From Personal Trainer to Allied Health Assistant

20 Dec 2017

20 December 2017

“Before becoming an allied health assistant at St John of God Bendigo Hospital I was a Personal Trainer for 10 years. I  worked in various gym and had own business.  I had always been interested in Allied Health and was  very keen to study it when the time was right, which was last year.”

Nicole started study at TAFE at the start of the 2016. Halfway through the year she was offered a position at Bendigo Health in the ‘Fitness for Older Adults Program’.

“During this time I also undertook 3 weeks of placement at St John of God Bendigo Hospital which finished in December," she said.

Nicole then started volunteering at our hospital in February 2018 and on her first day of volunteering she  was offered a job in the allied health department.

“The role of an allied health assistant is to work alongside and support the allied health professionals, physiotherapists, speech pathology, occupational therapy, dietitians and exercise physiologists to work towards patient goals so they are ready to return to their desired daily functions.”

“A typical day can comprise of supporting and facilitating therapy groups such as breakfast group, hydrotherapy and gym groups.

"I enjoy the variety, no day is ever the same and I get to meet a diverse range of patients from neuro patients, post surgery, or reconditioning just to name a few.”