Announcements, Community, In Home Care, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Recruitment

New leadership Occupational Therapy appointments bring a wealth of expertise

Posted on August 11, 2021November 28, 2023 by Nicole Cook

11
Aug

Empower Announces Two Leadership Occupational Therapy Appointments

Empower Healthcare has responded to the exponential growth in demand for quality Home Care and NDIS OT services by appointing two exceptional Occupational Therapists to leadership roles.

Alison Enticott has been appointed OT Manager, while Monica Leo comes on board as OT Quality and Development Lead. Alison and Monica will head up the OT team, ensuring that Empower leads the way in delivering high quality, person-centred occupational therapy services that expand with the changing care needs of the clients and communities we work in.

CEO Adam Gilroy-Smith welcomes them both to the Empower team

We are excited to have two amazing talents of the quality of Alison and Monica join us in these incredibly important roles. Alison and Monica are the best in the business, with an abundance of experience leading occupational therapy transformation and engagements at scale and galvanising cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional results. That combination makes them the ideal fit to drive our client partnerships as we grow our business across Australia.

In leading the national OT team, Alison brings together skills in people leadership, stakeholder management, strategic planning and mentoring skills to support each individual to reach their full potential. Alison draws on her broad range of experience having worked in inpatient rehabilitation and then private and public hand therapy practice early in her career. She subsequently worked in the areas of occupational rehabilitation, corporate health, health insurance, and life insurance within a range of management and consulting roles. Most recently Alison has led teams in community settings supporting people with disabilities through the NDIS to achieve their goals.

Monica will lead the personal and professional development of the team, communicating Empower Healthcare’s vision for continued high quality healthcare, developing complex strategies to build relationships with key stakeholders and delivering a clinical excellence framework that continuously improves the skills and confidence in improving outcomes of care and consumer experiences. Monica joins with a strong pedigree working in some of Australia’s most recognisable brands, including Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash University. Her experience gained from transdisciplinary, family-centred practice with paediatric private practice modelling and NDIS Group programs, will see Monica add her expertise to shaping the future of allied health support in Aged Care and NDIS.

Alison and Monica’s healthcare ethos aligns well with Empower, as Monica reveals

The thing I love about Occupational Therapy is that we focus on what matters to a person, not what is the matter with them. When people can do the things that are meaningful to them, it has so many positive benefits to their health and wellbeing. Occupational Therapy is all about celebrating the individual. It’s about focusing on what people can do and helping them navigate any barriers to them doing what they want to do and enjoy doing.

The senior appointments continue Empower Healthcare’s strong business growth and momentum in 2021 to now provide allied health support across the East Coast of Australia and in the west.

The Empower Difference

Changing lives is what we do

Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care and knew how to do it. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fuelled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients- helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

Click on your relevant health care industry sector below to learn more.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

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In Home Care, Occupational Therapy, Recruitment, Residential Aged Care

Why Occupation Therapist Teri Chose The Graduate Program At Empower

Posted on July 9, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

09
Jul

As a recently qualified Occupational Therapist deciding on where to apply for a job, I was looking for opportunities to learn and improve my skills. Empower Healthcare offered me a comprehensive New Grad program and extensive professional development opportunities that have given me the best start to my career.

I am being supported with

In person and online training.
Practical learning opportunities.
Professional Development time allocated within work hours.
Generous funding for external courses.
Formal and informal mentorship with experienced colleagues.
Working within supportive multi-disciplinary teams.

I have been able to work in Home Care and Residential Aged Care environments and split my time in a way that suits my life and interests, while experiencing professional autonomy within supportive teams.

Empower Healthcare is enabling me to find myself as a clinician, it can do the same for you.

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.

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.

Empower healthcare is changing lives – yours could be next.

Join us to open the door to what is possible.

At Empower Healthcare we believe that our strength lies in our people. By building strong teams and supporting the professional development of our clinicians, we have established ourselves as a national Allied Health provider that raises the standards of clinical practice in Home Care, NDIS and residential aged care.

