Danielle Kirsty Lord is an Occupational Therapist who graduated from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) in 1994. At that stage it was a 3.5 year degree with funding through HECS.
Danielle went to Pitwatter House school in Collaroy and achieved a TER of about 84.5 (from memory). She studied 3 unit Maths, General English, Biology, Physics and she did 3 unit French for her HSC. In year 11, she did one year of Computer Studies. Danielle did really well at school in Biology and English but struggled with Physics, only just passing. She had tutoring for Physics and for Maths. Because she had done more than enough subjects, she didn’t need to include Physics in her final marks. Danielle went to St Lukes, a primary school where French was taught from Prep through to year 6. Danielle did a few weeks staying with some families in France, which has been organised through Alliance Francais by her parents between yr 11-12 school holidays. She did one term of learning German but then swapped High Schools so didnt have access to continuing it. Danielle initially wanted to be a High School P.E. teacher and did her school work experience for that. She had previously helped out at tennis camps for younger kids during school holidays for her tennis coach. She then thought about becoming a languages teacher. During year 11/12 she had really bad feet and spent some time receiving Physiotherapy and decided that she would like to be a Physio and work in sports. Danielle didnt get enough marks in her HSC to do this, but a close neighbour’s sister was a Physio at a University and she recommended that Danielle do OT with the aim of transferring over to Physio later.
Danielle was lucky to have access to a car to drive herself out to University out at Lidcombe, which was only one of two places other than Newcastle which had an OT course in NSW at that stage. Danielle lived on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, so it was quite a drive back and forth each day on top of the heavy workload of that particular degree and the quantity of subjects that they did each semester.
Danielle’s fieldwork placements were to meet the 1000 hours required.
First Year: AMP Insurance (Sydney Circular Quay)
Second Year: Royal North Shore Hospital (Paediatrics and Rheumatology), which included the Centre for Bone and Joint Diseases (Ryde)
Third Year: Alice Betteridge School (North Rocks)
Fourth Year 1: Central Coast Community Mental Health
Fourth Year 2: Royal Rehabilitation Centre (Neurology inpatient / outpatient)
Danielle also volunteered whilst she was at University during the semester holidays:
Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme (Manly)
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Hands, Cardiology, varied)
Mona Vale Hospital (Paediatrics)
Danielle worked for her parents business at varied times and to complete varied jobs throughout her high school years including: receptionist, assisting with formal Christmas functions. Danielle’s father and uncle were Insurance Assessors and worked in household claims, car claims, professional liability claims (e.g. Chiropractors injury to clients), disaster claims e.g. Newcastle earthquake, storm damage etc. The business became the second largest business in Australia, with offices in different states / territories.
Canadian Adaptive Snowsports Badges:
Countdown – Support for Diverse Learners
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