Katee

Ability Action Australia

Straight out of school I entered university to study a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science before transferring to a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. I was drawn to OT as I love helping people be the best they can be and wanted a role where I could build relationships and work together with people to achieve their goals.

I came aboard the Ability Action Australia Graduate Program in early 2021. I’m really enjoying the support, guidance and encouragement they offer to be the best I can be in my chosen career. The team are always encouraging me to meet my personal goals and expand my skill set. I love that everyone is open to supporting each other whenever and wherever it is needed.

What’s really great about Ability Action Australia is the culture and team cohesion. I appreciate having my achievements acknowledged, whether they are big or small. And as a new graduate, I have valued the one-on-one support I’ve received in all areas of OT, such as paediatrics, assistive technology, home modifications and mental health.

I’m excited about the future and would like to specialise in mental health and home modifications. I’m also striving for a leadership role to help others achieve their own career goals, just like I’ve been supported.

If I had any advice for new grads looking for a rewarding career, I’d say:

Take time out to complete self-paced learning and develop your knowledge and skills about the NDIS sector and the rewarding career it offers
After graduation, find a company that supports growing your skills and knowledge (and of course, come to Ability Action Australia if you can!)
Don’t be afraid to ask questions – every question allows us to learn and become better health professionals

Maddy

Ability Action Australia

I always knew I wanted to work within the health sector, so I started a Nutrition and Dietetics degree. I soon discovered it wasn’t really what I wanted, so I took some time off to travel. During those travels I met an Occupational Therapist who introduced me to this unique way of supporting people. It was then and there I decided to complete a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.

After my studies, I joined Ability Action Australia because I was excited by the flexibility, work culture and further training offered through the graduate program. I’m really keen to continue to grow my skills so I can make a difference in participants’ lives.

In the future, I’d like to work toward a leadership position with Ability Action Australia. That would enable me to support future graduates through the same program which has helped me get started as an OT.

My advice to other OT students is:

Don’t be afraid to give everything a go during your practicals – nobody judges you and in actual fact they really want to support you
Ask questions and take every opportunity you can to further your knowledge and skills
Most of all: have FUN! It’s so much fun being an OT student, so enjoy the time you have

Shirley

Ability Action Australia

I worked for 35 years in a different sector, but as I looked to my future I wanted to do something that would enable me to gave back to my community. I’d been inspired by some OTs that had supported by daughter when she was unwell and also my father when he had a stroke. I saw the positive impact of their work first hand, so I started to investigate OT career options.

It has certainly turned out to be a perfect choice for me. The best thing about my job is helping clients achieve their goals while continually increasing my knowledge base. My senior supervisor is fantastic, and the onboarding training at the start of the program was very in-depth. Even the interview was great! It was done in a relaxed style where I felt comfortable to talk about my placement experiences and put my best foot forward. The pitch for work-life balance, the family-style culture and the ongoing support for grads at Ability Action Australia were huge selling points for me.

Looking ahead, I’m striving for a role as a Senior OT within the next five years. I would love the opportunity to support other students to discover the rewards of working in the NDIS sector and I hope to work my way up to a leadership role.

I obviously had a great deal of life experience behind me when I studied. What I learnt was:

You don’t need to have ALL the answers, and you can always go back to clients with follow-up questions
Know your personality and learning styles to assist with how you connect with the team and engage in your learning and supervision sessions
Get to know the processes of the NDIS (something you’ll also learn lots about during the Ability Action Australia graduate program) and you’ll also learn how you can best manage your calendar to make the most of every day

Sarah

Ability Action Australia

I always knew that I wanted to work in a profession that involved interacting with people and helping others. During high school, I wasn’t really aware of what OT was, however after doing some research and talking to a few OT’s, I felt that there was no other career choice for me! So, after graduating high school in 2018, I went straight into studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Queensland, where I am about to enter my final year.

I am very passionate and excited about starting this career. Every day I get the chance to support people in ways I never thought possible, while I also get to work towards my full qualification.

I started with the Ability Action Australia Graduate Program in early 2021. I am really enjoying the support, guidance and encouragement they offer to be the best I can be. They support me to meet my personal goals and encourage me to grow my skill set. I love that everyone is open to supporting each other, whenever and wherever it is needed.
Ability Action Australia appealed to me right from the initial point of contact because the team’s friendly nature and willingness to help out. The culture is very welcoming, and it makes me excited to see how my career will progress after graduation.

My favourite part about working at Ability Action Australia is the community of people and the feeling of being a part of something bigger. Regardless of how many days are worked from home versus the office, you always feel supported by and connected to others.

In the next five years, I would love to gain enough experience to step into a leadership role and mentor and support others in the same way I have been mentored at Ability Action Australia.