A Queensland physiotherapist has spent five months working as a volunteer, performing post-operative rehabilitation for orthopaedic as well as helping with burns and plastic surgery cases in one of the world’s poorest countries.

Nick Veltjens, who works at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, volunteered with global charity Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he provided professional care and helped establish clubfoot clinics around the country, in a bid to empower local clinicians.

Mr Veltjens said it was a rewarding experience.

“Seeing the whole journey of patients from admission to discharge is one of the great things,” he said.

“When you see young children taking their first steps on new straight legs, when you see a parent start crying when they see their little boy putting on his first pair of shoes, or when one of the little kids runs up to give you a warm hug, it is hard not to want to return to Africa and do it all again.

“One of the most rewarding experiences is to see parents smiling proudly at their child’s progress, knowing you had a small part to play in helping them have a vastly different and brighter future,” he said.

Mercy Ships has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978, providing free health care and community development services to the poor.

Each year, the Africa Mercy provides more than 7000 free surgeries at its state-of-the-art hospital complete with six operating theatres, 78 hospital beds and a crew of 450 people.