Graduate Program, Professional Development, Recruitment

Jovita Shares her Reflection on Empower’s Graduate Program

Posted on June 21, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

21
Jun

Jovita So, Occupational Therapist Reflects on Empower’s Graduate Program

In February 2021, I started my career as a graduate occupational therapist at Empower Healthcare. As you can imagine, Home Care clients have found dealing with the pandemic very challenging, especially those who live alone. I had a client who had been discharged from the hospital and her daughter was very distressed as she could not visit her during lockdown. Initially, the client was guarded and anxious. By actively listening to their story and concerns, I was able to identify the fall risks and provide suitable options and recommendations that were received with relief and happiness in reducing their fears around falling, while increasing quality of life.

I realise that my role as an occupational therapist can be more important and influential than I once thought. It is very rewarding when clients thank me with a big sincere smile! I now know that being an occupational therapist is one of the best decisions I have made.

Empower Healthcare Graduate Program

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Empower's grad program flyer - download

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.…

Continue reading →

Occupational Therapy, Professional Development, Recruitment, Uncategorized

A Day in the Life of a Home Care Occupational Therapist

Posted on June 17, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

17
Jun

A Day in the Life of a Home Care Occupational Therapist

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a home care occupational therapist is like? We go behind the scenes with occupational therapist Catrina Mastroianni, to explore what a typical day looks like and answer a few questions that you may have about becoming one.

Mornings:

My alarm goes off at 6am, giving me usually 2 hours before starting to work, to be able to get some morning exercise in. I either spend my mornings before working going to the gym or walking my dog. I then begin to get ready for work, having a coffee and looking over my schedule and tasks for the day. This usually means, looking at my appointment times, where I’ll be going, and who I will be seeing. I also check over the referral notes to find out more about my clients and the reason I am going to see them. Usually, my first appointment is at 8:30 or 9am, however if it is a later start, I will usually spend my time completing some admin tasks in the comfort of my own home office.

Travel:

Empower ensures that my clients are as close as possible to my own suburb, being anywhere from a 5-minute to a 30-minute drive. However, longer drives also allow me to have some relaxing time in the car, listen to my favourite artists new album or even listen to a podcast.

Client Appointments:

As an occupational therapist, I have a range of different types of client appointments, ranging from initial appointments to follow ups, equipment trials or builder consults. My client load for the day, will usually vary depending on what type of appointments I have throughout the day. Empower has a range of diverse clients, from NDIS funded to HCP funded, allowing clinicians to have multiple learning opportunities with a range of different clientele with different conditions, needs and goals.

The reason I enjoy community / home care OT is because the home and community are two important environments for an individual. It is always interesting to see how individuals are within their home environment and I enjoy the problem-solving involved in making them safer at home. This often means liaising with equipment providers and builders to find adaptive technology or performing home modifications for the client.

For Example, 78-year-old Ellen with a level 4 HCP, has had multiple falls in her bathroom due to not having enough space to use her 4WF. This often means Ellen has to leave her 4WF outside the bathroom and navigate through the bathroom by holding onto different items. This makes Ellen a falls risk in the bathroom, especially with the slippery tiles. Ellen’s goal is to be able to shower and go to the toilet independently minimising the falls risk. Ellen’s old-style bathroom had minimal room between the shower, toilet and bathtub making it difficult to navigate, which makes Ellen feel extremely anxious about falling on the slippery tiles. A joint builder consult was completed with a friendly building team, who were able to come and assist with a plan for Ellen’s new bathroom. The new plan allowed Ellen to have more space to be able to use her 4WF within the area and also reduced the slipperiness of the tiles. This meant Ellen’s goal was achieved, leaving her overjoyed that she could perform important ALDs independently and bring her 4WF into the bathroom to increase her safety.

Team Meeting:

Every afternoon, the new graduates have a daily debrief that allows us to discuss the day that we had and discuss any questions that had come up throughout the day. While we do chat regularly throughout the day on a team’s chat, it is also nice to attend the meeting while doing our works, to be able to have that office like support and social interaction when working from home. It is also a great way to get to know the other new graduates and learn from some of their experiences.

