Rahni Bacon always knew that she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. She didn’t know that one day she would be helping them do things they didn’t think were possible. 

“I’ve always wanted to work with people or animals,” she said. “I just knew that was what I wanted to do.” 

Growing up in Morangup, a small rural community outside Perth, Rahni’s early life was shaped by a strong sense of self‑reliance and family. Her father worked on a poultry farm and her mother in hospitality and administration.  

University wasn’t a familiar pathway, but it was always encouraged. 

“I think I was one of the first in my family to go,” she said. “My parents always wanted us to do some form of tertiary education, just to better ourselves.” 

The inspiration came while flipping through course guides in high school. Exercise physiology jumped off the page, offering her the opportunity to use movement to help people. 

“I thought it looked interesting,” she said. “And I figured if I didn’t like it, I could always change.” 

She never did. 

At Murdoch, Rahni found a sense of independence and purpose that she hadn’t experienced at school. The support and flexibility of the university allowed her to balance work and study, while practical placements exposed her to a wide range of career options. 

Uni was challenging, but I loved it. It’s different when you choose what you’re doing. 

Those placements eventually led Rahni into the disability sector with Ability WA, where she began her career as an exercise physiologist and has remained ever since.  

Working in a field where no two people present the same way, she quickly discovered that textbook approaches only go so far. 

“One of the biggest things is that exercise doesn’t look the same for everyone,” she said.  

“I don’t make people fit the exercise – I make the exercise work for them.” 

It’s an approach grounded in curiosity and listening. She asks questions and tries different strategies until she finds what works for each individual. For Rahni, that’s where care becomes real.  

“I always want to give people the opportunity to move,” she said. “Being able to move and exercise is something everyone should have access to.” 

In practice, that might mean building strength so someone can lift an oven tray, change their bedsheets, or join a community activity. It might mean finding creative ways to adapt movement through games, routines or social environments.  

It often means helping someone recognise that they are capable of more than they thought. 

“I love when someone does something and looks at me like, ‘I didn’t think I could do that,’” she said. “That’s the best part. You show them they can do it – just in their own way.” 

The work can be demanding, both physically and emotionally. Supporting people through complex challenges requires patience, empathy and persistence. But for Rahni, the rewards outweigh the difficulty.  

A career that cares is hard, because you care, but it’s also the most rewarding thing you can do.

Much of that reward comes from the everyday impact of her work. It’s in the small, practical achievements that restore independence and build confidence. 

“I’m most proud of the difference I make for the people I work with,” she said. “Just helping someone do something they couldn’t do before.” 

Beyond individual outcomes, Rahni also sees her role as helping people reconnect with their communities.  

Many people she supports face barriers to accessing physical activity, whether through limited mobility, lack of information or uncertainty about where to start. Part of her work involves helping them find those pathways again. 

“There’s still community out there,” she said. “Sometimes people just need help finding it.” 

Looking back, Rahni’s path into exercise physiology may not have been carefully mapped out, but it has led her to work that feels meaningful. 

“I love what I do,” she said. “It makes you a happier person – and it makes a difference.” 

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