By: Laura Foster & Alanna Harrison, Occupational Therapist Students
As fourth-year Occupational Therapy students approaching the end of our degrees, we recently completed our final 10-week placement with Ability Options in Coffs Harbour.
This placement marked a significant milestone in our journey, bridging the gap between student life and stepping into practice as emerging clinicians.
During our 10-week placement at Ability Options, we were exposed to a diverse range of cases, working across the lifespan from paediatrics to geriatric clients. This variety allowed us to experience a wide range of diagnoses and provided valuable insight into the impact that disability can have on a person’s daily life. It also reinforced the vital role occupational therapy plays in promoting independence, meaningful participation, and full, enriched lives.
Through these experiences, we gained insight into aspects of the NDIS world that are not always covered at university, highlighting the importance of real-world learning in preparing us for practice. Ability Options provided us with strong structure, support, and guidance throughout our placement, ensuring that we could confidently deliver sessions within a safe, welcoming, and well-presented clinic environment.
During our placement, we were fortunate to help participants achieve goals that, at times, even surprised us. The experience of working alongside individuals to reach meaningful outcomes is incredibly rewarding, and something we feel grateful to have experienced as students. One memorable example for both of us was supporting participants with bus travel training. Through education, graded exposure, and addressing individual fears, we were able to help these participants gain the confidence to travel independently. Seeing their sense of pride and achievement was truly invaluable.
Moments like these reminded us that even small milestones can make a significant impact on a person’s life. These experiences have strengthened our passion for occupational therapy and have left us feeling excited and motivated as we transition from university into professional practice.
We would like to thank the team at Ability Options for their support, guidance, and encouragement throughout our placement. This experience has been invaluable, and we are excited to carry these learnings forward into our future careers as occupational therapists.
