Medical Employment Agency New Zealand & United Kingdom, Medical Staffing International

Medical Staffing International/ NZAOT Occupational Therapy Achievement Award 2007

Motivation and inspiration sums up this year’s Award winner.

There's no stopping Andrea Hasselbusch.

So deeply touched was she by a young girl with autism that Andrea Hasselbusch desperately wanted to help the child and started reading to learn more about autism. That was during her OT training in Germany, and as Andrea herself admits, “I haven’t stopped reading or learning since.”

Andrea had a gut feeling that she wanted to work with children with special needs before she even started her OT training, and has a particular interest in Asperger Syndrome and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). She thrives on providing real, practical and meaningful help to enable people to live their lives.

Driven by an insatiable appetite for knowledge, Andrea completed her Masters Degree at the end of 2006 while working for the Ministry of Education – Special Education. Her research project ‘Exploring the Occupational Therapy Consultation Process Related to Students with ASD Attending a Regular Classroom’ provided Andrea with both professional and personal learnings.

The key findings of the research revealed that contrary to published models consultation undertaken by therapists doesn’t take place in a linear fashion, but the individual processes blur at the boundaries. Working in a regular classroom is complex and involves commitment from teachers and parents alike. For a therapist to succeed they need negotiation skills; the flexibility to collaborate and cooperate; and a measure of patience. An experience which Andrea describes as “very inspiring”.

Andrea is keen to share and discuss the results of her thesis with other therapists, and so part of the Award money will be used for conference fees, whilst the remainder will be used for funding further research projects next year.

“I feel so honoured and excited that I’ve won the Award” says Andrea. “I still can’t quite believe that I won! I really appreciate this acknowledgement of all my hard work and commitment to improving occupational therapy services for students with ASD, their families and school staff.”

“I would also like to acknowledge a few people who have supported me and mentored me during my work for the Ministry of Education – Special Education and my postgraduate studies: my OT colleagues Chris Tutty, Helga Grenwell and Carolyn Simmons-Carlson, and my thesis supervisors Merrolee Penman (Otago Polytechnic) and Anita Bundy (University of Sydney).”

So what advice would Andrea give to OTs just starting out in their careers? “I felt quite overwhelmed as a novice OT”, admits Andrea, “so I would like to share that experience with them and tell them not to worry. Take every opportunity to learn from more experienced practitioners, and remember that you’re in a very versatile profession. It never gets boring and you never stop learning.”

As for Andrea’s future plans, the next few years will be focused on lecturing and research and her new role at the National University of Ireland, Department of Occupational Therapy, in Galway will enable her to do just that. In a few year’s time a PhD may be on the cards: “I just really enjoy learning” says Andrea.

“Both New Zealand and Ireland are lovely countries”, says Andrea. “And both have superb outdoors and friendly people!” she laughs.

Glenda graduates

This time last year we were congratulating Glenda Schnell for winning the Medical Staffing International/NZAOT Achievement Award for her innovative model of service delivery she developed when working at the Starship Hospital’s Child and Family Unit, forming part of her Masters Degree. Her Award money was used for attending a mental health conference in Rotorua called ‘Enhancing our Com(mon)unity’ and proved to be useful for both learning and for networking with other professionals.

What’s more, Glenda completed the Masters at the end of last year and graduated in May 2007. “It was fantastic!” she smiles.

“It’s just wonderful to recognise people like Andrea and Glenda who raise the profile of the OT profession through their work and study” says Kirsten Thomforde at Medical Staffing International. “That’s what these Awards are all about, and I’d like to give the winners my very sincere congratulations.”

For more information on the Medical Staffing International/NZAOT Occupational Therapy Achievement Awards >

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