Empower Healthcare Graduate Program

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Empower's grad program flyer - download

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.…

Continue reading →

Professional Development, Recruitment

Why Hongyi Enjoys Working for Empower Healthcare

Posted on June 17, 2021November 22, 2023 by Nicole Cook

17
Jun

Why Hongyi Sun Enjoys Working for Empower Healthcare

Hongyi is a valued member of our Occupational Therapy Team and reflects on why he enjoys working for Empower Healthcare.

I have always been passionate about building strong, positive relationships with clients and helping them to live independent and happy lives. For me to do that requires constantly expanding my knowledge and experience. Empower Healthcare has helped me grow every step of the way with:

A culture of teamwork
Emphasis of professional development
Mentorship and support
A multidisciplinary approach to client care
Career goal setting

For me, work/life balance is vital. My job allows me to do what I love while having time to exercise, relax and continue to develop other parts of my life. When an opportunity for further study arose, my managers supported me in reducing my work hours to allow me time to study and attend uni.

Having the freedom to reach my personal and professional goals means that I enjoy coming to work every day!

Empower healthcare is changing lives- yours could be next.

Join us to open the door to what is possible.

At Empower Healthcare we believe that our strength lies in our people. By building strong teams and supporting the professional development of our clinicians, we have established ourselves as a national Allied Health provider that raises the standards of clinical practice in Home Care, NDIS and residential aged care.

Every day we deliver high quality, innovative allied health solutions across Australia. We have opportunities for clinicians looking to develop at all career stages, from newly graduated to well established therapists wanting to lead in:

Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Podiatry
Dietetics
Osteopathy
Massage Therapy

Fastrack Your Career

Discover the possibilities with mentoring, career planning, on-line and in-person learning modules, extensive New Graduate program and external professional development. We look within for promotion to leadership roles and develop our own people to grow our business.

Work, Your Way

Create true balance with work hours that work for you, flexible leave arrangements and low stress environments.

Be Valued

We offer competitive salary packages that grow as you do and acknowledge your unique strengths and contributions.

Join the Team

Experience the satisfaction that comes from being a part of multidisciplinary teams, focused on delivering the best outcomes for the people we care for, while learning from each other.

If you’re interested to see how we can help open the door for your next career move, click on the link to learn more.

Learn more

…

Continue reading →

Announcements, Dietetics, Home Nursing, In Home Care, Massage Therapy, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry

Our team can help manage Diabetes

Posted on June 10, 2021November 11, 2024 by Nicole Cook

10
Jun

Many chronic conditions like Diabetes, require more than 1 or 2 allied health team members for good management. Diabetes is an example of a complicated condition where an assessment may reveal the need for referral to a few members of the multidisciplinary team.

Here are a some of the ways that the various professions can help people managing Diabetes.

Nurses

Nurses monitor blood sugar levels and assist with medication management. They also manage the general health of people, including the comorbidities that are common in people with Diabetes, such as high blood pressure, kidney disfunction and eye disorders.

Dietitians

A well-managed diet is a cornerstone of diabetes care. Dietitians can develop individualized meal plans that take the tastes and preferences of people into account, while ensuring that blood glucose levels remain stable.

Podiatrists

Foot care is an essential part of care for people who are struggling to manage their sugar levels. Podiatrists ensure the correct footwear, nail care and skin management of the feet to prevent ulcers and ingrown toenails.

Physiotherapists

Diabetes can result in various complications that reduce mobility and having input from a physiotherapist to promote strength, balance and endurance can improve the independence and health outcomes of people with diabetes at any stage of the disease.

Occupational Therapists

Unfortunately, some of the health consequences of diabetes can result in disability requiring relearning and reablement for some of life’s vital activities of daily living. OT’s can provide rehabilitation to improve the function of people managing some of the more serious effects of diabetes and assist with the adaptions that homes may need to make living independently at home possible and enjoyable.

Massage Therapists

Along with the benefits of relaxation and improved well-being, massage may also be useful in managing the painful neuropathies that occur in people with diabetes. Combined with the effects on circulation and stress relief, massage therapy is an important adjunct to other therapies in the management of diabetes.