Every day we deliver high quality, innovative allied health solutions across Australia. We have opportunities for clinicians looking to develop at all career stages, from newly graduated to well established therapists wanting to lead in:

Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Podiatry
Dietetics
Osteopathy
Massage Therapy

Fastrack Your Career

Discover the possibilities with mentoring, career planning, on-line and in-person learning modules, extensive New Graduate program and external professional development. We look within for promotion to leadership roles and develop our own people to grow our business.

Work, Your Way

Create true balance with work hours that work for you, flexible leave arrangements and low stress environments.

Be Valued

We offer competitive salary packages that grow as you do and acknowledge your unique strengths and contributions.

Join the Team

Experience the satisfaction that comes from being a part of multidisciplinary teams, focused on delivering the best outcomes for the people we care for, while learning from each other.

If you’re interested to see how we can help open the door for your next career move, click on the link to learn more.

View current job opportunities

…

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In Home Care, Occupational Therapy, Recruitment, Residential Aged Care

Amanda’s Enjoys Career Progression As An Occupational Therapist At Empower

Posted on July 8, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

08
Jul

Empower has amazing occupational therapists and Amanda Chan reflects on her career progression and journey at Empower.

When I joined Empower Healthcare four years ago as a newly graduated Occupational Therapist, I was looking for positions close to home and support to develop as a clinician. Today, I am a Team Leader supporting other clinicians to grow and thrive, just like I did.

Empower has encouraged my professional development and given me leadership and managerial opportunities, while supporting me to return to work after maternity leave, twice!

I love being able to balance work and home life with

Flexible, family friendly work hours.
Leadership opportunities and career progression.
Varied opportunities within Home Care, NDIS and Residential Aged Care.
The ability to work from home when possible.
Internal and External professional development in my areas of interest.

I love the clients and residents I work with and being part of the team that makes the environments I work in healthy and happy for everyone.

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.

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 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.

Empower healthcare is changing lives – yours could be next.

Join us to open the door to what is possible.

Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Podiatry
Dietetics
Osteopathy
Massage Therapy

Fastrack Your Career

Work, Your Way

Create true balance with work hours that work for you, flexible leave arrangements and low stress environments.

Be Valued

We offer competitive salary packages that grow as you do and acknowledge your unique strengths and contributions.

Join the Team

Experience the satisfaction that comes from being a part of multidisciplinary teams, focused on delivering the best outcomes for the people we care for, while learning from each other.

If you’re interested to see how we can help open the door for your next career move, click on the link to learn more.

View current job opportunities…

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Occupational Therapy, Professional Development, Recruitment, Uncategorized

A Day in the Life of a Home Care Occupational Therapist

Posted on June 17, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

17
Jun

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a home care occupational therapist is like? We go behind the scenes with occupational therapist Catrina Mastroianni, to explore what a typical day looks like and answer a few questions that you may have about becoming one.

Mornings:

My alarm goes off at 6am, giving me usually 2 hours before starting to work, to be able to get some morning exercise in. I either spend my mornings before working going to the gym or walking my dog. I then begin to get ready for work, having a coffee and looking over my schedule and tasks for the day. This usually means, looking at my appointment times, where I’ll be going, and who I will be seeing. I also check over the referral notes to find out more about my clients and the reason I am going to see them. Usually, my first appointment is at 8:30 or 9am, however if it is a later start, I will usually spend my time completing some admin tasks in the comfort of my own home office.

Travel:

Empower ensures that my clients are as close as possible to my own suburb, being anywhere from a 5-minute to a 30-minute drive. However, longer drives also allow me to have some relaxing time in the car, listen to my favourite artists new album or even listen to a podcast.

