India Australia Citizen of the Year
by Kelly Stone
A UniSA graduate is the inaugural winner of the India Australia Citizen of the Year Award.
Mr Ananda Jothi, who graduated from UniSA with a Master of Physiotherapy in 1999, was presented with the award by the Indian chapter of the Australian Alumni Association in Chennai, India, on January 26 – India’s Republic Day and Australia Day.
A musculoskeletal physiotherapist and founder of Rehab India, Jothi was recognised for his pioneering efforts in musculoskeletal physiotherapy in India and his voluntary contributions.
He said he was honoured to accept the India Australia Citizen of the Year Award.
"I chose to return to India after completing my Masters degree with UniSA to serve the people and empower the profession of physiotherapy," Jothi said.
He has treated more than 85,000 patients, including a former President of India, sportspeople and entertainment artists. He is a team official for the Paralympics Committee of India, and trained the only gold medallist in the history of the Indian Paralympics.
He has also made academic contributions to the field of physiotherapy by serving as a visiting faculty member at 30 educational institutions, training more than 4000 students and continuing research activities. He also undertakes voluntary work for underprivileged children.
He said UniSA had played an important role in his career development.
"I’ve come across many physiotherapists in India who studied abroad. I would say UniSA is number one…I think the teachers are excellent and specialised in their field," he said.
"I hope to return to Adelaide and UniSA one day. I also look forward to more collaboration to extend the knowledge between Australian physiotherapy and Indian physiotherapy."
Jothi said he hopes his award will help to raise the profile of physiotherapy in India.
"Physios are the second or third contact of practitioner in India, not the first as is usually the case in Australia," he said. "I hope to make physio the first contact of practitioner… I hope it will change the whole system of practice in India."