F E AT U R E
Supporting Communities Rem Caitlin Sinclair, Occupational Therapist, Therapy Connect Simone Dudley, Occupational Therapist and Co-Founder, Therapy Connect Our Client Community Therapy Connect’s client community is not based in one location, but dispersed across Australian states and territories. However, distance is no barrier when you can access services online via telehealth. A client could live in a major city like Sydney, or on an island off the Northern Territory. Most of our clients live in rural or regional areas, with a significant number living in remote or very remote locations with limited access to allied health services.
Our clients seek services via telehealth for a range of reasons. They can reduce the time and cost of travelling to appointments, increase the access and frequency of one or more services, or they may find it more convenient for other reasons.
Our Practitioner Community
Our practitioner community is equally dispersed across the states and territories. Therapy Connect has no head office—it has no office at all—and practitioners work from home.
Why Online Works for Me Caitlin Sinclair, WA-based Occupational Therapist and Mother of Two I have worked for Therapy Connect since February 2019 as a way to return to the workforce after the birth of my first son. As a new mum, I wasn’t feeling connected to the occupational therapy community that was such an important part of my identity before having children. Working online via telehealth helped me reconnect to a community of occupational therapists and allied health practitioners all around Australia. Whether it be conducting joint sessions with a speech pathologist online, or attending a meeting or coaching session, the feeling of isolation was no longer apparent. Working in this online format also allows me to stay at home with my two children. Therapy Connect has developed a community of occupational therapists, many of whom would describe their lifestyles as remote in some way. Like me,
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many of our team members are parents returning from maternity leave, who want to blend working as an occupational therapist while optimising time with their children. We have practitioners working at Therapy Connect for different reasons, such as those who live in rural or remote locations, or those who are even working while road tripping around Australia with their families. The team deeply understands the needs of practitioners and clients within the remote service delivery model. Clients want to access a flexible service from home, while practitioners want to deliver a high-quality service while selecting the hours they work. These components provide increased access to much-needed services and opportunities for so many Australians who are part of the Therapy Connect community.
Our practitioner team is located all across Australia, from the Torres Strait in the north, to the eastern states, SA and WA. Our practitioners are mostly female and enjoy the flexibility of working from home, choosing their own hours, and achieving a balance between work and family life. On average they have 15 years of experience since graduation. Therapy Connect practitioners can clearly understand the benefits of telepractice for both themselves and clients, allowing them to balance work and life demands. Our practitioners have mostly had experience or connection with people in rural or remote locations, and actively seek to work with these clients and adopt innovative ways to deliver their skills.
Supporting Remote Practitioners Flexible Work Hours
The flexibility of online work from home is very suited to autonomous, experienced practitioners. The model supports practitioners selecting their work hours and structuring their working days to suit other life commitments. Practitioners can work full days or part days across the week for a minimum of 16 hours per week. The different time zones can be used to advantage, extending flexible appointment times earlier or later in the day. The flexibility of work hours is a significant benefit to practitioners and a priority for the organisation to maintain.
Professional Support
During COVID-19, many allied health professionals forced into online services have found telehealth adds a layer of complexity that takes time to master. Therapy strategies and resources need to be adapted to enable
