My New Grad Experience

Transitioning from Study to Practice

My transition from study to practice was quite smooth. My placement history at university began in a hospital-based setting, focusing on end of life care and home safety assessments. I also participated in university simulated placements focusing on mental health recovery and community service provision.

During my studies I had the pleasure of heading out to Broken Hill and working with other dedicated occupational therapists and school teaching staff. This placement was mainly focused on school settings with the aim of implementing school-based programs. My last placement was based in the community-level, writing assistive technology reports for clients to enable safe access in the community and at home.

My placement experience combined theoretical concepts with real world experience, supporting my transition to practice. However, this transition did come with its challenges. Having to work alone at times I found myself needing to make tough decisions. To help manage this, I was relaying my plans and outcomes to my supervisors/colleagues for further feedback and guidance. I found this collaboration process to be an essential tool in making sure that I was on the right track and that clients were well looked after.

What I’ve Learnt from the Experience

I found that, somewhat paradoxically, my ultimate job as a practising occupational therapist was to make myself redundant. Generally, occupational therapists set SMART goals with people, aiming to address these goals throughout the assessment and intervention processes. Goals can be changed and updated, depending on the client’s preferences and any changes in their functional status.

Personally, I enjoy the goal setting process with people and discussing ways of achieving their outlined goals in a given timeframe. This creates discussion between the practitioner and the client about their future wants, needs, and desires to participate fully in everyday contexts. I found that the means of achieving the goal is just as important as the end result. I believe working with the client and family is integral in understanding what the client desires, which thus reflects on the importance of client centred practice.

Learning about the different assessment and intervention processes has been an eye opener for me. Completing practical experience at university and experiencing real-world job exposure has made me more aware of how much occupational therapy can benefit people. We work in such a broad profession, providing us with many opportunities to work across and experience diverse areas of practice.

The Impact of COVID-19

Working during COVID-19 has been interesting yet challenging. Practitioners from all professions have had to improvise their service provision in unique ways to make sure people receive the support they need. Remote video conferencing has enabled therapy services, general advice and staff team meetings all from a distance.

Specifically, incorporating screen sharing resources with clients and staff has supported me during this uncertain time, helping me to reflect on my practise and to consider solutions outside the box. Online platforms have enabled clients to remotely engage in therapy through the use of visuals, questionnaires and educational games. While many challenges still remain, this is also a very innovative time to develop as an occupational therapist.

Advice for OT Students

Making mistakes is okay and is simply part of the learning process. Some mistakes are unavoidable and teach you things about the situation and yourself that you may have not known about.

Occupational therapy is such a giving profession and requires a level of empathy to really understand what others are going though. Empathy is developed over time through the experience of working with a range of different people, across varying situations (including clients, family members, service providers, friends, funding bodies and more).

For those students who might be struggling with some of the theory or applying those concepts in real life placements, I encourage you to stick with it and connect with peers, teachers and supervisors for support. Seeing the positive impact we can make on people’s lives is incredibly rewarding and fully worth it!

Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) currently offers free members to undergraduate OT students and heavily discounted memberships to new graduates*. OTA has a dedicated New Grad Hub with 5 modules full of support and resources to assist New Graduates in their transition to practice. To find out more or to join visit our membership page. 

About the Author

Christos Prorellis is a new graduate occupational therapist, currently completing his Master of Health Service Management at the University of Technology Sydney. Since graduating, he has worked in the aged care and community sectors and enjoys helping others achieve their greatest potential.

*New graduate membership is available within 12 months of the course completion date and may be held for a maximum of two years from the course completion date.