Client Appointments:

As an occupational therapist, I have a range of different types of client appointments, ranging from initial appointments to follow ups, equipment trials or builder consults. My client load for the day, will usually vary depending on what type of appointments I have throughout the day. Empower has a range of diverse clients, from NDIS funded to HCP funded, allowing clinicians to have multiple learning opportunities with a range of different clientele with different conditions, needs and goals.

The reason I enjoy community / home care OT is because the home and community are two important environments for an individual. It is always interesting to see how individuals are within their home environment and I enjoy the problem-solving involved in making them safer at home. This often means liaising with equipment providers and builders to find adaptive technology or performing home modifications for the client.

For Example, 78-year-old Ellen with a level 4 HCP, has had multiple falls in her bathroom due to not having enough space to use her 4WF. This often means Ellen has to leave her 4WF outside the bathroom and navigate through the bathroom by holding onto different items. This makes Ellen a falls risk in the bathroom, especially with the slippery tiles. Ellen’s goal is to be able to shower and go to the toilet independently minimising the falls risk. Ellen’s old-style bathroom had minimal room between the shower, toilet and bathtub making it difficult to navigate, which makes Ellen feel extremely anxious about falling on the slippery tiles. A joint builder consult was completed with a friendly building team, who were able to come and assist with a plan for Ellen’s new bathroom. The new plan allowed Ellen to have more space to be able to use her 4WF within the area and also reduced the slipperiness of the tiles. This meant Ellen’s goal was achieved, leaving her overjoyed that she could perform important ALDs independently and bring her 4WF into the bathroom to increase her safety.

Team Meeting:

Every afternoon, the new graduates have a daily debrief that allows us to discuss the day that we had and discuss any questions that had come up throughout the day. While we do chat regularly throughout the day on a team’s chat, it is also nice to attend the meeting while doing our works, to be able to have that office like support and social interaction when working from home. It is also a great way to get to know the other new graduates and learn from some of their experiences.

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.…

Continue reading →

Announcements, Dietetics, Home Nursing, In Home Care, Massage Therapy, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry

How a Multidisciplinary Allied Health Team Can Help People Manage Diabetes

Posted on June 10, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

10
Jun

Many chronic conditions like Diabetes, require more than 1 or 2 allied health team members for good management. Diabetes is an example of a complicated condition where an assessment may reveal the need for referral to a few members of the multidisciplinary team.

Here are a some of the ways that the various professions can help people managing Diabetes.

Nurses

Nurses monitor blood sugar levels and assist with medication management. They also manage the general health of people, including the comorbidities that are common in people with Diabetes, such as high blood pressure, kidney disfunction and eye disorders.

Dietitians

A well-managed diet is a cornerstone of diabetes care. Dietitians can develop individualized meal plans that take the tastes and preferences of people into account, while ensuring that blood glucose levels remain stable.

Podiatrists

Foot care is an essential part of care for people who are struggling to manage their sugar levels. Podiatrists ensure the correct footwear, nail care and skin management of the feet to prevent ulcers and ingrown toenails.

Physiotherapists

Diabetes can result in various complications that reduce mobility and having input from a physiotherapist to promote strength, balance and endurance can improve the independence and health outcomes of people with diabetes at any stage of the disease.

Occupational Therapists

Unfortunately, some of the health consequences of diabetes can result in disability requiring relearning and reablement for some of life’s vital activities of daily living. OT’s can provide rehabilitation to improve the function of people managing some of the more serious effects of diabetes and assist with the adaptions that homes may need to make living independently at home possible and enjoyable.

Massage Therapists

Along with the benefits of relaxation and improved well-being, massage may also be useful in managing the painful neuropathies that occur in people with diabetes. Combined with the effects on circulation and stress relief, massage therapy is an important adjunct to other therapies in the management of diabetes.

If your client is not on top of their diabetes care plan, let Empower Healthcare bring together the expertise and skills of different allied health professionals to support your client in management of their complex condition.

