Get to know Briony O’Connor. She is an accomplished expert who regularly conducts prenatal and postnatal exercise classes for women in Keperra and Chermside for the Be in Blossom initiative. With almost 20 years of experience in physiotherapy, she has been making a difference in women’s health.
Briony has accumulated invaluable experience in caring for obstetric and gynaecological patients. She has dedicated more than 19 years of her career to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), with 10 of those years dedicated to conducting comprehensive pelvic floor assessments, delivering antenatal and postnatal care, and providing essential cancer care, including lymphedema training.
Her role extended to educating final-year physiotherapy students, instilling in them the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the realm of Women’s Health.
Briony is a certified Pilates instructor, having successfully completed a rigorous 12-month training program in 2003. She has also conducted lectures on the application of Pilates techniques during pregnancy, demonstrating her deep knowledge in this specialised area.
Furthermore, Briony boasts an impressive 15-year background in classical dance, achieving an Advanced level in the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.). She now leverages this extensive experience in choreographing dance classes and skillfully crafting well-designed and dynamic antenatal and postnatal exercise programs as part of the Be In Blossom initiative.
Under her guidance, Be in Blossom consistently raises funds for various Brisbane-based organisations, including Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, Mater Little Miracles, Hear & Say, Australasian Birth Trauma Association, and Peachtree Perinatal Wellness.
The Hills Women’s Collective, a dynamic group of motivated women from northwest Brisbane she founded four years ago, has successfully raised funds for charities dedicated to domestic violence. Their flagship event, “Sweat Like A Girl,” has amassed over $25,000 for DVConnect and RizeUp.
For 14 years, Briony has provided Physiotherapy care within the maternity unit at North West Private Hospital. Her commitment to women’s health took a significant step forward in 2022 when she became an integral member of the Ramsay Health Plus team. This expanded role allowed her to offer a broader spectrum of care, catering to both inpatient and outpatient needs, ensuring more women have access to her specialised physiotherapy services.
Briony’s qualifications and memberships further underscore her unwavering commitment to excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with First-Class Honors from UQ, and she is actively involved with organisations such as the Australian Physiotherapy Association; Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Group; Women’s Health Training Associates (WHTA); and the Continence Foundation of Australia.
Published 6-October-2023
