In Profile with Tammy, Operations Manager: NSW & QLD
Tammy joined Empower in 2017, tasked with establishing the Home Care and Community Healthcare service. At the time the company existed only in metropolitan Melbourne and employed only three Home Care clinicians. Over the next four years Tammy spearheaded a thriving Home Care and NDIS service, established systems and supported the roll out of new service offerings in multiple States.
Empower Healthcare now has branches in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, employing 130 clinicians Nationally. Through this exciting and challenging time, Tammy has been building multiple services from the ground up.
She now brings this extensive experience and all the supports and systems of an established healthcare provider to QLD and NSW.
Why did you choose this role?
I always wanted to be the person to take Empower to QLD. In 2021, the Victorian service was well established with around 170 partners and I was ready to recreate the successes of our services in a new region.
Having built thriving Home Care services in Victoria and supported the same in WA & NSW, I knew I had the experience and knowledge to create a service that meets the need of clients in different States.
What personality trait makes you well suited to your work?
I’m patient and resilient. I love solving problems in innovative ways and I tend to take challenges and successes in my stride.
What sets Empower QLD apart?
In a word, communication. We prioritise relationship building- within our team and with care providers, case managers and clients. The result is better service provision and outcomes for clients.
What can care providers expect when they work with you?
Firstly, agility in meeting their client’s needs with quick turnaround times for referrals, assessments and treatments. In line with our Corporate values, I also insist on honesty and integrity throughout our services and in every aspect of our work. More than that, however, is that we place relationships and trust at the core of everything we do.
What motivates you in your work?
I have a passion for this company and I’ve seen the difference we make in the lives of the people we work with. The more people we reach, the greater the impact we can have for clients needing our services.
Is there a quote that motivates you?
“It always seems impossible – until it’s done”
Simply click on the image below for our referral form.
After years of study you are reaching an exciting time in your health professional career – it’s time to graduate and start working.
The difficult decision you now face is where to start your career? Hospital – Rehabilitation Centre – Private Practice OR a career that offers the best of both worlds as a Community Clinician.
Community Benefits:
• Keep your weekends for you! Follow a 9-5 structure with regular clients with whom you can build rewarding relationships and achieve short and long term goals
• Autonomous work environment visiting a variety of clients with different conditions and needs.
• Escape the four walls of an office, enjoy your lunch breaks in a park or by the beach!
• Work with other clinicians and client’s family in a friendly and collaborative environment to deliver the best quality care.
Many of our Empower Healthcare clinicians began their careers in private practice and hospitals, and are now thriving after moving into the community setting. This is thanks to reduced caseload stress, flexible hours and building lasting and productive relationships with their clients.
After 8 years full time working in private practice I needed to make a change to restore my work/life balance. Working for Empower in the community setting enables me to maintain a variety within my clinical caseload and challenge my skills while reclaiming my evenings and weekends for myself – James, Physiotherapist
Why choose Empower?
1. Induction and Orientation Program – a structured orientation plan including shadowing our senior clinicians to give you the support you need to get started
2. Mentoring and Peer learning – partner up with and learn valuable skills from a senior clinician
3. Monthly online team meetings including professional development presentations and case discussions
4. Regular check-ins with your area team leader to ensure you are getting the support you need and work through any concerns you may have
5. A dedicated support team to assist with your schedule, allowing you to focus on being a health professional
6. No pressure to over service or discharge clients before they are ready, make your own clinical decisions
I love that Empower is always adapting, growing and progressing, signs of a good company, where everyone wants to work – Olivia, Physiotherapist
At Empower Healthcare we believe that our strength lies in our people. Please call our People and Culture team to discuss any questions and they can even put you in touch with some of our current Graduates or Clinicians and hopefully welcome you to the Empower family.
Congratulations your application has been received! But what comes next during the Empower interview process?
First Stage
A phone screen will be conducted by our People and Culture team, so be prepared for questions such as;
– What do you know about Empower Healthcare?
– What interested you in applying for Empower Healthcare?
– Areas of particular interest in your field
– Career goals and plans
– Availability and salary expectation
Second Stage
The second stage interview will be with the hiring manager either face-to-face or online via MS TEAMS. Along with excessive baking and overhauls of fitness gear, online interviews have become the latest trend. Just like any other job interview, the etiquette remains the same.
