Research occupational therapist, writer, poet
I’m a non-clinical occupational therapist and therefore I do not provide clinical services. My role in the profession is as a researcher. I received my bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Edith Cowan University in 2012, and doctorate degree from Curtin University in Western Australia in 2018. My doctoral thesis explored how to profile the sensory function of children with neurological disorders who had reduced sensation in their hands.
Since my PhD, I have used my skills and knowledge in occupational therapy theory to undertake research within hospital and community services. While I have an interest in patient and carer experiences of health care, my research does not extend to psychology, counselling or other mental health related fields. My focus has been on improving the quality of health care services including person-centred practice and robust approaches to measuring patient outcomes.
I’ve always loved facts and figures, and research became my strength, but my own spiritual journey taught me that not everything can be explained with data and analysis.
Perhaps the answers to life’s big (and small) questions lie somewhere in between science and spirituality and we can draw wisdom from both. During this period of deep pondering, I evaluated my own life and realised something was missing. I sought a spiritual life coach and embarked on a journey of awakening to find my life’s purpose.
I returned to the creative activities that came so easily to me as a child: crafting poetry, writing songs and playing music. Through this self-expression, I realised my poetry and songwriting was coming from my soul, not my intellect. That discovery opened a whole inner world where I found my truth, my higher self, and my inner voice. It's now my purpose to combine evidence from occupational therapy theory with traditional spiritual practices to help others awaken to their own voice and higher self. Through The Inner Poet Project I am creating practical tools that will give others the confidence to move through personal challenges with wisdom and power and bring about positive change.