Amanda

Mar 02, 2021

VIC

My name is Amanda and I’ve worked at Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital for 25 years.

Describe your job without using a position title?

My job involves teaching and learning. I work with patients learning about what motivates them and what their goals for rehabilitation are, and then I teach them ways to engage in their daily occupations to improve their participation. I am also fortunate to work with a group of people at Donvale who are responsible for teaching and learning with staff. This involves teaching evidence based clinical practice to staff and how they can implement this in their interactions with patients. I also learn from leading research or quality projects within the hospital to answer questions about how we can best provide rehabilitation services.

What motivates you and why?

I am motivated by the team of people I work with and a desire to be the best occupational therapist I can be.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I’d love to know how to paint. I am amazed at the different way images can be portrayed and the emotions that paintings can create. I am attracted to the mindfulness that I think painting would bring to my busy life!

What does the Year of Health and Care Workers mean to you?

I think this is a year of opportunity for Health and Care Workers. The opportunity to take what we learnt from the last year and put into practice the positive things that can impact on the care of our patients.

What would you say to inspire future generations of workers in health care?

The world is your oyster! There are so many opportunities in health care, from expanding your clinical expertise, working with different teams of people or, like me, completed further study to partner with universities and research best practice. Be open to change and you can only benefit.