UC grad first OT at Alzheimer's Australia ACT

Vanessa Lam

21 July 2014: A recent University of Canberra Master of Occupational Therapy graduate is now Alzheimer's Australia ACT's first occupational therapist, scoring the job thanks to a placement as part of her degree.

Krystyna Anderson was offered the position at Alzheimer's Australia ACT – an organisation that provides support and advocates for people living with dementia – after completing an eight-week placement this year. Ms Anderson's role involves working with dementia behaviour management advisory services and the mobile respite team and she said she's excited to work with the clients.

UC grad Krystyna Anderson is Alzheimer's Australia ACT's first occupational therapist. Photo: Michelle McAulay

"I'm most looking forward to that client-centred care and following people through with their treatment and just generally making a difference in some people's lives, even if it's just for a short amount of time."

Ms Anderson said that the skills she learnt in the classroom at University were easily adaptable to her new role.

"The course was really hands-on, which as a visual learner myself it really helped.  So what we were learning in the classroom was really adaptable because we had so many opportunities and we had to do 1,000 hours of placement over two years."

During her placement at Alzheimer's Australia ACT she said she expanded her knowledge about dementia, learnt about the different types and what kind of strategies could be implemented to help people in need.

Ms Anderson said she was "really excited and overwhelmed" when she was offered the job after her placement, saying it was great she was able to build up a relationship with the team and clients.

"I was working with clients for the whole eight weeks and as I've come back those people are still there, and they're still getting those strategies and interventions, so it's great to see the progress they've made," she said.

Other placements she did as a part of her degree include in the areas of child and adolescent mental health, rehab wards, geriatrics and community health.

"I had such a great experience on all placements. I think if I hadn't those opportunities to do all those placements, then I definitely wouldn't have my position at Alzheimer's Australia right now," Ms Anderson said.

After completing her undergraduate degree in human movement studies at the University of Queensland and working in corporate health for 18 months, Ms Anderson decided to study occupational therapy at the University of Canberra to focus on her desire to provide more client-centred care. She said she wanted to follow up with clients and be able to see progress or help put strategies in place, which she is now able to do at her new job at Alzheimer's Australia.

Like Ms Anderson, Master of Occupation Therapy students have the option of completing a range of placements for their degree. Two students recently went to Geraldton, Western Australia, the first time University occupational therapy students have gone to a remote location for their placement. They worked with an occupational therapist in the town to provide services to the local community.

Another group of occupational therapy students recently participated in music outreach sessions in local aged care facilities.