If your client is not on top of their diabetes care plan, let Empower Healthcare bring together the expertise and skills of different allied health professionals to support your client in management of their complex condition.

The Empower Difference

Changing Lives Through Exceptional Care

We pride ourselves in the delivery of innovative, high-quality, allied health solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of your clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower you to help your clients improve their sense of self-identity, quality of life, and ability to live safely in their environment.

Extensive service offerings
Care provided by highly skilled clinicians
A team approach to delivering continuity of care
User friendly referral process
Superior reports providing clarity on future care needs.

Click on your relevant health care industry sector below to learn more.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

Graduate Program, Occupational Therapy, Professional Development, Recruitment, Uncategorized

Emma, Occupational Therapist Reflects on Empower’s Graduate Program

Posted on June 7, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

07
Jun

Emma Austin, Occupational Therapy Graduate Reflects on Empower's Graduate Program

“I knew that Occupational Therapy was a broad field, however I didn’t realise how diverse it can be until working in the community. I feel privileged that I am able to help client’s remain safe and independent, and reach their goals through the interventions and recommendations I give.” Emma Austin, 2021 OT Graduate.

I started with Empower Healthcare in January 2021 as a part of their Graduate Program. I was worried having just graduated from university that I would be thrown into the deep end. However, since I have joined Empower, I have never felt more supported throughout my entire journey.

A moment that has stood out to me was during one of the shadowing sessions with my mentor. We completed a joint session with the client’s family and carers to teach them how to correctly and safely complete hoist transfers. It was a great session, and throughout we were all having fun and laughing. The client had a smile on his face the entire time. My mentor was very happy at the end of the session, as in previous meetings, the client was always quiet and appeared sad. It was a great feeling to know that we were able to make the client smile.

Empower Healthcare Graduate Program

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Empower's grad program flyer - download

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.

…

Continue reading →

Announcements, In Home Care, Osteopathy

When to Consider Using an Osteopath for Your Client

Posted on May 27, 2021June 2, 2021 by Nicole Cook

27
May

When to consider using an Osteopath For your Client

“Osteopathy is about listening to the person, listening to the body and using a gentle, holistic approach to activate healing processes in the body and enable recovery.”- Denis Yardin, Empower Home Care and NDIS Osteopath.

An osteopath is an Allied Health professional who specialises in the assessment and treatment of structural and functional integrity of the human body, focussing on musculoskeletal system- the bones, muscles, nerves, blood and lymph circulation and other tissues that support the body and control its movements and function. Osteopaths aim to trigger healing processes in the body by treating movement restrictions, promote balance between different systems of the body and activate physiological processes required to achieve recovery.

Osteopaths working in Home Care assess each client holistically in their own environment and analyse how the body and its systems function when the person move or at full rest. They physically examine using their hands to determine which areas of the body are healthy and which are not so healthy that may be causing pain or disfunction.

Osteopaths believe that the body heals best if the right combination of manual techniques and treatment such as massage and the mobilisation of muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues are used to treat areas of weakness, tenderness, restriction, or strain in the body. Techniques are chosen based on the needs of the individual client and the symptoms they have reported as well as their functional goals.

These include but not limited to:

Therapeutic Massage and soft tissue techniques- to release and relax the muscles and other soft tissues
Mobilisation of stiff joints – to restore range of movement.
Articulation- where joints are moved through their natural range of motion.
Clinical exercise programs

These aim to reduce pain, improve movement, encourage blood flow and activate healing processes.

When to book at Osteopathy consultation

There are many reasons to see an osteopath when pain or movement problems effect quality of life, independence or function. Some typical conditions that benefit from osteopathy include:

Any joint, muscle and body pain.
Restricted movement in any part of the body.
Non-traumatic musculoskeletal injuries.
Reduced function due to stiffness, aches and pain
Headaches.
Chronic neck and back pain.
Poor posture, body alignment or weakness.

