Nicole Cook, Author at Empower Healthcare

Demystifying Osteopaths

Posted on December 17, 2019April 1, 2020 by Nicole Cook

17
Dec

Denis Yardin, one of our incredibly talented and passionate Osteopaths, clarifies the mystery and misunderstanding behind his profession and explains the many benefits behind Osteopathy.

Osteopathy has exploded in popularity in Australia. Many people have started to visit them for their aches and pains without having a clear understanding of who they are and what they do. It is therefore our responsibility as health care providers to give an insight into how Osteopaths can help people within the community.

So, what is Osteopathy and why do people choose to see one? This blog aims to create an informative view on the profession of Osteopathy and how it can benefit people, along with examples to illustrate when someone would benefit from seeing an Osteopath.

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

The International Academy of Osteopathy defines osteopathy as “a manual examination and treatment method of the integrated musculoskeletal, visceral system and craniosacral systems.”

Osteopaths assess the mobility and flexibility of the musculoskeletal, the vascular, the neurological, the visceral and fascial systems in all its integration. They value how the structure and function of those systems are interrelated and how the body uses its own self-healing mechanism to recover from injuries.

Examples of how an Osteopath would treat a patient could be as follows…

1. Hip Problem

A hip problem for instance may be resulting from multiple causes such as mechanical problems in the foot or knee, movement blockages within the pelvic joint, low back issues, or even circulation problems that may be related to the internal organs such as constipation.

An overall assessment of movement and specific musculoskeletal testing of several body structures are then used to differentiate between the tissues being affected and what are causing the problem. Once the origin of the condition is identified, the Osteopath uses a variety of manual techniques and exercise prescriptions, as well as patient education to help with the expected tissue healing prognosis.

2. Kidney problem

The visceral system includes all the organs present in the chest and abdominal cavity. A kidney problem may affect the mobility of the visceral fascia (connective tissue that connects/links the organs and all other tissues together within the body) which can lead to mobility/flexibility limitations in the musculoskeletal system, particularly around the torso where segmental neuronal supply is shared between the kidneys and skin/muscles.

An aspect of neural input to these organs relate to specific spinal cord segments. Therefore, a pain signal originating from an internal organ may affect muscles and skin that share the same spinal cord segment, and as a result, a patient may experience musculoskeletal pain without having any injury.

Specific visceral manipulation techniques may be used to encourage space within the abdomen to allow tension through fascia to free itself. Gentle manipulation technique is utilised with patient’s breathing which may relieve some discomfort. The Osteopaths may then reassess the patient’s back pain and treat where necessary.

Why should you choose to see an Osteopath?

Osteopaths conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify mobility impairments within the body systems and investigate the exact cause of the problem. We mainly use hands-on assessments and treatment techniques to manage structural and bio-mechanical dysfunctions with a holistic approach to assist with health optimisation. Those manual techniques are relatively gentle and are usually aimed at structures such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, fascia and other connective tissues.

The biopsychosocial model of health is frequently mentioned by Osteopaths as it is aligned with our treatment approach. It is the belief that biological, psychological and social factors play a profound role on how pain is perceived and dealt with by patients. Those factors are interrelated and display a complex relationship within themselves as shown in the diagram below.

An illustration of the biopsychosocial model comprised of biological, psychological, and sociological influences.

Source: researchgate.net

A patient-centered approach is taken, which considers the person in their entirety, including their goals, needs and expectations. Osteopathy is all about holism and therefore may also collaborate with other allied health modalities, to best consider patient outcomes.

Osteopaths educate patients regarding their condition and the different management strategies based on the latest evidence. They would hence always explain why they choose to do a manual therapy technique and what they aim to achieve during their consultation.

Who may benefit from seeing an Osteopath in the community?

Osteopaths are trained to assess and treat people of all demography with various presentations. Many people are unaware that the service can be provided in the community. Some short scenarios examples have therefore been prepared to give some ideas of what conditions may benefit from seeing an Osteopath.

Recurrent injury of unknown cause

A patient has tennis elbow or a suspicion of tennis elbow. However, he has never played tennis or had no recent trauma. The injury keeps on coming back despite taking medications or making some lifestyle changes.

Pain with no known underlying pathology

Pain is suddenly felt over the right knee. The pain is now present every day and impacts the patient’s ability to perform daily tasks. An X-ray has been performed and revealed no internal damage or pathology.

Mobility impairment that is generally non-traumatic

A patient is having a gradual decline in mobility. There have been no trauma or surgery to the legs. They have a known circulation problem and they feel weak.