The Empower Difference

Changing Lives Through Exceptional Care

We pride ourselves in the delivery of innovative, high-quality, allied health solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of your clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower you to help your clients improve their sense of self-identity, quality of life, and ability to live safely in their environment.

Extensive service offerings
Care provided by highly skilled clinicians
A team approach to delivering continuity of care
User friendly referral process
Superior reports providing clarity on future care needs.

Click on your relevant health care industry sector below to learn more.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

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Graduate Program, Occupational Therapy, Professional Development, Recruitment, Uncategorized

Emma, Occupational Therapist Reflects on Empower’s Graduate Program

Posted on June 7, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

07
Jun

“I knew that Occupational Therapy was a broad field, however I didn’t realise how diverse it can be until working in the community. I feel privileged that I am able to help client’s remain safe and independent, and reach their goals through the interventions and recommendations I give.” Emma Austin, 2021 OT Graduate.

I started with Empower Healthcare in January 2021 as a part of their Graduate Program. I was worried having just graduated from university that I would be thrown into the deep end. However, since I have joined Empower, I have never felt more supported throughout my entire journey.

A moment that has stood out to me was during one of the shadowing sessions with my mentor. We completed a joint session with the client’s family and carers to teach them how to correctly and safely complete hoist transfers. It was a great session, and throughout we were all having fun and laughing. The client had a smile on his face the entire time. My mentor was very happy at the end of the session, as in previous meetings, the client was always quiet and appeared sad. It was a great feeling to know that we were able to make the client smile.

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.

…

Continue reading →

Dietetics, NDIS, Occupational Therapy

Have you considered Group Therapy?

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Nicole Cook

18
May

Attending group therapy is a great alternative or additional service for people living with a disability or chronic health condition. Therapy groups can help to combat feelings of isolation and boredom while facilitating learning and skill development.

Group Therapy programs are carefully developed to suit the needs of the participants with emphasis on learning, skill development, improved independence, and social support. The Dietitians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who run therapy groups assess the individual needs of participants and tailor group sessions to benefit all those who attend.

Proven benefits of Group Therapy include:

Interacting with others experiencing similar circumstances enriches the learning experience.
Working and learning in a group allows the opportunity to learn from peers.
Providing a sense of support.
Improved motivation, while decreasing social isolation and depression.
Increased coping skills and mood.
Improved life satisfaction.
Effective skill development that is cost effective and convenient.

Group therapy can be utilised for cooking, activities of daily living, social skills development, exercise, and education.

This fun, social and effective way to learn and improve skills and function can be funded through the NDIS and conveniently provided by mobile therapists in many different settings from group homes, day services and community houses to retirement villages and gyms.

Call 13000 HELPU or 1300 043 578 to find out more about our programs and how to access group therapy services through Empower Healthcare.

Promoting Independence At Home and in the Community

At Empower Healthcare, we are passionate about promoting the independence and quality of life of people living, studying, and working at home and in the community.

We know that our clients have their own goals, dreams and ambitions and that achieving them is a journey that takes time and consistency, that’s why our organisation is shaped around a commitment to continuity of staff for clients. We believe that people get better outcomes when they can build strong relationships and trust with the clinicians who treat them.

Changing Lives With Exceptional Care

We understand that our clients have needs and goals that are as unique as they are. Our focus is on tailoring therapy and nursing support to suit each individual we see. We acknowledge that when choosing us, our clients expect services that place dignity, integrity, and respect at their core. We achieve this by approaching things differently – by delivering innovative, high-quality therapy solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of our clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower clients to improve their independence, quality of life, and ability to live, work and thrive in their own homes and communities.

Click Here for NDIS

How To Get Clients Started With Our NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

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Announcements, Equipment, Exercise, In Home Care, Mobility, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Wellbeing

Promoting Independence at Home Through Retraining Activities of Daily Living

Posted on March 10, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

10
Mar

For people recovering from injury and surgery, or managing a chronic illness or disability at home, it is often the little things that can be the most frustrating – from hair washing to buttoning a shirt. Research has shown that Activities of Daily Living (ADL) retraining is important for improving an individuals’ sense of self identity, quality of life, and ability to live safely in their own home. Occupational therapists focus on enabling clients to participate in life activities that are important and meaningful to them.

