We’d love to share a story from one of our members, Melanie Keep, an allied health assistant at Perth Children's Hospital.
In 2018, after graduating from high school, I worked as a support worker for a nine-year-old girl with Angelman's Syndrome. I also assisted with an all-abilities dance class and accepted some other casual work while figuring out my future career pathway.
In 2019, I completed my Cert IV Allied Health Assistant Course at North Metro Tafe while working as an education assistant and special needs education assistant. During this time I continued to be a support worker, which allowed me to travel with my client and their family to the USA and Canada for their holiday. I was able to utilise some of the newly acquired skills I learnt during my TAFE coursework.
In 2020, I applied for various jobs and ultimately landed my first allied health assistant role at St John of God (SJOG) Hospital in Mt Lawley. I worked on the Specialist Rehab and Older Adult Mental Health wards with the resident occupational therapist, physiotherapist, and speech therapist. I cherished my time at SJOG Mt Lawley, especially on the Mental Health Ward, where I created a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for the patients.
In 2021, I decided to pursue my passion for working with children and applied for a position as an allied health assistant at Perth Children's Hospital. I was thrilled to start my new role, which involves supporting children in their rehabilitation journeys, alongside occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, and the medical team. After eight months I secured a full-time permanent position and am incredibly grateful I get to work with a diverse range of children, each with their own unique story and challenges every day!
One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing the progress the children make during their time at the hospital and getting to see them go home. Whether it is a child taking their first steps after a significant injury or mastering a new communication skill, it is incredibly rewarding to be a part of their journey to make them smile and happy during a challenging time in their life.