A complex case where many allied health avenues were tried and had no significant change or result

A patient has been suffering from chest pain for more than 10 years. They have a long list of medical history. The patient has seen GPs, specialists, physiotherapist, psychologist to name a few. Medication administration lead to various side effects and therefore chose to stop them.

Patients that are seeking more passive treatment

A patient is very sensitive to touch and any manual treatment technique used in the past caused great pain. They also want to be involved in a treatment that would help in relaxation.

Chronic pain patients with multiple comorbidities

A patient with multiple conditions also …

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Philanthropy

Bec Takes on 5,330km Horse Trek to Vanquish Cancer!

Posted on December 5, 2019November 20, 2023 by Nicole Cook

05
Dec

Bec Rose, one of our physio’s and an experienced horse-woman, has spent the last year planning her solo horse trek along the Bicentennial National Trail, which spans the east coast of Australia from far north Queensland to Melbourne in her quest to help raise cancer research funds.

Empower Healthcare is a proud sponsor of Bec’s incredible trek, and we will be sharing her preparations leading up and during the adventure in a special ‘Big Horse Trek’ series. In this blog, we reveal why Bec has taken on this massive personal challenge and her fundraising goal

Bec’s Story

Bec’s decision to take on this personal challenge originated during recovery from spinal surgery in July 2018. “While recuperating, I wrote what I considered to be a bastardised form of a Bucket List and “Ride the entire Bicentennial National Trail” that ended up on there as a ’Pie in the sky’ thing to do.”

However, from that day on, the seed had been planted and Bec became even more determined and committed to taking on what is considered to be a challenging and gruelling journey. The Bicentennial National Trail, also referred to as ‘the BNT’ covers 5,330km and follows the Great Dividing Range and the Eastern Escarpment of Australia, offering self-reliant distance trekkers a uniquely Australian adventure with spectacular scenery.

Nonetheless, the BNT is not to be taken lightly and provides access through some of Australia’s wildest, most inaccessible country. Significant preparation, experience, and fitness is paramount to a successful expedition. It is anticipated to take around 12 months with pack horses.

“After 10 years of crap health, I decided I wanted to do something that I would consider important in my life. I was searching for meaning and purpose. After losing my dad to cancer when I was just 13 years old, it was clear to me that it was my time to achieve something for myself and get involved in raising money to vanquish cancer.”

Bec then joined forces with the charity group Love Your Sister to try to raise her goal of $53,330 for cancer research. “I have followed the Love Your Sister charity since it began and I love and respect the work they do in raising money for cancer research, so it was a no-brainer for me to partner with them.

For the last year, I have been attempting to raise money on two fronts;

Sponsors & Funding to prepare for the trek; to purchase appropriate clothing, equipment, and food for myself and the horses along the way, along with paying for training and other expenses that come with horses (vet bills, vaccinations, etc.).
Fundraiser donations; contributions for cancer research through the Love Your Sister charity.

I am on a mission to reach out to the general public and raise funds to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer.

Overview of Cancer in Australia

Cancer is a major cause of illness in Australia—there are over 1 million people alive in Australia who are either living with or have lived with cancer. Around 30 years ago, about 5 in 10 people survived for at least 5 years after their cancer diagnosis; more recent figures are closer to 7 in 10 people surviving at least 5 years.

Understanding and avoiding the risk factors associated with cancer can help to reduce the chance of getting cancer, while cancer screening programs increase the likelihood of detecting cancer early, enabling better outcomes from treatments. Improvements in treatments and care are also important contributors to improvements in survival.

Australian Cancer Statistics

An estimated 145,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year
On average, an estimated 396 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed each day in Australia.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia – almost 50,000 deaths from cancer are estimated for 2019.
1 in 2 Australian men and women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85
Breast cancer is estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2019, followed by prostate cancer

Sources:

https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/facts-and-figures.html

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-australia-2019/contents/table-of-contents

Support Bec in her amazing journey. Donate to improve cancer patient outcomes, find new medicines and medications, improve treatment options, and survival rates. Click below to donate.

Are you a commercial business that would like to support Bec in her adventure?

Bec is looking to obtain further commercial funding and welcomes discussing partnership arrangements in areas such as:

Insurance
Personal loan (interest-free/ delayed interest)
Horse feed for along the trail
Money to purchase specialised equipment, support veterinary costs, and other horse training-related costs that need to be done prior to departure

If you’re interested, please contact Bec by email (bighorsetrek@gmail.com) with your contact details so she can call you to discuss opportunities.

You can find out more about Bec’s story and Love Your Sister’s mission by visiting her website.

