Career changers bring life experience to new allied health cohort

Townsville University Hospital (TUH) has welcomed two career-changers whose diverse life experiences have helped shape their path into allied health, joining this year’s cohort of 26 new graduates across eight disciplines.

Social worker Yasith Hathurusinghe and physiotherapist Kevin Graniglia each took unconventional routes into healthcare, finding their way to TUH through cadetships, assistant roles, and student placements after initially pursuing very different careers.

Social worker Yasith’s career began far from the hospital wards.

After completing a Bachelor of Laws at the University of London and gaining experience in the legal field, Yasith realised he wanted a meaningful change.

“I wanted a career that was more humanistic, compassionate, and people-focused,” Mr Hathurusinghe said.

“I relocated from Sri Lanka to Australia on a scholarship to study a Master of Social Work and, early in my degree, applied for a temporary part-time social work assistant role at TUH, despite having limited knowledge of the profession at the time.

“To my surprise and gratitude, I was successful.

“As I progressed through my studies, the temporary role became permanent, giving me invaluable exposure to clinical social work in a hospital environment.”

Yasith later completed his final university placement in the TUH palliative care unit, before securing his current position in the paediatric and paediatric oncology unit.

“The most valuable part of my journey is that I was able to foster my skills, knowledge, and professional identity while working continuously within the social work department at TUH,” he said.

“The department has played a pivotal role in shaping me into the qualified social worker I am today.”

Physiotherapy graduate Kevin Graniglia also brings a wealth of life experience to his new role.

After a long career in business and accounting, Kevin said he felt a growing desire to make a more meaningful impact.

“I was working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic and reflecting on what I wanted the rest of my life to look like,” Mr Graniglia said.

“Encouraged by friends, I applied to study physiotherapy at the age of 45, was successful, and later joined the TUH cadet program.

“As a mature-aged student living on campus, I became a sort of mentor for first-year students, supporting younger peers and challenging stereotypes about older learners.”

Graduating at the age of 50, Kevin began his first physiotherapy rotation at the Kirwan community health campus in 2025 and said helping patients achieve their personal goals motivated him most.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone get back to doing what they love, even the simplest things like playing golf again,” he said.

Executive director of allied health Danielle Hornsby said the diverse backgrounds of graduates like Yasith and Kevin enriched the health service and reflected the many pathways into allied health.

“This year we have 26 new graduates commencing their careers with us,” Ms Hornsby said.

“There is a real energy that comes with new graduates starting their careers, and we feel that excitement right across our allied health teams.

“We’re proud to offer an environment where graduates can learn, grow and build confidence, supported by experienced clinicians who are deeply committed to teaching and mentorship.”