Physiotherapy student named student rep of the year

Huge congratulations to third year physiotherapy student Rhys Hughes, who has been voted 2014 Student Representative of the year by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

The award, voted for by all UK members, was presented at the 2014 Annual Representative Conference (ARC) on Monday 3^rd March, and is a great achievement considering there are over 30 physiotherapy programmes represented within the CSP.

Rhys, a regional co-ordinator for the south west and Wales, was praised for his approachability and for dealing with members' concerns on issues such as placement problems, grade disputes and managing dyslexia. He was also recognised for championing the use of digital technology and making the CSP more accessible to student members - boosting the following of the CSP student Twitter page, and creating the CSP student Facebook page.

Fittingly, this year's ARC conference took place in Cardiff, with members gathered at the Mercure Holland House Hotel. The awards were made by the CSP's chair of council Sue Rees, and Rhys received huge applause as he collected his Student Rep of the Year award on 'home turf'.

Rhys was also awarded the 2014 CSP Welsh Board Prize for dedication to the profession (voted for by CSP Welsh Board members).

Rhys says; "It was a true honour and completely unexpected, there are many physiotherapy students who do what I do on a daily basis, and the work that they do in promoting the profession, supporting their peers and the passion they have for physiotherapy is phenomenal. My thanks have got to go out to everyone who has supported me throughout my degree: physiotherapy students throughout the UK, my peers here at Cardiff University, members in Wales, all tutors at Cardiff University, my clinical supervisors, family, parents and friends, girlfriend and last but not least Jamie Carson (CSP Student Support Officer), without his continuing support half of what we do as students just couldn't happen."

Tony Everett, the School's Director of Undergraduate Studies for Allied Health Professions, elaborated; "With typical modesty Rhys has reluctantly accepted the praise, not only for his two recent honours but also for the consistent high quality input he gives as a student representative throughout the year. Rhys has played a major role in transforming the representation of the student body by his very professional Chairmanship of the Student/Staff Panels as the outward face and his tactful behind the scenes organisation and development. In a way Rhys is correct when he states that many students do what he does, which reflects the calibre of students within physiotherapy and healthcare in general – but Rhys does it that much better.

As staff we are proud of our student body – but some go that extra mile. Well done Rhys."