You can also follow Bec’s journey through her Big Horse Trek social pages

Empower Healthcare are inspired by Bec and her developing story, and we’re thrilled to be able to lend a small hand by financially assisting Bec in preparation for the trek. We intend to spread the word and share her incredible adventure and story with monthly blogs and social posts.

…

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Graduate Program, Professional Development

Developing talented employees

Posted on November 20, 2019June 10, 2020 by Nicole Cook

20
Nov

People are the heart and soul of Empower. So, as an allied health care organisation, Empower invests heavily in developing talented employees in the same way a product business concentrates on improving its features and performance.

Behind Empower is a team of great leaders that motivate, encourage, support and professionally develop our clinicians into talented employees that flourish with each passing year.
In this blog, we talk with Mark Ngau, South-East Regional Manager, to learn how he supports his team members from graduates, right through to senior clinicians.

Creating a Healthy Culture

“A healthy culture is the backbone to supporting and developing employees. I like to create an engaged and meaningful environment where every team member has a sense of purpose and is involved in interesting and valuable work.

Some people are too quick to judge the aged care sector. Having previously been in the public hospital system and experienced a solid stint in private practice, I can strongly claim that aged care is a rewarding and gratifying career that provides ample opportunities to treat and support a comprehensive range of conditions. You can make a tremendous difference to a person’s quality of life and achieve real personal satisfaction through your work.

I make a point of making sure every graduate fully understands the importance of their role and how their efforts make the world a better place for someone else. When this has been truly realised, I find that on an individual level, my team members are happier, more engaged, and more creative.

I love a highly-energised team spirit, so I lead by a few basic principles; I am always available for a conversation, I am more than happy to have one-on-one technical discussions, I encourage my staff to use me as a sounding board for recommended treatment plans, I will always return a phone call or text on the same day, and believe the team should have lunch together.

Creating a sense of belonging fuels team spirit and productivity because it aids open and meaningful conversation, the avoidance of unnecessary conflict, and maximises the effective use of each members skills and knowledge.”

Mentoring Employees

“My role as a Regional Manager is both challenging and satisfying. As a Regional Manager, I am involved predominantly in workforce planning and ensuring that our therapy services meet our client’s expectations. But my greatest satisfaction lies in supporting and mentoring my team members in their respective roles.

I feel that the best way to effectively support and mentor my team is by providing direct guidance and feedback. At Empower, we work very closely with each team member to co-create individual, professional development programs with tailored goals to set a learning framework.

The Regional Managers then collectively build weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly professional development plans that addresses both team and individual skill development so we can help each person reach their full potential and empower our team members to be capable of working efficiently and independently.
We use different learning environments to mentor, engage and stimulate each employee. I might encourage a graduate to shadow a senior clinician during an unusual or complex treatment. At other times, I will sit in on a treatment to observe and offer myself as a sounding-board during an assessment or treatment. I have personally found when you create a positive learning environment, inquisitive questions can be answered, doubts can be stamped out, knowledge grown, and confidence gained.

When a clinician acts on that feedback and is motivated to learn more, that’s when you start to see potential developed and talent grow. Improvement in skills and capabilities are always noticed and this often leads to the door opening for promotion opportunities.

A great testament to our mentoring is with our recent graduate Kendall Sutton. He started this year with Empower (2019) and within 6 months, was promoted to Site Leader. Kendall took every opportunity to actively participate in professional development workshops, listened to our feedback and put our constructive feedback into practice. He was like a sponge, absorbing every bit of knowledge possible, practicing new technical elements and committed to accomplishing his individual learning goals. Kendall took on any challenge and stretched himself by participating in organisation activities, naturally leading by example. It was when he was able to put his own spin on treatments and suggest new processes to improve Empower as a whole, we knew Kendell was destined to become a future leader and promoted to Site Leader.”

Providing A Bright Future for Developing Talented Employees

“Graduates are a core part of the Empower family. They bring a fresh perspective, drive, passion and a thirst for knowledge. However, with that drive for success, comes a desire to have a job with a purpose. I am very aware that if minds are not engaged and constantly learning, they’ll move elsewhere.

Empower embraces quality and innovation as its core values. I am committed to giving all team members the opportunity to grow their skills based on industry demands, and in turn promoting job satisfaction for both a graduate and me, knowing I am nurturing future innovators for the aged care industry.”

Advice to a Potential New Grad

“The best advice I can give is to explore different clinical or practice areas for a solid period of time, with 12 months as a minimum.

Everybody’s journey both in life and career is different, so there is little to be gained by measuring your worth by comparing yourself to your peers.

