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

NZAOT Medical Staffing International Achievement Award 2005

Winner of the Medical Staffing International / New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists Achievement Award, Grace O'Sullivan says simply, "It's just great to win an award for doing a job I love."

Grace who works in residential care and the community, won the award for 'Innovative Services to Older People'. Receiving the award will assist this mother of five to continue her work.

Grace is an occupational therapist who thinks of herself as just someone who likes to help people.

Kirsten Thomforde of recruitment company Medical Staffing International comments that Grace's compassion and drive was evident on meeting her. "Grace is a very special therapist and her professionalism and personal commitment are remarkable. We are thrilled to be able to present her with this Award."

Grace was involved in voluntary work while her children were growing up and always tries to lend a hand wherever required. One such request from a friend, led her to work with a lady who had multiple sclerosis. As a non-professional the challenge was scary but she was willing to utilise her passion for physical exercise to try and help this lady who was hoping to slow the progression of the disease. During that experience Grace recalls a therapist saying, "You're a natural occupational therapist" to which Grace replied, "What's an occupational therapist?" That sparked the beginning - the rest is history.

Now working towards a PhD at AUT's School of Occupational Therapy, Grace began her undergraduate degree there in 1996 as a mature student who worked, ran a home and studied. Juggling her roles and responsibilities was difficult. "I was a wife, mother, caregiver and student. I must have been nuts to think I could do it - but I persevered and by carrying on my ability improved."

Grace says winning the Medical Staffing International / New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists Achievement Award will be especially pleasing if it helps to raise the profile of occupational therapy in residential care facilities. She believes it is an essential yet undervalued health profession. Asked why she thinks occupational therapy is important, Grace answers with a question. "Look at your own life - what gives it meaning? What makes you feel good about yourself? Isn't it doing . achieving things . living life to the best of your ability? That's what makes life worthwhile. Why should it be any different for older people? In too many cases, older people are under-rated and all too often, especially when they enter residential care, there is a tendency to think that because they are warm, housed and fed, their needs have been met." This perception is slowly changing and Grace is definitely an agent for that change. "There is a prevalence of dementia and depression in many residential care facilities and it's because people have little to do - no opportunity to engage in daily activities. Put people into a stimulating environment, give them something to do, encourage them to do what they can for themselves and they will respond positively."

Is this the beginning of a renaissance? Grace says these beliefs have always been there and are, in fact, at the core of occupational therapy; but because the philosophy is simple there has been a tendency to ignore it. Grace has also worked to enhance the profile of occupational therapy in the provision of health services. Earlier this year she was recruited to represent NZAOT on government bodies. At the recent Auckland Conference - The Many Faces of Abuse, Grace co-presented a paper - Dying for something to do , based on her work for a masters degree and co-written by colleague, Clare Hocking. Next year she will present a paper at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Conference in Sydney based on the work she is currently doing with people who live with dementia.

Where to from here? "Completing this PhD would be the icing on the cake." She laughs, "Housewife to PhD in 10 years!"

Previous winners of the Medical Staffing International / New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists Achievement Award are Heleen Blijlevens, for 'Washing away S.O.A.P. notes' and Lynette Eaton for Neonatal Developmental Care. For more information about any of Medical Staffing's scholarship programmes for Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Therapists or Physiotherapists.

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