominal separation after childbirth but has been unable to access local pelvic floor physiotherapy services since May 2026. Despite obtaining a referral, she has not received any follow-up communication.

The Central West's sole public pelvic floor physiotherapist, who had been based at Longreach Hospital for several years, left the region in July 2026. This departure has left mothers like Testa without local access to vital post-birth allied health support.

"I was talking to a few mums at the Feral Mums Club about it, just wanting to know with ab[dominal] separation, what I'm dealing with, if it's severe or if it's minor," Testa said. "One of the mums told me that there was a lady [pelvic floor physiotherapist] out here and that she is amazing."

One former patient described the treatment as life-changing, noting it enabled daily activities without pain, such as walking up stairs and getting in and out of a car.

Craig Carey, executive director of regional health, highlighted the broader challenge: "Across Queensland and indeed Australia, allied health clinicians with specialist skills are in short supply and extremely difficult to attract and retain in remote areas, including the Central West."

Since 2020, 669 physiotherapists have completed pelvic health training courses aimed at improving after-birth treatment, but the shortage persists in remote communities.

Currently, women in Longreach must travel hundreds of kilometres to access pelvic floor physiotherapy, complicating care during a period of increased births in the region.

Sources