Whichever area of practice you decide on, make the most of your time at the organisation by gaining experience and skills that may potentially be of use in your own future e.g. be actively involved in conducting education sessions for peers/staff/families to improve your public speaking.”

Author – Mark Ngau, South-East Regional Manager

Empower’s Graduate Program

Our professional and comprehensive graduate program can set the foundations for a bright career!

Get the support you need to transition into life as a first-year clinician and extend the skills you …

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Graduate Program, Recruitment

Tips to Nail Your Resume & Interview

Posted on November 11, 2019December 14, 2021 by Nicole Cook

11
Nov

You’ll need to demonstrate in your resume and during your job interview that no one else is better suited for the job. Learn how to prepare your resume so you stand out from the crowd and adopt interviewing techniques that leave a lasting impression.

Learn how to demonstrate in your resume and during your job interview that one else is better suited for the graduate program position.

Resume Writing

Your resume provides the first opportunity for you to sell yourself and first impressions matter! So don’t underestimate how important it is to have a good resume. Below are some resume writing tips that will help your application stand out:

1. Format

Your resume should be easy to read and look professional. Use Arial or Times New Roman fonts, size 10 or 12 and keep the colour neutral. Start by following these subheadings:

An introduction or objective statement
Your work experience and achievements
Your education and study accomplishments
Interests (Optional)
Your referees

2. Tailor your resume to the role you want

Keep the content highly relevant to the skills required for this position.
Pay attention to the introduction and ensure that information is regularly updated to reflect your current situation (eg. Seeking a casual role in retail while studying may not work in your favour when applying for a graduate program).
List your most recent experience first and then work your way back down the list. Feel free to include past jobs that are not related to your current field of study, however keep it brief. It’s best to provide more detail on relevant placements/internships you have completed.

3. Highlight your achievements

Instead of just listing your responsibilities in each role, highlight at least 1 achievement under each role and the results you achieved.

As a student, if you were involved in any extracurricular activities or volunteer work make sure you highlight these too!

4. Keep it simple

Only include relevant information and try to keep it within 2 pages.

5. Proofread and edit

Attention to detail is important so check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Ask for someone else to read over your resume, they may pick up something you have missed.

Interviewing Techniques

There’s interview preparation. And then there’s REALLY preparing for the interview. It’s the latter that will get you the job.

Also, the better prepared you are, the more relaxed and comfortable you will be when the questions begin. Here’s a few interview tips and suggestions to supercharge your preparation.

1. Research the company

Look up the company website and social media to obtain background information on the company. This shows that you are serious about the role and also allows you to prepare relevant questions for your interviewers. If possible, also obtain the names and position titles of the interviewers prior to the interview.

2. Consider personal presentation

Dress appropriately. Ask the recruiter what the dress standards are for this company or if in doubt dress “business professional”.

3. Don’t be late!

Prior to attending the appointment make sure you check and confirm address details, check if there is parking nearby or public transport. Always allow extra time for traffic and if you are running late let the recruiter know.

4. Take relevant documents

Bring in any documentation that you feel will support your application. This can include a resume, written references, testimonials, certificates, awards…

5. Prepare questions

An interview is also an opportunity for you to find out if this is the right role for you so come prepared with relevant questions.

6. Interview questions

Be prepared to give well thought out and clear responses to interview questions. Provide more than one-word responses when required but also pick up on the interviewer’s cues and don’t go into too much unnecessary detail. You may also be asked behavioural / competency-based interview questions so be prepared to provide some real-life examples from your previous work/placements.

7. Attitude is everything

Sometimes a positive attitude is more important than your work experience! Showing a genuine interest in the company, demonstrating a willingness to learn, and being friendly will also help you stand out in the process.

Empower’s Graduate Program

Our professional and comprehensive graduate program can set the foundations for a bright career!

Get the support you need to transition into life as a first-year clinician and extend the skills you worked hard to develop at university.

We have created a comprehensive 12 month program that provides you with the tools and training to grow as a professional through:

structured learning
mentoring
peer support and
e-courses.

See our Graduate Success Map below for our yearly graduate program.

At Empower, we value our staff and make everyone feel welcomed, accepted, and appreciated. Inclusivity and belonging are a part of our core values at Empower and with our graduate program, you’ll get to train with the best.

If you’re looking to get your physio career kicked off to a great start, make sure you apply with Empower.

Make sure you don’t miss out!

We have 10 graduate program positions available for 2020.

Applications close 10 December 2019.

Want more information on our Graduate Program?

