A Mandubarra man and occupational therapist who has been working for the Department of Housing and Public Works in the Cape York Peninsula for the past two years says that making a real difference in people’s lives is the best thing about his job.
The man, Andrew (pictured), gets the chance to help people who aren’t safe at home, or who can’t do things for themselves.
“I can make modifications to someone’s home,” Andrew says, “to help them do the things that they need to do and get on with their lives and live as independently as possible.”
He said that in his job he can help people with a range of things to keep them safe in their homes, be they older Queenslanders or younger people with a disability.
“We can help in many different ways,” he says.
He said that by helping people maintain their independence, it also helped to keep people in their communities.
“Independence is a big thing, because as people age, they may feel like their independence is being taken away from them,” Andrew said.
“They’re getting a bit older, it’s a bit harder to walk, the steps are becoming more difficult to manage. So, it’s great that I can come in and I can make simple changes to someone’s home that can restore that independence and bring back that quality of life.”
After finishing high school Andrew said he was unsure of what he wanted to do and decided to do occupational therapy because it could offer opportunities.
“I did my placement, and enjoyed it, and now I’m here working for the Department of Housing and Public Works in a job that I love,” Andrew said.
