It all comes down to this. 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary school, 5 years of high school, 1 year of college, and 4 years of uni. I’ve handed in my portfolio to be marked, gotten it back and passed. Checked my online results and its been changed to a pass and I’m now not enrolled in any units. Therefore, I’ve passed everything without a hitch.
I went to the OT Australia WA Sundowner event and it was an ok networking thing. Not many OTs there, but there were a few of the big shots so it wasn’t too bad 
Now I’ll be catching up on paperwork for work and a whole heap of paperwork for the migration application. Here’s to everything working out! God has been really good so far, everything falling into place in perfect timing and with opportunities coming up everywhere I could not be more blessed.
2 days and a bit till the drive to the airport! 
Well, it had been 7 weeks since I started at prac. We had afternoon tea for a farewell for Lauren and I, well mainly Lauren cause I’ll be coming back They even bought us a box of flowers each! I was beyond surprised, it was such a lovely surprise and I was so overjoyed and grateful to get a box of flowers! I took many, many pictures of them (hey, its the 1st box I’ve gotten!) but I won’t overload you guys with flower pictures. The rest are on my Facebook album *click*.
It feels so surreal. I had my final evaluation today, and its the last one that I’ll ever be filling out as a student. I guess its a bit hard to describe my feelings now. I’ve only got to work a few hours tomorrow and then go to uni on Monday, hand in the portfolio stuff and get my results ammended and I’m done. I’m going to collect my letter of completion on Wednesday and I’ll be registering as an OT by then. It feels so great finishing uni, finally 5 years of work is comin to an end. 5 years of slogging through it, 5 years of prayers and support from my family and friends. I wouldn’t be here without any of you. I guess this is also a thank you to whoever has supported me along the way. Thanks to all my previous supervisors for teaching so much about OT and grooming me to be one.
I remember my first day on my first prac. Boy, was I scared shitless. For one, it was July and I hadn’t had a prac before. Guess that came as a shock to them and I think that was my biggest learning curve right there. I had to put 3 years of knowledge into practice and I had no clue what to do. Little to say, I think I came out from my shell. Secondly, it was a hospital prac, which is generally more demanding in time, workload and expectations. Consistently throughout all my 3 placements, there is one comment from my supervisors that are almost identical word for word: Kristine is communicates in a gentle and quiet manner. Though my 2nd and 3rd supervisors’ comments was that I was communicating more assertively and being more bubbly. Being here in this current placement was really great, cause I had a better mix of male:female ratio and a whole heap of different people to work with.
I couldn’t ask for a better first full time job. The people are so helpful and friendly, the workplace really supportive and I get to work with wide range of clients. The best part is, I already know how to do part of the job, I just need top-up training and induction and I’m good to go. More time for me to focus on the clients, which is the main thing. I officially start on the 5th of January but I go back next week as a casual. It seems like I can’t get enough of this place But in all honesty, I think I fit in here better than I do in the hospital. They’re nice people and all but a bit cliquey and feels quite strange working there.
I’m going to tie up loose ends tomorrow and then have an early day and get home to get ready for the Christmas party! I seriously cannot wait for the whole thing! I’m stoked, though I’ve got another party on Saturday and I’ve got sundowner drinks as well on Monday night. Sounds a bit like a bulk booze binge. But I don’t drink much so no worry there And just for everyone’s peace of mind, no I’m not driving. I’m getting picked up and getting a cab home after everything. I’m responsible enough to do that
Well, enough ranting for the moment. I’m going to get resting since I’ve had a long day and read my Breaking Dawn and have a sleep in, cause I don’t have to go to work till about 11 plus AM. Haha…..Suckers!
When I woke up this morning after sleeping at 2am that morning itself, I was so tempted to crawl back into bed and get more sleep. Obviously I did not, I dragged myself out of bed, tried to print my stupid exam paper out but couldn’t so I rushed out of the house to make it to uni to print and hand in my exam paper. Rushed over to a worksite and then made it to the office by 11.15am. Not bad for the span of 3 hours’ work.
I was getting some work done on the computer when one of the people who interviewed me came along and asked if we could have a word in the office. Obviously I had one thing on my mind: the outcome of the Tuesday interview. I actually don’t remember the first thing he said to me but the next thing I remember was him shaking my hand and going, “Congrats. You’re now one of us”.
