Massage Therapist
Cert IV Physio Assistant, Level 2 Sports Trainer
Currently studying to become a Physio
Main interests: Athletes and active clients. Experienced in treating swimmers, footballers, runners, and great with junior athletes.
Clients seeing Payton are unable to claim Healthfund rebates at this time.
Payton’s Story
I grew up on a farm on the Gold Coast with my parents, six brothers and two sisters. We didn’t have a computer until I was ten, and to this day I still love doing things the old-fashioned pen-and-paper way whenever I can. Being the youngest of nine and joining the family much later, my parents were a lot older than most of my peers’ parents. My older brother stepped into a big parental role—he taught me how to ride my bike, brush my teeth, and how to be a kind and thoughtful person. He’s not just my older brother—he’s my biggest role model and the person I admire most in the world. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on the couch with my dad, eating ice cream directly from the tub. We have so many photos of us just eating together—my love language of food definitely comes from him. At 16, I chose to follow a vegan diet, influenced by my love of animals and my own health journey.
Growing up playing sports, I became the unofficial team massage therapist—I found the human body and its ability to heal absolutely fascinating. After finishing high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I dabbled in a few uni degrees—Psychology, Environmental Science, and Business—before deciding to take a year off to work and travel. While working as a chef, I had a bad fall and subluxated my C2 vertebra. This led to years of cervical spine issues, including neck, shoulder, and back pain, trouble walking, and chronic migraines. Physiotherapy was the only thing that alleviated my symptoms and helped me understand what was going on in my body. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in physiotherapy.
I started by completing a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance at TAFE, then spent a year studying Exercise Science to get into the Physiotherapy course. Now I’m a qualified Level 2 Sports Trainer, and loving every moment of treating my soccer team—the Gold Coast Legends—while I study. When I graduate, I’m particularly interested in vestibular and migraine therapy. As a rock climber, I also have a special interest in hand therapy—so many exciting directions to explore!
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to slow down, unpack patterns, and remind myself what’s actually true in the moment.