Osteopaths are also very successful with frail clients who may have multiple conditions as they are able to utilise a variety of gentle or indirect techniques.

Empower has a team of incredibly talented Osteopaths ready to help your clients get moving, feel better and get back to what they love doing most! Denis explains why he loves working in community allied health care.

“Working in Home Care gives me the opportunity to understand what my clients’ need to live the best, most active lives possible and help them achieve their goals by facilitating recovery to optimal health.”

Click Here to learn more about Osteopathy

The Empower Difference

Changing Lives Through Exceptional Care

Extensive service offerings
Care provided by highly skilled clinicians
A team approach to delivering continuity of care
User friendly referral process
Superior reports providing clarity on future care needs.

Click on your relevant health care industry sector below to learn more.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

Dietetics, NDIS, Occupational Therapy

Have you considered Group Therapy?

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Nicole Cook

18
May

Have you considered Group Therapy?

Attending group therapy is a great alternative or additional service for people living with a disability or chronic health condition. Therapy groups can help to combat feelings of isolation and boredom while facilitating learning and skill development.

Group Therapy programs are carefully developed to suit the needs of the participants with emphasis on learning, skill development, improved independence, and social support. The Dietitians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who run therapy groups assess the individual needs of participants and tailor group sessions to benefit all those who attend.

Proven benefits of Group Therapy include:

Interacting with others experiencing similar circumstances enriches the learning experience.
Working and learning in a group allows the opportunity to learn from peers.
Providing a sense of support.
Improved motivation, while decreasing social isolation and depression.
Increased coping skills and mood.
Improved life satisfaction.
Effective skill development that is cost effective and convenient.

Group therapy can be utilised for cooking, activities of daily living, social skills development, exercise, and education.

This fun, social and effective way to learn and improve skills and function can be funded through the NDIS and conveniently provided by mobile therapists in many different settings from group homes, day services and community houses to retirement villages and gyms.

Call 13000 HELPU or 1300 043 578 to find out more about our programs and how to access group therapy services through Empower Healthcare.

Promoting Independence At Home and in the Community

At Empower Healthcare, we are passionate about promoting the independence and quality of life of people living, studying, and working at home and in the community.

We know that our clients have their own goals, dreams and ambitions and that achieving them is a journey that takes time and consistency, that’s why our organisation is shaped around a commitment to continuity of staff for clients. We believe that people get better outcomes when they can build strong relationships and trust with the clinicians who treat them.

Changing Lives With Exceptional Care

We understand that our clients have needs and goals that are as unique as they are. Our focus is on tailoring therapy and nursing support to suit each individual we see. We acknowledge that when choosing us, our clients expect services that place dignity, integrity, and respect at their core. We achieve this by approaching things differently – by delivering innovative, high-quality therapy solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of our clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower clients to improve their independence, quality of life, and ability to live, work and thrive in their own homes and communities.

Click Here for NDIS

How To Get Clients Started With Our NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

Professional Development, Recruitment

Rubie Shares her Reflection on Empower’s Graduate Program

Posted on May 17, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

17
May

Rubie Li Shares Her Reflection on Empower's Graduate Program

When I first started at Empower, I shadowed my mentor and visited a client managing multiple sclerosis. By recommending a bed pole to assist with bed transfers, we changed their life, improved independence, and boosted self-confidence to live alone. It was this moment that reminded me of the reason why I chose to be an occupational therapist in the first place – to improve the quality of life and overall happiness for everyone.

As a graduate occupational therapist at Empower, we get to meet all types of people and by taking the time to get to know them as individuals, learning their daily routines and interests, as well as challenges in everyday activities, we gain experience and knowledge in providing individualised support and a solution for activities they have trouble participating in.

What I love most, is the opportunity to connect daily with fellow grads to share the experience of our work, as well as brainstorming solutions and ideas for challenging works that we have encountered.

I’d highly recommend Empower to new graduates because Empower is such a close-knit family and you get so many learning resources and support from your team leader, mentor and work colleague, which is exactly what a new graduate needs during the transition period from university to a clinical setting.

Empower Healthcare Graduate Program

Empower’s Graduate Program

The foundations for a bright career!

