Jenna (left) & Laura (right)
My name is Jenna, and I am a graduate Occupational Therapist (OT) at Geronimo Allied Health. I studied at Deakin and worked as a peer mentor, therapy assistant, and support worker during my last 2 years of study. I would describe myself as kind, fun, and funny. I enjoy working with clients and seeing their confidence increase as they achieve their goals, try new things, and overcome challenges.
Why I chose Geronimo:
I worked with Geronimo as a support worker in the Supported Independent Living (SIL) housing, so I was lucky enough to have experience working with the team. I was very anxious about starting my career as an OT and after completing my Occupational Therapy course I felt like I knew a little about a lot, and I was unsure what to do with this new knowledge or where to start. The most important thing for me when choosing where to start my career as an OT was the support. As I already had experience working with the team at Geronimo, I knew they were a very warm, welcoming, and understanding bunch. During my interview for the OT position, I ensured to ask about the expectations, billable hours, supervision hours, work-life balance, and personal development opportunities. Geronimo aligned with my preferences and beliefs, and I was lucky enough to be offered the position as their graduate OT.
Graduate Program at Geronimo:
The graduate program at Geronimo runs for 12-weeks and includes a very gradual and reasonable progression in workload, such as increasing number of participants, shadow shifts, report writing, and liaison with other health professionals. By the end of the program, it is expected to meet 20hrs billable per week, which I believe to be manageable and reasonable. I have absolutely loved meeting the participants, working with their families, and being part of the supportive team at Geronimo. I have also participated in regular supervision meetings, which go for 1hr and approximately 1-3 times per week. I feel I can discuss any concerns or questions without judgement and my supervisors can help me implement strategies to overcome these challenges. Regular supervision has really helped with my stress management and overall confidence.
Advice for OT students:
If you’re anything like me, you’re likely putting too much pressure on yourself! My advice is to continue trying things and making mistakes, and rather than holding onto these mistakes, learn from them and move on. It is okay if you are not happy with some of your marks, and it is okay if you have no idea what you wish to do when you graduate. It will all fall into place and be okay. Finding time to do the things I enjoy and connecting with peers at university really helped me and I would encourage you to do the same, because OTs are the nicest people ever!