Call Lilian our Recruitment Manager for a copy of our our Graduate Program flyer on 0412 709 161

Interested in joining the Empower family?

Learn more

…

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Graduate Program, Professional Development, Recruitment

Why Join Empower? Beyond our Graduate Program

Posted on November 11, 2019June 10, 2020 by Nicole Cook

11
Nov

The leadership team at Empower have worked very hard to create a continuous professional development structure beyond he graduate program that is centred around communication and innovation to shape employees into becoming highly effective and perceptive individuals that can lead rational, proactive collaboration.

To ensure that the skills learnt are put into practice our workplace includes different learning & development delivery methods to provide a flexible, accessible and interactive platform to motivate and reward employees for completing personal learning resources. These include:

Online courses.
Quarterly company-wide events.
Clinical development workshops.
Individual professional development modules.
Individual growth plans.
Team & Regional leadership succession plans

At Empower, ongoing professional development is seen as a vital investment in keeping employee skills relevant, especially as the health care industry is rapidly evolving.

All employees benefit from tailored professional training and development programs, designed to prepare them for greater responsibility.

Within Empower, there is a clearly defined career path with associated skills criteria. With your mentor and supervisor, individual growth plans are created and evolve over time to adjust to each employee’s desired development path, promotions and career goals.

Empower Healthcare’s Career Advancement Progression Diagram that illustrates the transition from graduates to clinician, site leader, team leader, regional manger and finally state manager.

Empower’s clinician career progression line.

Throughout the year, regular meetings are held to review individual development objectives along with practical assessment results, learning & development metric outcomes and peer reviews. This process sets up our team to accomplish their career growth goals.

Research has proven time and again that there is a positive relationship between career development and employee job satisfaction. Our employees tell us that our commitment to developing individual growth plans and career development activities, which contribute to career success, greatly improves employee satisfaction.

When you’re considering which organisation to apply to, think about whether that organisation offers you the environment to gain practical knowledge, industry insights, career succession planning and hands-on guidance to becoming a valuable and versatile employee.

Empower’s Graduate Program

Our professional and comprehensive graduate program can set the foundations for a bright career!

Get the support you need to transition into life as a first-year clinician and extend the skills you worked hard to develop at university.

We have created a comprehensive 12 month program that provides you with the tools and training to grow as a professional through:

structured learning
mentoring
peer support and
e-courses.

See our Graduate Success Map below for our yearly graduate program.

If you’re looking to get your physio career kicked off to a great start, make sure you apply with Empower.

Make sure you don’t miss out!

We have 10 graduate program positions available for 2020.

Applications close 10 December 2019.

Need more info?

Call Lilian our Recruitment Manager for a copy of our our Graduate Program flyer on 0412 709 161

Interested in joining the Empower family?

Learn more…

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Graduate Program, Recruitment

In Profile – Kendall Sutton, 2019 Graduate Program Member and Site Leader

Posted on October 31, 2019November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

31
Oct

Name: Kendall Sutton

Position: Physiotherapist, Site Leader

When did you join Empower? February 2019

Why did you choose Empower?

I was at the APA Job Show and, to be honest, was drawn to the guys at Empower for the Keep Cup and show bag they had on offer! I ended up having a long chat with Matthew, the COO and shared a joke or two with him over the course of the night.

I left the APA Job Show really impressed with the supportive and family orientated feel I got from Empower. I hadn’t considered aged care to this point, but something told me that this opportunity could be too good to pass on.

What do you love most about your job?

There’s not one thing that I could isolate. My clients are so grateful for even the smallest of things I do or recommend. I have picked up some awesome dad jokes and been given delicious family recipes from the grandmas – I love building a genuine connection with my clients.

From a career point of view, I get a heap of support from my managers. There’s a lot of room to grow in the company, and since starting in February I’ve also taken on clients in home care, which has exposed me to a bigger variety of conditions.

What has been your most memorable moment?

After working at a different facility for a week or two, I returned to one where I’ve spent the majority of this year – I walked in to see one of my clients, a cute little Italian ‘nonna’, and when she saw me, she praised Jesus for bringing me back to see her. I always have a good laugh with my clients – it brings a lot of joy to their days – and I know I help them immensely from a Physio point of view as well.

Another that comes to mind was a patient who had not been able to use their arm or care for themselves after a nasty fall prior to us meeting. Instead of continuing the current treatment course, I suggested a different approach that has been successful enough for him to take back some independence where he can now dress himself and comb his hair.

In what ways has Empower supported your growth personally & professionally?

To put it simply, it’s the management team’s support of both my natural abilities and the skills I’m learning on the job.

