Name: Rio Jodache
Job: Occupational Therapist
My job is all about helping people to live the life that they want!
Why did you choose to work in health?
Because of the variety of skills, mixture of other professions working together and the hands-on experience needed to help a person during their time of need. Occupational therapy is a career that allows you to choose your own path and take as many detours along the way as your life and interests change. I love it because I can work and travel with my qualification. Males in the profession are a rare find. We definitely need more males of different ethnic groups, particularly Maori and Pacific Islanders.
What advice would you give someone interested in becoming an Occupational Therapist?
If you want a world-class career that changes with you through life and allows you to come out of your shell and work with people using scientific, evidence-based interventions, then occupational therapy is the one for you! Health is an ever-changing world and is hugely rewarding when you’re at the top of your game. Working in a team of health professionals helps to shape both your career and you as a person as you work towards developing creative solutions to enable people to live the life they want. There is a worldwide shortage of occupational therapists and new areas are opening up in which occupational therapists will be able to be influential. You can also travel and work overseas with a NZ Occupational Therapy qualification.
What's been your most memorable experience on the job?
I worked with a gentleman who wanted to get back into playing music after having a condition that weakened his hands and legs. I watched him progress from only being able to turn his head in bed, to mobilising in a wheelchair, then walking with a frame as his legs and balance improved. The last aspect to return is a person’s fine finger movements and to watch as he progressed toward his goal was humbling to me. Then to walk into the ward lounge and hear him play the piano again took us all by surprise. It really made me feel proud of the career I had chosen when I reflected back on this life-changing experience for the gentleman.
What are some of the challenges of working in your role?
Working in a health system that doesn’t always have all the resources that you need is challenging, but it's outweighed by having a team that constantly supports you to think outside the square to do what needs to be done.
What subjects would you recommend taking at high school?
Biology in particular, as well as English and maths. It’s helpful to study a wide range of subjects, but if you haven’t there are foundation programmes at AUT & Otago Polytechnic that you can do before you start your degree.
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What's a typical day like for you?
8:00— I arrive at work and check with the team for any changes from the previous day, for any new admissions etc. I also check my emails and then get into it. We have a meal preparation group every morning which is run by the occupational therapist for people that need to safely prepare their own breakfasts when they get back home for themselves and/or their families.
9:00— Normally I have individual patient slots. I see patients individually from 10-12pm to work on upper limb therapy, returning to work, cognitive rehabilitation etc. I also run a cognitive rehab group every Monday and Wednesday as numbers permit.
12:00— On Monday mornings from 12.30 to 1.30pm is the multi-disciplinary team meeting with doctors, nurses, physios, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, dietitians, social workers. In this meeting we discuss patient goals and upcoming therapy for the next week.
1:00— LUNCH!
2:00— We have a variety of rehab groups running in the OT department including wheelchair mobility, work and energy conservation, upper limb therapy and cognitive rehabilitation. These normally happen in the afternoons when the ward is not as busy and patient’s families are around and can also get involved in the groups. This is important as we use it to educate families about how they can help patients when they are discharged and are continuing rehab at home.
3:00— Depending on the need, I schedule home visits at the end of the day to assess a person’s access in/out/around the home. I usually do this with the person to assess how they manage getting in/out of the car, the shower, bed or on/off the toilet, and how they manage cooking, doing laundry etc.
4:00— HOME TIME!
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