New locations and new opportunities - OT in remote areas

OTA sat down with Tess Donaghy-Adsett and spoke about her experience of rural and remote working after moving from Melbourne to the Northern Territory in February 2022. 

Tess was originally planning to do a six month contract at Alice Springs but enjoyed her experience so much she has ended up on a permanent contract. 

Tess shares with us how working in remote Australia is a rewarding and unique experience that has not only allowed her to grow as a person, but also broaden her occupational therapy skills.

What can an OT role look like in a regional/rural setting?

There is a common misconception that rural and remote work means less opportunity, but there are plenty of opportunities to work in different settings such as hospitals, private practice, paediatrics, aged care and community. I work in a community setting and the main focus of my role is to help my clients maintain independence at home. I mainly complete equipment prescriptions and assessments for home modifications such as grab rails or ramp installations, as well as completing functional assessments and increasing participation in occupations. The clients that I see vary widely from older adults living in urban Alice Springs, to those living in very remote Aboriginal communities (our team can drive up to seven hours to see clients). I love that my work involves a variety of urban and remote work as it keeps my caseload interesting and I’m always learning new ways to approach situations.

What are the benefits of working remote?

The experiences I have gained from working rurally, both personally and professionally, have been enormous. Rural towns have so much to offer in terms of community spirit and are always so grateful that people want to offer their time and expertise to their community. I have experienced so many things that I would not get to in a city (e.g., flying to work!) and feel so lucky to have the privilege of working with, and from, First Nations people – something not many people get to do. Because my role involves a lot of travel, I get to see parts of Australia that I would likely not get to see otherwise. The lack of resources and staffing can often pose challenges to service delivery, but this has strengthened my problem solving skills and resourcefulness as a clinician.

Personal and professional supports in rural towns – what are the things to consider?

It can be a big step moving away from family and friends to a new place, but I have found that I have not only gained a job, but a whole community of likeminded people. If you are looking to work in a rural town, I would recommend having a look at what’s available like sporting clubs or weekend activities to see if the town will be a good fit for you. You can really tailor the experience to make it your own.

Professionally, there may be less access to in-person professional development; however, with telehealth being widely used after lockdowns, there is just as many opportunities to attend online trainings. Networking with other OTs in the town can be really helpful to discuss the unique challenges of rural work and brainstorm solutions to problems. Speaking to your potential employer about supervision structures before starting a job is a good way to ensure that the workplace will be the right fit for you.

How can OTs find rural and remote positions?

If you are interested in giving rural OT work a go, there are plenty of places that advertise roles:

• If you are looking for somewhere in a particular area, you can search on SEEK.com.au
• Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) website
• State government websites if you are looking for jobs in public health (such as hospitals or community settings)

Are you studying OT and getting ready to start your career? Visit OTA’s Student Hub, where you’ll find useful resources and recordings from our Student Career Webinars to help set you up for career success.
 

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