What Are Activities of Daily Living?

ADL’s include all those basic activities we engage in to make sure that we survive and can function in society. These are the little and not so little things we all need to do to take care of ourselves, our families, and our homes. ADL’s include some of the most important skills for independence–but also some of the most challenging.

Some Activities of Daily Living include:

Grooming and hygiene
Functional mobility and getting from place to place.

ADLs could also include activities to support the various roles we play in our lives such as:

Laundry
Cooking
Writing
Using the computer
Gardening
Driving
Leisure activities are also considered activities of daily living as they are essential for quality of life.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help with Retraining in Daily Living Skills?

An at-home rehabilitation program with a skilled occupational therapist can help clients retrain in daily living skills and regain independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Some of the techniques used in occupational therapy for ADL include:

Making recommendations for changes to be made in your home and equipment needed, including shower bars, non-skid surfaces on stairs, built up cutlery and helping patients learn to use new equipment.
Individualised strength-based training using theraputty and hand therapy.
Reteaching basic movements, from getting in and out of bed to getting in and out of the shower or bath.
Working with clients on actual daily life activities to regain fine motor skills and confidence. This includes activities like opening and closing a tube of toothpaste, working on buttons and zips, stacking coins, and picking up small objects.
Doing arts, crafts, cooking and baking–both as a creative release and a fine motor skill booster.
Playing games like cards and chess that involve picking up small pieces as well as using cognitive strategies.

The main goal of retraining Daily Living Skills at home is restoring independence. Ability to complete ADLs is a predictor of safety and independence in the home. Helping clients develop the skills and confidence they need to remain at home is a goal that home care Occupational Therapists aim for every day when working in the community.

Learn More About Our Home Care Occupational Therapy Services

About Empower

We Change Lives

Empower Healthcare is a national allied-health service provider and partner with Home Care package providers, NDIS plan managers & Aged Care organisations to deliver life changing allied health services. We offer a full-service platform from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics to osteopathy, massage therapy and most recently, home nursing services and pride ourselves in the delivery of high-quality therapy solutions, value packed services and responsive ethos.

It is a very exciting time with Empower Healthcare building on the success of its Victorian operation and now expanding nationally into NSW & WA. With a growing team of 100+ clinicians, we provide over 1,500 treatments every day and service more than 100 healthcare organisations. Building on this strong foundation, we are well positioned and committed to delivering exceptional care.

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 to live happier and healthier lives.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

Announcements, Community, In Home Care, Occupational Therapy, Recruitment

In Profile with Tom Cui – Occupational Therapist

Posted on October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 by Nicole Cook

29
Oct

As a leading provider of allied health services, Tom Cui joins the NSW team as an Occupational Therapist. He joins our brilliant national OT team that are passionate in solving our client’s problems, making a real difference to their lives.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I came to Australia from China for study in 2012. I finished a two year program in the University of Sydney and got a degree in Master of Occupational Therapy. I have been practicing as an Occupational Therapist in a wide variety of settings since 2015, for instance, occupational rehabilitation, community practice, private hospital and aged care facility. I am experienced in ADL assessments, equipment prescription, home modifications, falls prevention and pressure care prevention.

What do you love most about your role?

As a Home Care Occupational Therapist, I enjoy travelling on the road and meeting different clients every day. I like the flexibility at work and look forward to empowering clients so they can cope at home safely and independently.

What has been your most memorable moment?

Within the first few weeks of working at Empower, I had an invaluable team experience that cemented my assurance in choosing the right employment organisation. I had an urgent Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) referral and with collaboration from the OT Manager and Case Manager, was able to conduct and submit a comprehensive assessment report within a very short turn-around time that successfully achieved the goal of facilitating approval for appropriate accommodation and services within a limited time frame.