There are multiple aspects to how Empower and my managers helped me to become the Physio I am today. There is a whole matrix of supports to help. One key element is the grad program, which is a structured way to keep me learning. It is both theoretical and practical with an array of experienced practitioners to walk you through different topics. Secondly, from the very get-go you get allocated an experienced mentor in which you can ask questions and observe. No matter how busy my mentor was, they always made sure to address my concerns – this was a pleasant change coming from the busy hospitals I’d experienced during Uni placements.

With their support, I have been fortunate enough to progress this year to the role of Site Leader where I oversee the Empower team’s allied health services at the facility I’m based out of, as well as working with clients personally.

How do your supervisors help you learn on-the-job?

Empower’s culture stands out to me – it feels like a family run business. This is highlighted in their staff. My supervisors were quick to pick up on my learning style – I was eager to get in there and have a go, but always wanted to debrief. I’m a talker, and I needed a sounding board which my supervisors provided me with.

During these discussions, I was asked questions, but importantly, I was asked what my recommendation and thoughts were as well – I wasn’t just being told what-was-what, I was treated as a colleague. There were observations, both ways. I observed them treating clients and they observed me treating clients – not with a marking paper in hand mind you! And so, this process continued; discussions, observation, treatments and ultimately professional growth.

Can you reveal important factors that help a graduate transition into a Site Leader?

On the surface, I feel like becoming the Site Leader was right-place-right-time. In reality, I’ve never been that lucky. I have a pretty big personality, and my sporting career has taken me far and wide where I had the opportunity to represent Australia. I guess when the word leadership is thrown around, I automatically think team captain – and that was me.

Qualities and positive character traits that I believe have led to my career advancement include; a strong work ethic, inquisitive, approachable, creative, enthusiastic, perceptive, compassionate, dependable and personable.

I work hard, I help others where I can, and I always make time for my team when they need me. I put my hand up to help out on weekends when needed (time and a-half is a bonus!). I was able to put my own spin on treatments and suggest new processes to help make our clinicians more efficient whilst working – something as simple as make referrals digital saves time walking around. I love talking, but I am also a good listener. Naturally, this combination goes hand-in-hand with building rapport and friendships with my Empower team, with staff at the location I’m working, and importantly with my clients.

What piece of advice would you give your new graduate self?

Save your pennies and be kind to your mother – warned you about the dad Jokes.

On a more serious note, consider joining an organisation that offers a grad program; it’s a nice transition into your working life. It helps get your brain ticking again after finishing studying. The detail of the grad program is where it really helps, from creating goals (SMART goals), to identifying weakness and …

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Graduate Program, Professional Development

How a Graduate Program Benefits You

Posted on October 28, 2019June 10, 2020 by Nicole Cook

28
Oct

Choosing your first workplace to kick-start your career can be a little daunting and yet so exciting at the same time. An organisation that provides a graduate program can offer you rewarding opportunities and benefits.

Graduate programs can provide you with support, training and a structured plan to help you transition from a graduate into a promising clinician.

So, what sets one graduate program apart from another?

Here’s what you should be looking for when evaluating a graduate program:

1. Mentoring

In a graduate program, you should receive hands-on mentoring that you won’t find in most jobs. A mentor will individually guide and help you through your journey. You can’t find this priceless information in an employee handbook!

2. Exposure to work across varied caseloads

The organisation of choice should be able to offer you the chance to be exposed to diverse environments, clients and conditions so that you can develop well-rounded skills. Research each program carefully and confirm if that you will have the opportunity to thrive in a diverse range of treatment cases with work colleagues from different background experiences.

3. Flexible learning structure

Everyone has their own preferred learning style. Does the organisation take this into account and provide a graduate learning and development program that accommodates auditory, visual and or kinaesthetic approaches?

4. Informal career planning & evaluations

Informal career assessments are a way to help you gain a better understanding of who you are, what you would like to learn and what you would be good at. Through informal conversations and self-reflection worksheets, you can discover your true passions and what is standing in the way from reaching your goals. Make sure your graduate program of choice is genuinely interested in you, your aspirations and is prepared to implement individual activities for personal growth.

5. Clear career succession pathway

Does the graduate program impart a clear career progression advancement pathway? It’s important to know what career opportunities within the organisation are available beyond the graduate year. You want to assess an organisation in terms of its ability in; developing talented people, building a pipeline of future leaders and if you have a sense of control over your career.

Using the five criteria above will greatly help you short-list your preferred graduate programs for application. Have peace of mind that this process will ensure you choose an organisation that can help you become the very best you can be.

