First 3 days in the Hospital

Well, I've completed 3 days in the tiny Stanthorpe Hospital that has roses in most of their gardens (see pictures). And by day three I've decided I really like working in hospitals. Day one I was quite sure what was going and was trying to come to terms with how everything works, and was a little confused. However by today I was doing home visits with my supervisor Penny and doing the diagrams when we got back to the office to send to Home Assist. I was suggesting hand splints for a nursing home patient with Parkinson's disease who we will see again next week to discuss our progress with the families. Penny had said she will probably get me to speak at next week's 'ward meeting'. This is where nursing staff, doctors, and any other health professionals come together to discuss current or recently discharged patients. Penny is very happy with how I am going, and I certainly feel like I am learning a lot. I even saw Dr Michael Tremellen on Tuesday.

 I have hour lunch breaks in the park, which is beautiful. I often do some follow up reading and research. But it's still enjoyable :)

This is Guy and Holly's house where I am living. It's been an absolute blessing to stay with them, I'm very thankful for the opportunity to meet them and spend time with them. Good news Gympie folk...they are very very keen to come to Gympie :D We had home fellowship break-up on Wednesday night, it was a simple BBQ with one of the other groups and we were able to share our testimonies together. I really enjoyed the opportunity again to fellowship here with some dear brethren. Guy and Holly are now in Brisbane in preparation for Jono and Rachel's wedding. So I went to Glynn and Shelley's for dinner tonight. It was great to spend time with them and their boys; Jack, Lachie and Darcy.
I'm having a great time in the green Stanthorpe; learning lots, experiencing lots and having sweet fellowship! Hope everyone is well :)

Me on day one :)

The Weekend...and Day One of Prac

Well...I've only been here since Saturday night and I've packed so much in :)
I met Guy and Holly at the Warwick Lounge for the Young Adults Break-up (here's a link to their website: http://www.warwickchristianfellowship.org/#!) . So it was a great night of dinner and fellowship and encouragements from a number of the elders towards the year ahead. It was a really lovely night and I felt very encouraged, even though I'm not actually a youngie from Warwick or Stanthorpe.
We got back to Guy and Holly's around 10.30pm and stayed up chatting with a glass of port or scotch till midnight :) I'm feeling very comfortable and a part of the Collier's home, it's lovely. They have a really nice house and I feel very much at home.
Church on Sunday was what they call a 'Highlight Sunday'. It's a morning focused towards outreach, so the word is very much simplified and there are extra items. There was quite an influx of visitors from Brisbane, Amy Sweet, Jess Ferguson, Bridie Wylie, Antony and Caleb Rose, Simon, Candi, Noah, Eliana and Hugo Laidely, Mitch McCrystal and Emma Neville. It was a great morning focusing on the fact that we are the gospel is more than a gospel of salvation, it is a gospel of sonship that we are all including to participate in.
For lunch we went to Glynn and Shelley Rigden's with the Laidley's, and Mick and Al Tremellen. Nice BBQ lunch with a good drop of wine :)
Sunday evening the Eddihausen girls came down and chilled, with Nick Bonner, the very-soon-to-be-married Jono Bushby, Caleb Sweet and Tim Grassick joining us for dinner. We had a really nice night together, chatting about the word, enjoying an Asian inspired meal and a few card games to finish, oh and another good drop of wine :D
Now to the reason of my journey...prac. I was with Geraldine today who I met at Ballandean State School. We did a individual session, with an autistic boy then did a class session with the preppies and grade ones. Then to Amiens State School for another group session, preppies and grade ones as well. Then to Dalveen State School for a small group session, 3 prep boys. Dalveen school only has around 20 students all up! I then joined in with a Siblings group back at Granite Belt Support Service (GBSS) base.
It was a very full day, and my head was full by the end of it. Geraldine is an amazing lady, she's loves what she does and just knows so much. She obviously puts in a lot of effort to achieve the best for the children and families that she works with.
The broadness of OT continues broadening...there is so much we do, a little overwhelming right now. But I'm sure with more practice I'll understand more and then how to implement.
I'll be in the hospital tomorrow, and it will be a completely other side of OT :)

So here we go...

So as most would be aware I'm heading to Stanthorpe for some prac, and as the kids say 'What's prac?' 'Prac is where I practise being an OT!'

I'm really looking forward to the next 3 weeks of practical OT experience...and I was keen to share my experiences with you all...hence the blog.

From what I know so far my prac will be very broad. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (9-3.30pm) I will be at Stanthorpe Hospital doing everything from hand therapy, in and out patients, rehab...etc., with Penny my supervisor.

On Mondays and Fridays (and probably some other afternoons to ensure I get all my required hours) I will be at Granite Belt Support Services. From what I have read and heard it is non-Government funded community group working to support disabled children aged 0-18 years old, with a large focus on Autistic children from 0-6 years old. My experience here will include school visits, home visits and respite care. My supervisor here will be Geraldine. Here's a link to their website: http://www.gbss.org.au/index.html

For the 3 weeks I will be staying with Guy and Holly Collier and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to meet them. I'm also excited about the opportunity to meet some other folk in Stanthorpe.
Prac starts on Monday the 26th and I'll keep you posted :)