As an Occupational Therapist in NSW, what will you be looking to achieve in 2020?

It has been an exciting time and I’m so grateful in having the opportunity and experience to expand Empower Healthcare’s allied health services into New South Wales. It’s fascinating observing a business grow organically from scratch and I have been thankful in transferring my previous experience and knowledge to deliver individualised, innovative and high quality health care as per my fellow work colleagues around Australia.

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

As an international student, I used to worry if I would be able to find a job and survive in this field. Apparently, I have proven that I worried a little bit too much! Therefore, I would like to leave a piece of advice to the new graduate self “No worries, you are better than you thought – chase your dreams.”

What makes Empower different to previous places of employment?

Empower is like a big family to me. I feel I am well supported in the team.

Out of the workplace, what are your interests and hobbies?

I am a very active person. I like all sorts of sports, such as cycling, soccer, basketball and snooker.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I am a big fan of heavy metal. I feel sorry to my neighbours when I play guitar at home…

Our Service Guarantee

“Our promise: We respond faster. Whether it’s our short waiting lists, same day reporting or simple referral process, you can rest assured that your client is in the best hands.”

We have listened to our clients and they don’t have the time to micro-manage their portfolio. They want to partner with someone that is reliable and dependable with transparent pricing structures.

Adam Gilroy Smith, CEO reveals, “Empower has grown by 100% over the past year based on our service model across Home Care, NDIS and Residential Aged Care. By listening to our clients and the challenges they face, we adapt, stay well positioned and respond fast to deliver exceptional care. The launch of our new service model is another example of Empower Healthcare’s ability to be agile in a rapidly changing environment.”

How To Get Clients Started With Our Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

In Home Care, Occupational Therapy, Professional Development, Recruitment

InProfile with Anju Thomas, Senior Occupational Therapist and Team Leader

Posted on April 29, 2020November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

As we come to the end of OT Awareness Month, we would like to introduce Anju, our OT Home Care Team Leader. Anju brings over 11 years’ experience in occupational therapy to Empower Healthcare and her extensive background from rehabilitation to private practice means Anju is perfectly suited and equipped to support her team in a wide range of occupational therapy services to help consumers build their independence and achieve sustainable therapy outcomes.

I love seeing the smile on my client’s face 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

When did you join Empower?

February 2020

Why did you choose Empower?

I am excited about teaching OT skills and improving services to customers. Adam and Matthew embodied these same values during the interview which made it easy to choose Empower.

What do you love most about your job?

I love how I can help client’s achieve their goals and develop their skills. It is always a challenge in identifying the right strategy for each client. It is always invigorating to work with them to find the best approach which helps them achieve their goal.

What has been your most memorable moment?

The best moment for me has been where I helped a client develop their fine motor skills by playing cards.

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

In the past few months, Empower has given me the freedom to develop OT programs and professional programs to improve the skills of all therapists.

In your new role, what will you be looking to achieve in 2020?

This year, I hope to set up a uniform standard of practice for all OTs to practice.

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

To avail of every opportunity for professional development. It’s not just the courses and theoretical classes that develop a therapist’s skills but also practical sessions with senior therapists. It helps to attempt a new referral/ treatment program even if you have nil to limited experience as it only improves your knowledge and skill.

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

Out of the workplace, I am usually very much restricted to my daughter’s various activities. I enjoy dancing and participate in cultural activities when they come up. I love reading, mostly thrillers and crime and I believe Agatha Christie is the best author in the genre.

Employment at Empower Healthcare

Love your work

We are recruiting!

Do you share our passion for exceptional care?

We are searching for clinicians that want to keep their finger on the pulse of a thriving industry.

We offer a highly competitive package; flexible working arrangements, annual professional development program, subsidised external PD courses and paid study leave, above award remuneration, plus other benefits.

Join us Graduate Program…

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