I think I was so gobsmacked I couldn’t say anything but “wow” and “thank you”. Yes, I was very lame at that point of time but I didn’t care anymore. I had secured my first paid full time job!! I think it’s just sort of hit me proper that I now am going to take off my student hat and put on the hat of an OT/employee. It’s so surreal. I won’t have to do any more assignments or pretend case studies. I actually work with people and see OT being put into action. I remember my managing director asking me what skills I could bring to the company and I said my OT skills and elaborated. I remember her commenting that this job is basically OT in action. I thought to myself, that is so very true! Although I don’t have the title OT after my name in my business card (yes, I get business cards!), I have to put my qualifications next to my name.
I think after 5 years of studying here in Australia, its now time to think about settling in and staying for good. I just realised over dinner with Russell, Michelle and Charmian that I have to get private insurance cover, settle my PR application, put in my police clearance, get OT registration, get certified by the COTRB and finish all my uni paperwork. So this is what the working life is like.
I’m really thankful to God and everybody that made my journey here in Australia such a successful one. I could not have done it on my own strength, but it is with God’s grace and mercy as well as the many people He put into my life that has paved the way to me getting a job even before I graduate. In this financial turmoil, getting jobs with lots of perks is not easy and I’m grateful beyond words.
Only 3 more weeks and 1 day and I have completed uni. I’ve got to settle my paperwork with the company, I’ve handed in copies of my driver’s licence and Working with Children Check. I’ve got to do my Police Clearance and present my passport and other minor paperwork and I’m all set. Its weird how it didn’t take that long.
I think I’ve babbled enough for tonight, I’m beginning to sound incoherent as I’m really tired but happy
It’s my last piece of assessment for OT 442.
It’s now 1.02am.
I have written 7 pages.
I have a 10 page limit.
I aim to finish by 2 am.
Someone please tell me I’m not insane.
I’m quite tired today. I woke up at 2am to try and see if I could get the free Air Asia tickets back to KL, but epic fail. Though I did find free tickets to and from to Singapore, which isn’t much use unless I’m actually in Singapore to fly to Malaysia. Spent from 2am till 3am trying to find alternative flights, but didn’t work.
I’ve been rather busy at work lately, travelling up and down visiting clients as well as dealing with the enormous amount of paperwork with each client. I’ve got to do some Job Start paperwork and boy, are they a stack of documents! It’ll be the 1st time I’m filling them out tomorrow, so hopefully all works out.
After work, I still have my exam paper to write, which is due next week *gulp*
I’ve written out the headings and I have a rough idea on what to write it on but having the time to actually sit down and write it, uninterrupted. Looks like I’ll be writing my paper over the next few days. Just need to pass this exam paper and finish up my prac and portfolio and I’m home free and ready to graduate! Speaking of graduation, I handed in my Intention to Graduate form today. So in 5 weeks, I can have my Letter of Completion! Talk about fast. I’ve got to get my Police Clearance and things sorted out and I’m good to go.
Feels like my life story has taken on a new chapter. Next I’ve got to go job hunting. I’ve had 2 JCs tell me that I should apply for a job. I love it and everything, but paywise is a bit less than hospitals. The thing I like here is that I have autonomy and its a brilliant place to work at, the place is full of friendly people and there are quite good job perks. I’ve yet to decide, but 5 weeks is a good enough time frame to decide
Enough pondering about work and stuff, got to get on with life. Exam papers to write, paperwork to sort out! Goodnight
I’ve been doing prac/work at AAWA for the past 6 weeks and I’m beginning to slip into a routine now: Get up, change, drive to work, sit in front of computer, go out for facility visits if lucky, more computer work, drive home, do work, sleep, repeat routine. At the end of next week I once again change ‘jobs’, I switch prac places. Trying to switch jobs once a year is bad enough but switching 3 times is just very tiring. I’m beginning to fatigue from it, beginning to hate the 7 weeks cause once I begin getting used to the routine, I get uprooted again to be placed somewhere else.
I’ve been reflecting on life a bit of late, thinking about cell and my future. For those who don’t know, I’m in the midst of completing a 7 week placement, doing a group assignment, managing my migration application and applying for registration as an OT. Amongst other things I am doing 3 projects for work, which involves me bringing home the company computer to work on it and try and finish 2 projects in 1 day. The other project is an ongoing one which I will have to finish by the end of next week. I have a whole heap of paper work to fill out to apply for permanent residency here in Australia and I’ve got to get that done as I go alone so I have enough time to submit the papers before my visa runs out.
