Health

The highlight for me studying optometry was the placement component of the course. I feel it was crucial to my development towards becoming a practice-ready optometrist. During my placements I was immersed in optometry and received the best support and mentoring from experienced clinical optometrists. It allowed me to put theory in to practice and helped me to continue to develop my clinical skills. As a result, I felt work-ready at the completion of my studies.

I am passionate about using my knowledge to help improve peoples’ general health and quality of life. I also love food and working with others so nutrition and dietetics was the best choice for me. Flinders is well known for its nutrition and dietetics course, with a strong reputation for experienced lecturers and outstanding researchers in this field.

I am a registered nurse who moved into public health research following my MPH and PhD. I have led several multi-year intervention studies on physical activity and health. My teaching focuses on healthy lifestyles and associated health risk factors. Current research interests include trends in adult health and fitness, relationships between exercise and health outcomes and mindfulness and stress modification in emergency services personnel. I am a member of Sports Medicine Australia, the American College of Sports Medicine and the Public Health Association of Australia.

I chose to study occupational therapy because it involves what I value in a career: a background in human science, a holistic perspective of health, and practical ways to help people engage in everyday life. Studying the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy offers the perfect combination of subjects to explore various areas of health, while preparing you to understand and develop clinical skills.

I am a bioengineer and an accredited exercise scientist with ESSA. My teaching areas include research methods, exercise therapy and new technologies in rehabilitation. I specialise in gait and motion analysis and my research areas include falls and balance in the elderly, gait in multiple sclerosis and exercise therapy for rehabilitation. I have completed a PhD in ‘Kinematic Analysis of the Osteoarthritic Knee’.

I am an Exercise Scientist, a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and an Accredited SLSSA Beach Coach and Accredited Sprint Coach with Athletics Australia. My research innvolves investigating adolescent girls disengagement with physical activity and working with athletes conducting a range of fitness tests and metabolic measurements testing fitness levels. I'm also heavily involved with Surf Life-Saving SA and their High Performance Surf Sport program and I conduct nutrition workshops for primary school children.

From a young age I knew I wanted to be in a helping role and make an important difference in people’s lives. My experience as an external Disability and Developmental Education student at Flinders University was exceptional. Entering the professional world and working in the disability sector, I felt nothing short of prepared. The program has greatly expanded my professional networks and opened up multiple exciting opportunities.  

I found my time as a student with Flinders University to be a great experience. The best aspects of studying for my master’s degree were working with other students from different backgrounds and learning from the fantastic academic staff and guest speakers.

I found studying challenging as I combined this with working and becoming a mother. The University was really supportive of me continuing my studies and allowed me to enrol for distance and cross institutional study.

I am putting my new theoretical knowledge into practice working in women's health as a nurse and midwife.