51黑料

鈥淲e had great student leaders who created a safe environment where people could thrive.鈥�

Yarra鈥檚 welcoming community struck Miranda as soon as she arrived at the school in Year 10. Initially overwhelmed by the size of Yarra, from day one she remembers feeling excited about what lay ahead.

鈥淚 felt settled and comfortable and that ensured I had the courage to reach out to my fellow Year 10s who, like me, were also new to the school. Until that point, I鈥檇 never experienced that sense of community and it blew me away,鈥� says Miranda.

Miranda鈥檚 creative talents saw her make the most of Yarra鈥檚 extensive program and she studied studio arts, fine arts and graphic arts. However, after a conversation with her dad who suggested an arts career may not be the best way forward, Miranda鈥檚 VCE years were weighted towards the sciences 鈥� something she is now grateful for.

鈥淚t was a challenge and not my natural inclination and so I had to push myself to do those subjects 鈥� but I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today if I鈥檇 continued down the arts path. I wouldn鈥檛 be so fulfilled in my career.鈥�

Miranda studied science at the University of Melbourne and was determined to be part of a team curing incurable disease. But when a lecturer told her that her generation wouldn鈥檛 cure cancer in their lifetime, Miranda decided to re-evaluate what came next.

She completed a business marketing degree, got a job with a major retailer and then lost that job during the global financial crisis.

鈥淎t that point I did some soul searching and I came back to experiences I had at Yarra with the Community Links program. I worked with autistic children and that brought together science and creativity and led me to where I am today,鈥� she says.

Miranda did a health science degree and then a doctor of physiotherapy, specialising in neurological conditions. Today she is the founder of Innervation Lab, a gym with accessible spaces for people with neurological injury that caters to all abilities and mobilities.

鈥淲e create opportunities for people with neurological disorders to be creative, to move and to bridge the gap between home and community. My job is to find ways for them to get back into their community 鈥� that might mean they can go swimming with their kids or drive their car again.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be happier doing what I do now and the passion and drive for what I do today began in Year 10 at Yarra with Community Links,鈥� she says.

You can find out more about Miranda's fully accessible gym, Innervation Lab, here -