Can you tell us a little about yourselves and your backgrounds in occupational therapy?
Hello! My name is Kirsty and I have experience working as both an OT and an Exercise Physiologist for the last almost 10 years. Previously I’ve worked in Oncology and Palliative care in the public health system and for a private Allied Health company providing services to regional and remote communities.
What drew you to working in vision services and joining Guide Dogs Queensland?
I love working within different communities and was excited about the prospect of specialising in supporting people who are blind or have low vision to improve their independence. I also really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of being an OT, so I was interested in learning how to use both simple strategies / equipment, as well as working out more complex or creative solutions to benefit our clients.
How can Occupational Therapists support people who are blind or have low vision?
Where do I start! Overall, OT’s support people to achieve their goals of living their best and most independent lives. Some of the things we can assist with are supporting people to find the right equipment to suit their needs, exploring helpful strategies to become more independent with daily activities or demonstrating how to optimally set up their technology. We can also complete Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs), home assessments and assistive technology assessments.
What is something you’re particularly passionate about when working with clients?
For me it’s being able to journey alongside a client from start to finish. Going from identifying what goals are important to them, then working alongside them all the way through to achievement of those goals. I also love getting to meet new people and learning from them, because everyone has their own unique perspective which can often lead to creative solutions, so I am always learning!
What are you most looking forward to in your new roles with Guide Dogs Queensland?
I am lucky to be surrounded by a very knowledgeable Vision Services team here at GDQ so I am most looking forward to learning as much as I can from the team around me, as well as our clients, so that I can be successful in my role and make a positive difference.
Do you have a message or piece of advice you’d like to share with our clients?
Please contact us if you would like assistance from our Occupational Therapy team. I look forward to working together!
