EDUCATION/TRAINING & ACHIEVEMENTS
Achieved first place on her chosen LHO geographical location panels following the 2007 National Occupational Therapy Basic Grade Competition in Ireland
Successfully registered to practise in Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Successfully completed the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) Certification Examination (Nov 2009)
Completed an extensive research project exploring the role of Occupational Therapy in Residential Nursing Homes in Ireland
Holds a Full Irish Drivers Licence
Climbed Machu Picchu in November 2010
Completed the Camino De Santiago (888kms) in September & October 2018
National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH)
Developed leadership skills while working during a worldwide Pandemic, Covid-19
Lead OT of a weekly Inter-disciplinary Splinting Clinic
Devised a standardized Hand Assessment for a patient with Spinal Cord Injury
Assisted in streamlining the clinical documentation used by the Occupational Therapists working in the Spinal Cord System of Care (SCSC) Programme
Created a resource of home programmes for patients in the SCSC Programme
Facilitated numerous workshops and in-services on the use of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and the benefits of using EMS when working with patients with Spinal Cord Injury.
Completed a workshop on ‘The Practice of Professional Supervision’
Facilitated the learning of Junior Members of staff and OT students
Developed resources to enable Junior Members of staff to learn & up-skill
Been involved in the recruitment process at the NRH
Incorporated new models such as The Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM) into practice
Successfully completed training in Manual Handling, Occupational First Aid, Children First, Hand Hygiene, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Diversity & Inclusion Awareness Programme, Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Awareness Programme, Safety in the Workplace, HACCP, Chemical Handling and CALM training
Attended various courses and tutorials in relation to Healthcare e.g. Basic Life Support (BLS), Splinting in Neurology - soft cast & scotch cast, “Seating and Positioning”, “Pressure Care”, “Introduction to Rheumatology”, “Housing Guidelines”, “Equipment Prescription” and “Hand Therapy
Involved in the management of the first Ventilated Patients with SCI in the SCSC Programme and upskilled in the airway management of Patients with tracheostomy following Spinal Cord Injury
Upskilled in the transport of patients by completing Parfit, wheelchair tied down and Decision Driver training sessions.
Facilitated bi-weekly Staff Yoga classes
Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU)
Completed extensive research exploring the benefits of using adaptive yoga as a rehabilitative tool when working with people with a Spinal Cord Injury
Presented research findings at the Australian New Zealand Spinal Cord Society Annual Meeting (ANZSCOS) Conference in Auckland in November 2014
Research project was selected for presentation for Science Fest 2014 under Category V – Clinical Excellence in Patient and Whaanau Experience
Accredited in Level One and Level Two Wheeled Mobility and Postural Management in NZ
Facilitated workshops at ASRU on Wheelchair and Seating, pressure care, postural management and Carer Training
Received a Certificate from AUT for my contribution to facilitating AUT OT Students’ placements
Received a Certificate from The Right Track Program for my contribution with the program with Underage Offenders
Completed Tikanga Best Practice Training (Maaori Responsiveness Staff Training & Development Programme)
Attended multiple seminars on Pressure Sores - Prevention & Treatment), Wheelchair Seating Solutions Revolutionised, Interactive Powerchair Training, Controlling the Pelvis in Wheelchair Seating, Sex, Sexual Function and Fertility after Spinal Cord Injury
Upskilled in Pacific Cultural Competencies in Health
Yoga and Wellness
Completed a 200Hour Hot Yoga Teacher Training Course in July 2013 with Hot Yoga New Zealand and registered Yoga Instructor/Teacher with Yoga Alliance.
Working towards becoming 500Hours RYA Certified Yoga Teacher with Power Living Australia. Completed two advanced teacher training modules; Vinyasa: Level 2 – Mind Blowing Sequencing & Theming, Vinyasa: Level 3 – Next
Level Teaching & Leadership Skills. Both modules incorporated the principles of Applied Anatomy.
Facilitated a wellness workshop at the AOTI Annual Conference in April 2017.
Facilitate wellness workshops in different yoga studios and fitness facilities in Ireland.
Created a sequence of Adaptive Yin Yoga poses and breathing techniques which has developed into a yoga class for people with Spinal Cord Injury. This was piloted at ASRU for people living in the community and provided to in-patients at the NRH.
Completed extensive research using the adaptive yoga class as a pilot project to investigate the benefits of using yoga as a therapy tool when working with people with Spinal Cord Injury.