About Kate

Hello ... My name is Kate Walker and I am a qualified Occupational Therapist (OT).

Why did I become an OT?
Good question. I have lots of other qualifications (see below) and a broad work experience. I feel they were all heading me back to Uni, as a mature-aged student, having just had my third baby (of course!) to become an OT.

What is most attractive to me about being an OT is the concept of FUNCTION. I use this word constantly. I found people can survive health crises - be it trauma or disease and related medical conditions - but what they find most difficult is not their physical symptoms as such, but their loss of function. They want to do the things they love and are important to them and I love helping them with that.

It is a privilege to work as an OT.

My favourite saying is:
"I take my job seriously but not myself."

I have found people can share their goals better if they feel relaxed and good about themselves.

What do I like most about my job?

• Helping people and sharing their successes. For sure.
• The look on someone’s face when they get back behind the wheel after years being unable to drive because of a medical condition.
• The emotional mum who has just seen her disabled teenager drive for the first time when she has always been told he never would.
• Seeing the shocked, but happy look on peoples faces during manual handling training when you tell they need to know this stuff for one reason - because they are important. People don’t hear that enough.

What do you like least about your job?
With neither doubt, nor hesitation, I can unequivocably state that I hate hate hate recommending Drivers Licence cancellations. It is often upsetting to the person, their partner and their family members. It represents a loss of independence as well as a reminder that some aspects of ageing are not pleasant. Sometimes I get home and have a good cry myself! But what gets me through is that I know, for sure, that I have given them every chance possible to keep their licence (see page on Driving Assessments). I also know I have probably prevented an accident that could have seriously injured someone’s loved one. And this I can live with.

What is important to me as an OT?
Quite a few things:

• Listening to my clients and understanding the goals that are important to them
• Being very thorough in my assessments, reports and interactions
• Actively networking, participating in ongoing education and staying up-to-date with my profession
• Working creatively and with energy and enthusiasm
• Membership of my professional association - Occupational Therapy Australia
• Doing what I say I will do

Other Things about me:
I have a few qualifications, including:
B. Occ Therapy (Hons)
B.Business (HR/IR)
Cert IV Personal Trainer
Diploma Remedial Massage

I am also a member of AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency), and a registered Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) Driver Trained Occupational Therapist (DTOT). 

This means that not only do I know what I am doing (and have the pieces of paper to prove it!) but that I am obliged to act ethically. Most importantly, if I don’t feel I can help you, I will refer you to another qualified health professional who can.

I also do Human Resources consulting - particularly writing and delivering training materials and even handle the odd recruitment assignment. You can take the person out of HR but you can’t take HR out of the person.