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Tag Archives: leadership

In Profile with Felicia Yapp – Occupational Therapist VIC

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Felicia joined the Empower team in 2020 as an occupational therapist, during a challenging 2020 Felicia managed to work with her clients and excel in providing quality service and care.

Tell us a bit about yourself

Originally from Malaysia, I came to Australia in 2007, completed my Foundation Studies in Adelaide and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Deakin University, Geelong. I started my professional OT career in 2012 predominantly working at a private hospital in Geelong – acute medical care, inpatient rehabilitation (orthopaedic, reconditioning, neurological conditions). I was also involved with facilitating individual/group treatment sessions for Outpatient Programs such as Parkinson’s and Cognitive ‘Rust Removers’ group, Pulmonary and Reconditioning program.

I moved to Adelaide in 2018 and worked at a not-for-profit residential aged care and home care community organisation as well as Transitional Care Program. I also had the opportunity to work alongside Psychologists from Spain to establish a cognitive program adapted from Spain within the residential aged care facility and as part of the community program. I moved back to Melbourne in 2020 and began working with Empower in March.

What attracted you to Empower?

I was referred to join Empower by a mutual friend and the opportunity seemed like a good fit.

What do you love most about your role?

As a Community Occupational Therapist, it continues to challenge my skills and knowledge gained over my working experience. I find that I learn something new each day. Most of all I love to see the smile on our client’s face, support them in achieving their goals and independence and also the acknowledgment that we are providing a quality service.

What has been your most memorable moment?

A previous client who was diagnosed with early stage of dementia, who in his first session told us that it was impossible for him to do sudoku puzzles. Through our cognitive therapy group session, he developed the skills and confidence to do sudoku puzzles (along with other tailored activities). I felt a great sense of achievement that he found new interest and motivation to keep his mind active. As an OT I have always known that we “put the fun in functional!”

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

Approach everything with an open mind. There is no such thing as a ‘silly question’. Be pro-active and always persevere to develop your knowledge and skills as you progress as an OT.

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

I love baking – it is my relaxation therapy. I like to try out new recipes and explore new restaurants/cafes. I also like to draw/sketch and make DIY cards.

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I am a lefty.

 

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.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …

In Profile with Jeremy Ong – Physiotherapy Home Care Team Leader WA

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Jeremy Ong - Physiotherapy Home Care Team Leader WA

We welcome Jeremy Ong to the Empower family. Jeremy is our Physiotherapy Home Care Team Leader in WA and has joined the management team to lead the Physio Team in mobile physiotherapy services.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My passion in physiotherapy stems from seeing the gap between a patient in hospital and returning to normal life at home. I hope on working to help with that transition and with that in mind, have completed extra studies in Chronic pain, Vestibular disorders and Lifestyle Integrated Functional Exercises.

Graduating from Curtin in 2012, I spent my first four years as a Physiotherapist in Victoria working in Aged Care facilities and Rehabilitation Hospitals prior to moving back to Perth. Since returning, I’ve been employed in the community sector as a mobile physiotherapist.

What attracted you to Empower?

It wasn’t the purple uniforms! I felt that Empower Healthcare’s values aligned similarly with my own. Having heard of the proven systems and structures working in Victoria, it was great to see and have that same support implemented in WA. Finally, knowing that the company will only look to grow if they continue to keep their promises made this role very appealing.

In your new position at Empower, what will you be looking to achieve in 2020?

I’m hoping to make an impact and establish Empower Healthcare as the number one choice as allied health home care provider in WA.

What do you love most about your role?

I get great satisfaction in being a part of a client’s journey in working towards and achieving their goals. Even though I have taken on a Team Leader role, I still get to go on the road and treat clients right in the own homes, whether the goal is to walk normally after surgery or to be able to climb stairs for the first time in 10 years.

What has been your most memorable moment?

“Having seen a client for 8-9 months after experiencing set-back after set-back to taking their first unaided steps with her husband looking on with tears of joy.”

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

“If you treat the DISEASE, you win, you lose. You treat the PERSON, I’ll guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome” – Hunter Patch Adams

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

I am a father of one very active toddler. My main sport of choice is basketball but up for trying different activities. I also enjoy working in the garden, despite having artificial grass in my backyard.

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I prefer listening to Podcasts and talk-back radio rather than music while driving.