How does our program work?

Empower Healthcare’s comprehensive graduate program offers personal development and mentoring, to successfully transition you from a student into talented clinician. Here’s how it works:

12 month structured program
Individual development plan & goal setting
Weekly 1:1 mentoring
Monthly online professional development courses
Monthly clinical development workshops
Quarterly company-wide professional development & social events
Quarterly progress report
$1,500 yearly professional development allowance
Grad year completion bonus

Highlights:

$1500 PD fund

We provide all graduates with a $1500 professional development fund, which can be used to attend events of your choosing, to help you further your skills and development.

Mentoring and quarterly progress reports

Our grads have access to weekly 1:1 mentoring. Every three months, you and your mentor will discuss your progress in working towards your development plan and goals.

Company-wide professional development and social events

Every three months we have an Empower family reunion, which involves an evening of professional development and social activities to bring our team closer together.

Learn about our graduate program in more detail.

Empower's grad program flyer - download

Click Here for our grad flyer

We accept graduates all-year round. Call 03 9068 3739 to talk to a member from People and Culture about our national grad opportunities.…

Continue reading →

Announcements, In Home Care, Mobility

5 Signs Your Client May Need a Walking Aid

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Nicole Cook

11
May

5 Signs Your Client May Need a Walking Aid

A well-fitted and appropriate walking aid can be a vital tool for people wanting to stay independent and active while being safe when walking around their homes and communities. Physiotherapists are expert at selecting, fitting and ensuring the correct use of mobility aids, while maintaining and improving strength and endurance.

Here are a few signs that may indicate a person would benefit from a walking aid:

A history of falls or a fear of falling.
Use of furniture or walls to steady and support during gait.
Difficulty with climbing stairs and walking on uneven surfaces.
Deteriorating balance that is interfering with walking inside and outside the home.
Reduced activity due to a fear of walking.

If you notice that a person is struggling with mobility, getting a good-quality walking aid fitted as soon as possible can prevent falls and improve independence, allowing for a fulfilling and active life where safe walking is a part of every day.

Let an Empower clinician expertly assess whether your client needs a walking aid for a short period or on a permanent basis. Click on our referral link below.

About Empower

We Change Lives

Empower Healthcare is a national allied-health service provider and partner with Home Care package providers, NDIS plan managers & Aged Care organisations to deliver life changing allied health services. We offer a full-service platform from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics to osteopathy, massage therapy and most recently, home nursing services and pride ourselves in the delivery of high-quality therapy solutions, value packed services and responsive ethos.

It is a very exciting time with Empower Healthcare building on the success of its Victorian operation and now expanding nationally into NSW & WA. With a growing team of 100+ clinicians, we provide over 1,500 treatments every day and service more than 100 healthcare organisations. Building on this strong foundation, we are well positioned and committed to delivering exceptional care.

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental wellbeing to live happier and healthier lives.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →

Announcements, Community, Home Nursing, In Home Care, NDIS, Wellbeing

The 5 types of clients who would benefit from a home nursing assessment and why

Posted on March 26, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

26
Mar

Home health care nursing services can be vital for the wellbeing of clients living at home and wanting to continue to do so. A home nursing assessment is a convenient and easy way to establish the support and medical needs for people who find attending out-patient services difficult, while providing the clinician with valuable information regarding the holistic care needs of clients seen within their unique home environments.

Clients who benefit from home nursing assessments include:

New clients on home care packages,
People with deteriorating health,
Individuals managing chronic health conditions,
Clients with complex care needs,
Anyone who has recently returned home after a hospital admission and is struggling.

Why is a nursing assessment important?

To assess all aspects of physical and social wellbeing.
To identify areas in which individuals require additional support.
Establishing whether clients are safe and able to cope at home.
To assist in planning and implementing of appropriate care.
Nursing assessments allow clients to participate in their own care by engaging them in the assessment process.

Booking a home care nursing assessment can be an important step in giving people living at home the freedom to live the lives they choose to live.

About Empower

We Change Lives

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

…

Continue reading →