Empower’s Graduate Program

Our professional and comprehensive graduate program can set the foundations for a bright career!

Get the support you need to transition into life as a first-year clinician and extend the skills you worked hard to develop at university.

We have created a comprehensive 12 month program that provides you with the tools and training to grow as a professional through:

structured learning
mentoring
peer support and
e-courses.

See our Graduate Success Map below for our yearly graduate program.

If you’re looking to get your physio career kicked off to a great start, make sure you apply with Empower.

Make sure you don’t miss out!

We have 10 graduate program positions available for 2020.

Applications close 10 December 2019.

Need more info?

Call Lilian our Recruitment Manager for a copy of our our Graduate Program flyer on 0412 709 161

Interested in joining the Empower family?

Learn more

…

Continue reading →

In Home Care, Occupational Therapy, Residential Aged Care

Occupational Therapy – Providing You With Empowerment For Choice and Person-Centric Care

Posted on October 23, 2019November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

23
Oct

During Occupational Therapy (OT) Week, Empower is celebrating its amazing occupational therapists and Amanda Chan reflects on why she joined the profession and the importance of collaborative work and person-centric care.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Working as an Occupational Therapist, I often get this question, “What is occupational therapy?”. The World Federation of Occupational Therapy defines Occupational Therapy as below.

“Occupational Therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation… to enable people to participate in activities of daily life… by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.” WFOT, 2012.

While many other people in the health industry are involved in the diagnosis of diseases, the occupational therapist’s role is about collaboratively setting and achieving meaningful goals.

Amanda explains, “Whether it be helping a person with selecting a chair that can help them stand because they have difficulty standing from their couch or introducing a person to a bath lifter to help them enjoy a bath again, I always feel a sense of satisfaction when seeing the joy on people’s faces as they successfully engage in these simple yet meaningful activities again.

Throughout my training as an Occupational Therapist, we are taught that engaging and participating in meaningful activities provide positive benefits to a person’s feeling of wellbeing.”

Many occupational therapists work with people who have an illness, have a disability or recovering from an injury, and there is a high degree of sensitivity and respect for humanity that is required for this profession.

“Being able to support people of all abilities to engage and participate in what is important to them is my motivation to be the best that I can be. I enjoy working together with the client to create a treatment plan that is meaningful and reflective of their functional and independence goals, be it a leisure activity like knitting, self-care activity such as having a shower safely or a productive activity like preparing their own meals.”

Meaningful Goals and Working Together

“The person who seeks her services is the expert in their lives. They know what is important for them and what is meaningful to them, and from there, they can work together to form goals and work towards those goals together.

At Empower, we recognise the importance of collaborative work. Cooperating and working together with other professionals, families, caregivers and consumers are important with helping consumers achieve their meaningful goals with a holistic approach.”

Therapy activities provided by Occupational Therapists can include;

teaching new techniques to complete the activity
relearning tasks included in completing activities
providing equipment to assist with completing activities or
modifying an environment to enable a person to engage in the activity.

All these can facilitate independence, reduce environmental barriers and provide resources to facilitate a sense of well-being.

Promoting Choice

Health care is becoming more person-centered where consumers are encouraged to make informed choices to better support their needs and well-being.

“With the rollout of the NDIS and the new aged care standards, I can see more relevance in the new health care focus in relation to occupational therapy. There is a shift in health care to promote choice, dignity and respect for consumers.

For example, consumers using NDIS funding have access to services based on goals set by consumers together with the support workers. Looking at the new aged care standards, the new standard of care to be provided to older adult consumers in community and in aged care residential facilities is centralised around maintaining a consumer’s choice, dignity and respect.

This resonates with occupational therapist’s core values where the consumer is the expert of their lives and services provided to them should include their choice in all matters to enable consumers to live life to the best of their abilities. This shift empowers consumers to take charge of their own lives and to be able to make more choices to support their health and well-being.”

Author – Amanda Chan, Occupational Therapist at Empower.

About Empower

We Change Lives

At Empower Healthcare, we deliver life changing allied health services. Our whole team is dedicated to building and delivering exceptional services for clients, loved ones, referrers and partner organisations.

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental well-being.

We are a successful privately owned and operated organisation that continues to experience significant growth, driven by our fantastic services and family of professionals.

How can I find an Occupational Therapist?

We have an amazing team of therapists
Comprehensive coverage across Metropolitan Melbourne, Mornington and Geelong
Responsiveness is our allied health home care service guarantee
Services available to residential aged care organisations
Friendly and professional staff

Call our friendly team on PH: 9583 1364.