Our online interview tips are:
– If you can’t make an interview, always call through and let someone know so we can reschedule
– Log on a few minutes earlier to test your connection, audio, and visuals
– There are options on MS Teams to change your background if you don’t want the interviewer to see what’s behind you
– Set yourself up in a quiet room with no distractions
– Dress to impress – top half at least
This second stage is more about your working style and for both yourself and the hiring manager to get to know one another. The questions will be around your previous experiences and how you react in different circumstances, such as;
– How you deal with difficult situations/people?
– Organisational and planning skills and types of techniques you use?
– High pressured situations examples and how you deal with them
– What are your career goals and interest areas?
You will be provided with a detailed overview of the Empower Graduate Program and timings. It is just as important for you to ask questions so you can learn more about the company and if it is the right fit for you.
Tips for graduates
– Come prepared with questions that are important to you
– Set out your own expectations for your graduate year
– Honesty is the best policy – if you have other job offers, do let us know and also be transparent with the other companies
– The hiring manager would usually be the person who will be your mentor or manager, if not, it’s ok to ask to meet some of the members of the team
At Empower Healthcare we believe that our strength lies in our people, so be your open and honest self during the interview process, as we will be with you and hopefully welcome you to the Empower family.
Writing a resume can be tough. Ensure to put your best self forward by adding these reminders from your Graduate placement experience to your resume.
Cover Letter
The journey from graduate to clinician with Empower is centered around belonging, contributing and purpose which are highly sought after attributes so make sure to incorporate these into your cover letter.
Resume
The graduate program shapes you into becoming a highly effective and perceptive clinician that has critical thinking and problem solving skills, put some examples of these newly acquired skills into your resume.
Remember to also add:
Online courses you completed
Clinical development workshops you attended
Individual professional development modules
And any further Individual growth plans achieved
Your Empower placement experience has prepared you for greater responsibilities within the healthcare industry armed with this experience and a comprehensive resume you are now ready to take the next step in your career.
Whether taking your career journey with Empower or another business consider if that organisation offers you the environment to gain practical knowledge, industry insights, career succession planning and hands-on guidance to becoming a valuable and versatile employee.
If you’re looking to get your Healthcare career kicked off to a great start, make sure you apply with Empower.
When I joined Empower Healthcare after 9 years in private practice, I didn’t know how much working in home care would change my life. The freedom of being on the road, working in different environments and having a varied case load was a welcome change from spending 6 days a week inside at the same 4 walls.
I have the opportunity to perform real rehabilitation with real outcomes that really make a difference from helping someone learn to stand up and walk after years of being in a wheelchair to helping a father reach his goal of walking his daughter down the aisle, and surpass it, by dancing at the reception at her wedding.
For me, achieving work life balance is vital and Empower Healthcare helps me to do that by:
Guaranteeing steady income, independent of case load.
Ensuring great working hours and flexible leave arrangements.
Not expecting overtime and weekend work.
Allowing me to work independently but supporting me when I need it.
Working within a supportive team that prioritises my professional development and respects my professional autonomy and personal goals means that I enjoy going to work every day and building a career that allows me to live life, my way.
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.
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’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.
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’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.
Briony is a valued member of our Physiotherapy Team and reflects on why she enjoys working for Empower Healthcare.
As a busy working mom and physiotherapist, I’m always looking for ways to grow and develop professionally while maintaining a balanced work and home life. When I joined Empower Healthcare 3 years ago, my focus was on transitioning back onto the workforce, I have been supported along the way with:
Flexible leave arrangements
Family friendly work hours
Supportive colleagues and managers
Empower has offered me opportunities to develop my clinical and leadership skills with generous external professional development funding, extensive in-service training and opportunities in leadership within my first year of employment. When a marketing role became available, I was afforded the opportunity to learn an entirely new skill set and split my work hours between clinical practice and marketing.
With opportunities in NDIS, Home Care and Residential Aged Care alongside career progression support in personal areas of interest, including leadership and management roles, Empower has broadened my horizons. Working in environments that foster great working relationships and support excellence in clinical practice provides me with personal and professional fulfillment and has allowed me to thrive and grow 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.
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.
“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’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.
