Jordan Salesa
Physiotherapist and manager/co-owner
Physio Rehab Group, Physio Rehab Group Physiotherapist - NZ Academy of Sport
Family is very important to Jordan and he credits his family with “both challenging and supporting me, furnishing me with an intimate understanding of sharing, communication, tolerance and experience. My strengths emerge from my family, to whom they return”.
A Samoan New Zealander, Jordan enjoys being part of an extremely close-knit and high-achieving family. Jordan and his Hungarian-born wife Dora, a secondary school PE teacher, are busy raising their four children. Raised by his Samoan father and palagi mother, Jordan is also proud of his siblings, including Rhode scholar younger brother Damon.
Jordan’s experience has taught him that “people can achieve anything despite the many obstacles they have to overcome”.
Favourite inspirational quote
“Just do it!” - Nike
Profile
Describe your job
I contract directly to the New Zealand Academy of Sport (NZASNI) where I work within the high performance support team looking after elite New Zealand athletes – (from swimming, yachting and athletics to triathletes and para olympians). My main roles are to develop strategies that minimise risk and prevent injury, assess and treat injuries and generally help maintain elite athletes to train at very high levels.
What do you do on an average day?
At NZASNI Rehab Centre, I see specific athletes, including those with disabilities, to maintain or review and treat their injuries, ensure paper work is complete and communicate with athletes, coaches, strength and conditioner trainers, performance planners, parents, high performance managers, doctors, surgeons and so on. And...see more athletes!
What do you love about your job?
It’s human endeavour at its best. Working with people who are dedicated to achieving great things for themselves, their families and their country. I like being involved with and seeing the background stuff – the hard work!
What opportunities does your job offer?
Too big to list! The world is your oyster, possibilities are endless. I have been all over the world and seen some of the best sporting moments in New Zealand and Samoan sporting history. I’ve been to many great events including three Olympics, two Commonwealth Games and two Rugby World Cups. The thing that resonates with me is the people I have met and the experiences brought through meeting them.
What skills, training, education or past experiences have helped you in secure your job?
My upbringing, afakasi (half-caste Samoan/New Zealander), has given me a very rounded perspective to life and culture. I understand the importance of striving to achieve something that you want to do. Being good with people also helps.
Why did you want to work in the disability sector?
Physiotherapists play vital roles in helping people with disabilities. We are movement experts aiming to maximise movement for all people. This is particularly rewarding when dealing with people who have disabilities as any improvements in how they move has a huge impact on their lives and those around them.
How does your role impact or help Pacific people with disabilities and their families?
There are very few Pacific providers in my field of high performance sports. I certainly bring who I am into what I do – a New Zealand born Samoan who is very practical and very hands on. I know I bring a sense of relaxed calmness to what can sometimes be very tense or stressful situations.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to work in the disability sector?
Often athletes with disabilities are very much “can do people” and an absolute delight to work with.
Find out more
For more information about becoming a physiotherapist like Jordan, check out these links from Careers New Zealand to learn more about:
- Education and training requirements to become a physiotherapist
- The job requirements, working conditions, renumeration and career progression
- Career planning
- Job hunting, CV and Interview tips and information
- Information on study, training and career planning for Pasifika New Zealanders
- Information on scholarships, grants and awards and how to apply for them
For job vacancies in the mental health, addictions and disability sectors, check out our job vacancies page. You can also check out Futures that work, Le Va’s Pacific health workforce development programme, for information on our scholarships and awards.