Learn more on how our Occupational Therapists can help you

…

Continue reading →

Community, Occupational Therapy

In Profile – Emily McLeod, Occupational Therapist

Posted on October 21, 2019November 23, 2023 by Nicole Cook

21
Oct

In recognition of OT Week, Empower is celebrating its amazing occupational therapists and as part of our Staff Profile series, spoke to Emily McLeod about her role as occupational therapist in our Community Services – Home Care division and her passion for helping clients regain independence.

Why did you choose Empower?

Following working in residential aged care and inpatient rehabilitation in my first year out of uni, I developed a passion for the concept of helping people remain living in their home for as long as possible.

I was working with a lot of patients and residents who may have stayed safe and independent in their homes for longer than what they were experiencing, if they had the right supports around them. I wanted to be one of those supports!

In my early conversations with the team at Empower, they said that they agree with this, and that they are passionate about supporting their clients in the community and expanding their occupational therapy services in this area. Empower works with a range of home care providers, from those who are well cared for, to those who are the most vulnerable in our community. I was instantly attracted to the variety of the work that was coming in, and I could feel the amazing team atmosphere even over Skype interview!

What do you love most about your job?

Easy – the smiles on my clients faces when they receive new equipment or learn new ways to participate in activities that they thought were long behind them. Independence is everything. I love giving that to people.

What has been your most memorable moment?

Leaving university, I had no desire to work with children. I felt it was too difficult and that I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to work with young people with different disabilities. Through our growth into working with the NDIS, I have worked with a number of clients aged between 10-18 years, which I now love.

My most memorable moment was only recently – I visited the home of one of my 14-year-old clients who when I first met him; was glued to his Ipad, reliant on his mum for everything, and had a temper that would spark at the drop of a hat.

I was blown away to see him drop his Ipad when I walked in, show me a new book, tell me of a new club he has joined, get his lunch (that he made by himself) out of the fridge and pack a lunchbox for school, and then watch him help his younger brother get breakfast!

Seeing someone shift in their attitude and personal beliefs of their own abilities is amazing – I thought I was just helping him learn basic cooking and creating generic checklists for a morning routine. As it turned out, I had shifted his engagement with all aspects of his life!

In what ways has Empower supported your growth personally & professionally?

The team at Empower have provided me with many opportunities to attend professional development sessions, and always listen when I have suggestions for growth or change. I am constantly presented with new challenges, and always supported while working my way through these.

What piece of advice would you give your new graduate self?

Nobody knows all the answers every time. We are all learning every single day – it’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to ask for help. You’ll be surprised how often you ask someone a question to be answered with ‘I don’t know either, let’s find out together’.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Out of the workplace, what are your interests and hobbies?

On the weekends I am usually at home with my boyfriend or spending time with my sister. We love cafes, sunshine, and the occasional afternoon at a bar. I’m not very exciting out of work – I occasionally go on a little adventure into the bush or down to the beach, but most of the time I’m switching off and enjoying some R&R.

About Empower

We Change Lives

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental wellbeing.

We are a successful privately owned and operated organisation that continues to experience significant growth, driven by our fantastic services and family of professionals.

How can I find an Occupational Therapist?

We have an amazing team of occupational therapists
Comprehensive coverage across Metropolitan Melbourne, Mornington and Geelong
Responsiveness is our allied health home care service guarantee
Services available to residential aged care organisations
Friendly and professional staff

Call our friendly team on PH: 9583 1364.

Learn more on how our OTs can help you

…

Continue reading →

Exercise, Muscle Function, Office, Posture, Wellbeing

10 health and wellness tips for office workers

Posted on April 9, 2019November 20, 2023 by Nicole Cook

09
Apr

In case you haven’t heard sitting is the new smoking. Research has shown that sitting for extended periods of time, like sitting at a desk or in a car, can have serious health implications. Aside from developing musculoskeletal issues like neck, shoulder and back pain sedentary lifestyles increase our risk of developing obesity, heart disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer.

So here are our top 10 tips to getting you moving more in the workplace:

Stand up and change position every half hour
Take the stairs where possible instead of an elevator
Organise a group activity (Different exercise every hour on the hour i.e. 10 squats or star jumps)
Rather than sending an email walk over to a colleague to talk
Try standing or walking meetings
Park you’re car as far as possible or better yet walk to/from work or catch public transport
Try sitting on an exercise ball
Drink plenty of water
Use a stand up workstation
Use phone calls as a trigger to get up and walk around the office or better yet walk around whilst talking on the phone

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