Occupation: Occupational Therapist
What are your professional interests/specialities? I am currently working with a broad spread of people with different disabilities and ages which can be challenging at times but very rewarding. I’m interested in finding creative ways to improve someone’s lifestyle or their engagement. At this stage I certainly do not have a speciality but I’m keen to explore how I could expand my skills across multiple areas to provide a more holistic across over time.
Tell us, where are you from and how did you get to be an Occupational Therapist in the Pilbara region? I have always lived in Perth and moved to Karratha in June 2023. After completing my final Uni prac placement in Geraldton, I started thinking more about working in a rural area. Given much encouragement from people around me and keen for change, I began looking at jobs up North without a specific location in mind. I applied to a few places through the Rural Health West website and soon after found myself getting involved with the team at Pilbara Therapy Services.
What do you love about the Pilbara? My favourite thing about living in the Pilbara is being so close to immersive nature. The collection of simple things like fresh air, a clear night sky, and the striking contrasting colours at sunset make for a very satisfying experience on any day of the week. I also love that everywhere I normally need to go is within a 10 minute drive and there are always many more places to explore outside town. It feels like a slower pace of life, and it is nice to meet a diverse range of people from different backgrounds.
Did you always want to be an Occupational Therapist? Why? Like most people, I didn’t really have any idea what Occupational Therapy was when I started the degree, and I probably chose it mostly because of the influence of others around me at the time. OT appealed to me because of the incredibly diverse pathways it opens and the general focus of helping people solve problems in practical ways.
What are your passions? I am passionate about supporting people to make changes and grow in ways that give them meaning or better quality of life. Most of the time I am passionate about eating delicious food and getting a decent amount of sleep…
When you aren’t working, where will we find you? Probably trying not to get bogged in my car and making friends with people who have boats.