 

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.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …

In Profile – Sarah Tordeich, Regional Manager (West)

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InProfile with arah Tordeich, Regional Manager

Sarah Tordeich’s collective strength in clinical experience along with power of compassion and nurturance is making her a much-loved Regional Manager. Find out what makes Sarah tick and why she chose to take a leap into management.

 

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m half Kiwi/Croatian. I made the decision to move to Australia two years ago and nearly six weeks after I decided, I was here! If you know me well, you’ll realise this is very unlike me to be so drastic!

Time has absolutely flown by and I have a travel wish list that I want to tick-off within Australia. I really enjoy travelling and would love to return to Europe one day. I have a keen interest in running and hoping to complete my first full marathon this year! As expected, I love watching the kiwis play! I travel back and forth between Australia and NZ for quick trips to see fam and friends! I am social and love catching up with friends every other weekend, though I would consider myself a bit of a homebody too!

Why did you choose Empower?

Having spent the last 8 years, predominantly as a private practice clinician, I have been seeking a new challenge in my career that was an extension beyond practicing as a clinician. I wanted to be able to contribute to the bigger picture and be part of a company in a larger capacity; where I could utilise the skills and knowledge gained to help educate other fellow clinicians.

I never thought, but have learnt to realise, I wanted to be a leader. I stumbled across this job. The opportunity to become a Site Leader stood out for me. As soon as I met Matthew and Adam, I instantly felt at ease and their belief in my ability to grow into the role was the turning point. I also really gravitated towards Empower being a relatively new company; wanting to be a part of a growing company and contributing to its success, sealed the deal. The decision was further supported knowing the values and principles that Empower are founded upon were very much in line with my own.

What do you love most about your job?

I enjoy the variety of work in my role. I enjoy mentoring my team, from new clinicians right through to senior clinicians. As a leader, I collaborate and liaise with a range of Empower staff and clients with the primary focus on service solutions and continuity. Best of all, I continue to use my clinical skills.

I have always felt that my biggest learnings weren’t necessarily at uni, but the knowledge I have gained both clinically and non-clinically when thrown into the big wide world. Having the right people in my corner has helped me to grow as a clinician and as a person. I love most that in my role; I can mirror my experience and provide the same level of support.

So, if you love autonomy and have a desire to give back, then becoming a Site Leader may be a career path worth exploring.

The opportunity to learn from clients is endless. The room for career progression and ongoing job satisfaction within Empower is evident. All these things combined are what I love most about this role.

What has been your most memorable moment?

The most rewarding moment I have had whilst working at Empower was when a consumer I was routinely seeing each morning, wished me Merry Christmas and a safe holiday at home in NZ and commented that her mornings were made better with me visiting each day and loved her regular chats whilst I treated her.

Thinking back on it later, it really made me smile knowing yet again, that whilst our role as clinicians is to assist with pain, function etc. we can also play a huge role in improving ones quality of life, purely through showing a genuine interest in them as people.

Memorable moments to me also include being trusted upon and knowing I am viewed as approachable by staff. Appreciating that all humans including my colleagues have busy lives, being empathetic and aware of this and showing support is hugely important. I work on an ‘open door’ policy and that they can come to me anytime with any question.

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

Having a team of staff that believe in my capabilities and peer support from the other Regional Managers has enabled me to transition smoothly into the role.

They appreciate my learning and behavioural style and have been great at giving me feedback which has helped me learn a lot about my strengths, areas of weakness and what I would like to achieve in 2020.

I value the autonomy, flexibility and trust to become the regional manager I want to be.

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

Working alongside my fellow Regional Managers and management team, we are streamlining processes to accommodate our recent rapid growth and future scalability.

Another focus will be on the new graduates and new staff; to learn about them, their work and personal goals, to help develop them clinically and to ensure they are satisfied and happy at work.

Being new to the role of Regional Manager, I am still learning the ropes, however as I become more adept I aim to have a significant role in contributing ideas, being a part of new processes and potential growth opportunities and establishing great working relationships within my region and the wider team.

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

Appreciate all the hours you put in at uni learning, the people who helped make it happen, and immersing yourself in as many PD opportunities, courses and new graduate programs available to you, to really help develop your skills.

I truly believe my biggest learning developed over years of applying my clinical skills in a variety …

Developing talented employees

Blog post2 Developing talented employees

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 …