Recently I’ve been thinking about what jobs I will apply for as an OT and found out yesterday that if you are a health professional working outside the health department, the pay is less than if you worked for the health department. I was thoroughly surprised at that, seeing as how government servants aren’t really highly paid. So that pretty much set me on a path to apply for work at one of the public hospitals, preferably Charlies cause I’m already quite familiar with the system there and I know the OTs there. I looked up jobs on Seek there are quite a few, though one of the conditions was that you need to have a right to work in Australia, so I would have to lodge my migration application first before everything. I’m anticipating a very busy Christmas period, filling out forms and making dozens on phone calls and submitting documents. I’ll be going down South for a while when my family comes so I’ve got quite a bit of paper work to bring down South Working holiday. Actually, I can’t even remember the last holiday I had. This is bad. It’s high time for a holiday huh?
I think I’m probably addicted to being busy. I feel rather useless when I’ve got a block of time that I can’t schedule for say doing some Bible study to shopping for groceries. I think my diary speaks for itself. It’s full of all sorts of reminders as well as appointments and peoples’ birthdays. I think a hospital job would be good for me, I actually like carrying around pagers Feels important. Hahaha….So I had never used a pager before, so forgive me if I like prodding the buttons and being paged
I’m currently on my laptop typing this entry up, with the work computer next to me and I’m doing things on both computers at once. Talk about really multi tasking. I’m also sitting on a fit ball just so I get the exercise while doing work. Haha. I got off work early today, there was nothing going on in the office and my supervisor let me off at 1.30pm and I skipped out of the office, well walked out since I was carrying 2 laptops and 2 other bags and waltzed to Ange’s house. It was 27 degrees today and it was a beautiful spring day! Though it was a lot hotter than I expected 
Anyways, here’s a picture of my current work station at home with the 2 computers.
I guess the only reason I have the two on is cause the left one is the mine and the work one has the programs I need and space to save the stuff to bring back to the office. Speaking of which, I need to lug the computer to work tomorrow while on public transport. I hate to admit this, but I’m a bit spoiled already cause I have a car but oh well, just one day won’t kill me I’m off to go get some work done before the night ends. Toodles!
I have been out of the house since 7.45am this morning and got back at 7.45pm today. I woke up to a very rainy and grey day. I’ve gone and delivered a mattress to my aunty’s house, along with a suitcase and some angku kuih. I must admit, I think carrying a mattress like that in my car (front passenger seat folded down and back seats folded down as well) wasn’t the safest thing to do, since the mattress blocked the view of my left blind spot. Luckily the route to her place does not involve looking much into that blind spot.
Next I rushed off to work, since I had spent quite a bit of time playing with the baby over at my aunty’s place (he is sooooo adorable!!!) and inevidently forgot all about the time. Did that and had a go at finishing my strategy sheet for the clients I’m going to see tomorrow as well as fixing the resource sheets I’m doing up for all the resources at work. so far it looks spiffy and I’m beginning to see the results of my labour
Went off to lunch after that and off to my Design for Dementia course. So far I’ve only gotten placements in aged care but I think this is probably the area that I want to work in. I guess you could say that I’m knowledgeable in this area or feel for the people in nursing homes or hostels that are left to their own devices most of the day cause there just aren’t enough staff to give them optimal care unless they pay exorbitant prices for care. We all deserve a reasonable amount of care and meaningful activity in our daily lives and sometimes it takes someone to tell care staff to do things a bit differently to enable a person to take part in a meaningful activity or just to provide the person an interaction and thus decrease all the behaviours such as wandering, agitation and anxiety. Sometimes it takes maybe a little extra in terms or time and effort to save a lot more in the long run.
We just did an education session with a facility about sensory based activity and the need for the person to engage in meaningful activity that is sensory based as the dementia progresses. The disease robs the person of the ability to plan, to sequence and to make sense of their environment. Often, the person uses their basic senses such as touch, smell and sight to make sense of what is going on around them. I guess I could go on and on about how what is meaningful to us can be torture to another person. A good example of this was to give a person a fidget item like a Tangle or a Flexiball. For me, I could spend hours and hours just going about it, fiddling with it and just sitting there, left to my own devices with these things. On the other end of the spectrum, it can drive someone up the wall just cause of its endless possibilities. I don’t have much time tonight to write about the sensory needs of a person with dementia tonight but after today’s course I’m riled up to write something from what I’ve gained from this placement.
