Occupational Therapy Week is an annual celebration that acknowledges the impact OTs have in helping others. This year, we asked Jordyn Brown, a recent graduate working in Western Sydney to tell us more about her role and the impact she’s having in relation to this year’s theme of “Occupational Therapy in Action"
Can you share an example of a time when you used creativity to support a participant’s goals or to help them engage in meaningful activities?
A creative moment in my practice this year was working with a participant and their family to prepare for a long international flight. Their previous experiences had been overwhelming and distressing, so we used our therapy sessions to work through strategies and develop confidence. Together we practised using headphones, eye masks and fidgets, even setting up the home environment to simulate a busy airport to help the participant understand sensory demands. Through breaking the experience into playful steps, the participant was able to feel prepared and confident, which resulted in a successful flight and even better holiday!
What’s one problem-solving moment that made you realise the impact of your work?
One moment that made me realise the impact of my work was supporting a participant with high auditory sensitivity who found verbal communication overwhelming.
During our sessions, they often got overwhelmed when we spoke. I was able to work with the participant to understand their sensory profile and then shifted to using a whiteboard so we could communicate through writing. This simple change helped the participant feel safe and comfortable, as well as developing our therapeutic relationship. Over time, they have shared their thoughts and feelings in a way they hadn’t before, showing me just how powerful person centred problem-solving can be!
What does compassion look like in your day-to-day practice as an occupational therapist?
To me, compassion means meeting families and participants where they are. Life can be busy and unpredictable, so not every session goes as planned. Being a compassionate therapist means being flexible, pausing and simply listening. It’s about providing a non-judgemental space and being present with the people in front of you.
What’s it been like to put your learnings from University into practice? How did your studies prepare you for your role at Aspect?
It has been exciting to step into the OT world as a qualified occupational therapist at Aspect! My university studies have given me a strong foundation in key OT frameworks which I use to guide my clinical reasoning each day. Completing group projects and working in multidisciplinary teams in placement settings have also strengthened my teamwork skills and prepared me well for Aspect’s collaborative and family centred model of practise.
What are the benefits of delivering therapy sessions in community?
My ability to practise toilet training at home, learning to play soccer at the park or practising handwriting at school with the participant, their family or teachers/ educators means we get to build functional skills together in real-life contexts, problem-solve challenges as they come, and collaborate with the people who support the participant every day. This has made therapy more engaging, and empowers everyone to confidently use the strategies outside of therapy time.
What’s one thing you’ve learned in your first year at Aspect that’s shaped the kind of OT you want to be?
One thing I’ve learned in my first year at Aspect is the power of genuine teamwork. Collaborating with teachers, families, speech pathologists and other service providers has led to more meaningful outcomes, and has made therapy more sustainable. Working within multidisciplinary teams has helped me develop my confidence, communication, and ability to problem solve. This has shaped the kind of OT I want to be, one who works alongside others to support each participant as a whole.
🙌 Thanks Jordyn for your time and Happy OT Week!
Aspect acknowledges all of our OTs this week and everyday in the significant impact they make in working in partnership with Autistic people and their families/support network. Learn more about our OT services or consider joining our team.