If you had asked me 6 months earlier, I would have said I was not a people person. I would have preferred an office environment, set me up in front of the computer with statistics and Excel worksheets to write and I’d occupy myself for hours. After 2 weeks at this placement, I realised I really crave the human contact and the need to interact with people, to feel like I’m making myself useful to them. I feel like when I do assessments with them I’m making an impact on their lives, an impact that I can see with my own eyes and feels ‘real’ in a sense. I’m not saying what I’m doing at this placement is useless, but I don’t really feel comfortable with providing strategies to people and expecting them to carry it out. Sometimes it doesn’t happen due to many barriers such as funding or lack of staff. Sometimes I just want to take all these people from the nursing homes and start up my own nursing home to provide the optimal care that they need. I sure as hell don’t want to be put in some of the facilities I visit, when I grow older and am unable to care for myself. Most places I see have not many staff and leave most of the residents that are not independent in mobility, to watch TV for hours on end. I would definitely not want that. Heck, I think if you did that to me, I’d go crazy after a while.
Like I once told my supervisor, to drive me mad all you need to do is put me in a barren room, take away my sunshine, take away activity and I’d be crawling mad. I need to be occupied with things, same with any other person. Speaking of which, after that course I spent some time over at aunty’s place again, just playing with the baby and attempting to feed him. I tell you, it ain’t easy but we now know that I can feed a baby even if I can’t cook to save my life Dinner was vege pie, meatballs and roasted veges. Was superb food! I was craving meatballs for a while and those were the best chicken meatballs I’ve ever tasted! *drools*
Anyhow, I think I’ve ranted enough for tonight. My bed is a-calling since I have a long day again tomorrow.
Yesterday night I was partially incapacitated due to the fact that I was working on 3 hours of sleep. I had went to bed at 2am and woke up at 5am to finish my assignment which was due yesterday. And I didn’t sleep till 12am this morning. So that would mean that I was for 18 hours, part of which I drove to uni, drove from uni to work, drove from work to home, drove from home to my other work place, drove home from that, drove to IGA from home and then off to Amanda’s house for cell. I can tell you I nearly had a few accidents between all those drives, the most serious one was where I nearly hit a car trying to reverse park. Ironically I find reverse parking much more easier than forward parking but I misjudged the distance due to my sleep induced haziness.
I came home after cell and promptly fell asleep from 1200 hours to 1030 hours today. That was the best 10.5 hours sleep I’ve had in a while. I’ve been working on lack of sleep for the best month or so and its the accumulation of this sleep debt really is bad. I had a course that I had to attend yesterday from 9.30am till 4pm and I had 2 coffees by 11am and I was feeling horribly sick. Just so you know, I’m generally a coffee person, but downing so much caffeine in such a sort period of time really got me really nauseous and I don’t think I’ll be doing that anytime soon. Drinking bottles of cold water and eating some food and having the air conditioning turned right up helped with the sleepiness. Never again shall I binge on caffeine.
Speaking of working, I’m off to get to work now to earn my keep!
My assignment has run into more hiccups along the way. I’m so unmotivated to do it now. I’ve written about half a page worth of stuff, here’s to writing 6 and a half more pages by Friday morning.
Then there is the problem of actually handing it in. I am not able to take time off work so I’ll just e-mail it to someone to hand in for me. I seriously hope it works.
I must say there is never a dull moment in the delirium unit at the hospital. First we had a patient who was usually drowsy but suddenly came to today and was a potty mouth cause we’d ask him to move his leg to put on the footstool. Next we have 2 pleasantly confused ladies walking around and wanting to go home, which presents a huge falls risk to us as we have to watch where they are while we’re busy doing our things as well.
Then we have another patient throwing cups of water at her room mate, attempting to throw a jug of water but was stopped. Next she threw fruit at everyone. While we were swapping chairs, she tried to reach into the HSA’s bag but was stopped, and next she tried to reach into the dustbin and that was when we made our way out of her room ASAP. I think I was partially amused but also I was a bit panicky cause we were quite near her and we were carrying a heavy chair. My supervisor got me to hurry along and got out of there.
Next we had a lady do a kitchen assessment with us and she was progressing along until we brought her back to the unit and that was when she went ballistic and wanted to go back home. At this point, I was actually holding her hand and she got a bit anxious and my supervisor got me to let go of her and get out of there. I think we spent a good amount of time trying to avoid her and get out of there before she dragged us by our hands and demanded that we let her out.
I’m tired from running away from the patients today, I’ve got more documents to type up and things to read before I go to bed. That’s all from me today!
