Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Timeline
Generic

Helena Bunton

Cronulla,NSW

Summary

Motivated Level 1 Occupational Therapist eager to contribute to the Transitional Aged Care Unit at Balmain Hospital. I bring valuable clinical experience and a strong foundation in delivering high-quality therapeutic interventions through my experience as a current New Graduate role in sub-acute Aged Care, previous placements and working for 3 years as an Allied Health Assistant. I am committed to providing person-centered, evidence-based care that fosters independence and ensures safe discharge for patients. Passionate about improving the quality of life for individuals through tailored interventions strategies and MDT approach. Place high value in a team based approach, through collaborating, coaching and mentoring.

Overview

4
4
years of professional experience

Work History

Occupational Therapist Lvl 1

Balmain Hospital, INPATIENT SUB-ACUTE AGED CARE
01.2025 - Current
  • Provide assessment and intervention for a varied caseload including falls, dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, orthopaedic injuries, cognitive decline, social admissions, and general functional decline.
  • Independently managed 28 bedded ward
  • Collaborate closely with a MDT, including geriatricians, physiotherapists, social workers, nurses, dieticians, and services providers, to support timely and safe discharges implement person centered care plans.
  • Undertake standardised and non-standardised assessments to inform clinical reasoning and discharge planning, including cognitive screening (MoCA, RUDAS), functional capacity assessments, neuro screens and home visits to evaluate environmental safety and accessibility.
  • Prescribe and coordinate the provision of high-cost, EnableNSW applications and complex equipment, including pressure care, transfer aids and bathroom equipment and associated carer training
  • Support and manage complex discharge planning, including for clients with limited support, cognitive impairment, palliative care requirements or unsafe home environments.
  • Facilitate and co-lead upper limb rehabilitation groups to promote upper limb function and engagement in meaningful activities.
  • Engage in challenging conversations with clients and families around goals of care, discharge risks, and changing levels of independence.
  • Utilising interpreter services with a range of CALD backgrounds for assessments, interventions and family meetings

Allied Health Assistant

Sutherland Hospital
01.2022 - 01.2025
  • Working in inpatient setting assisting OT’s in both inpatient rehabilitation and Acute settings
  • Independently managed my own workload and prioritised referrals appropriately
  • Independently completing all documentation and statistics
  • Provided timely and effective handovers to treating OT’s and other MDT members
  • Utilised safe manual handling have vast experiencing in utilising Romedics, Sara steady’s, Sling Hoists and Sit to Stand Lifters
  • Training new Allied Health Assistant
  • Involved in quality improvement projects eg updating efficiency referral process to AHA
  • Completed administration work in the equipment loan pool, developed skills in excel databases, admin skills and education to patients on equipment use
  • Presented as a panel member in Aboriginal School-Based Allied Health Traineeship Program
  • Experience working on weekends with limited support
  • Completing Incident Management Reports

Education

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy -

Australian Catholic University
North Sydney, NSW
01.2024

Skills

  • Flexible & adaptive
  • Effective team player
  • Passionate for OT
  • Interpersonal & Verbal Communication skills
  • Strong time management/ prioritisation
  • Initiative
  • Openness to ongoing learning & Supervision

PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE

BANKSTOWN HOSPITAL (4th yr) PROJECT PLACEMENT: ROLE OF OT IN ICU

  • Collated current evidence, to inform future practice and ensure our service is providing high quality, occupation focused assessment and intervention that align with best practice Utilised Project management planning, Gantt charts, liaising with hospitals in SWSLHD, SESLHD, increase time management skills and leadership and team coordination


ST GEORGE HOSPITAL (9wks 4th yr) ACUTE REHABILITATION TEAM

  • Managed my own caseload in Inpatient setting working with patients with Stroke, amputation, TBI, Trauma, functional decline, dementia, orthopaedics conditions, cognitive deficits and visuals perceptual deficits
  • Gained communication skills working alongside translators with CALD patients.
  • Independently Performed Neuro screens, MMT, OTAPST, 2 week CIMT Program working 1:1 with a patient, OCS, COPM, MAL, Referrals to EnableNSW, Home visits
  • “Exceptional time management skills and ability to prioritise competing demands has facilitated independent decision making to manage her workload.. she has a strong capacity to gather comprehensive information, and use her clinical reasoning to determine appropriate assessments and suitable therapy/discharge plans to ensure a safe return into the community” - Ashleigh Reid


HANDS ON HANDS THERAPY (3rd yr) PRIVATE HAND THERAPY - NOWRA, FIGTREE & KIAMA

  • Private Practice working with workplace injuries, Defence Force acquired injuries, Post operative, Self-referrals, burns management, scar management, trauma, nerve related injuries Independently completed ROM assessments, Dynamometer, strength testing, Mirror box therapy, Oedema management, Scar management, Education on trigger finger, Arthritis and carpal tunnel, Splinting, developed exercises programs and handouts, Liaised with Orthopaedic specialists


LAUNCESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL (3rd yr) INPATIENT REHABILITATION

  • Rural Regional Placement, exposure to diverse patients including of low socioeconomic backgrounds, undertaking therapy with limited resources and conducting home visits in unique environments
  • Treated patients with stroke, motor vehicle trauma, brain injury, Gillian barre syndrome, aged care, falls, amputates, intellectual disabilities
  • Independently conducted Functional Groups, SMAF (similar to FIM), Shower assessments, utilised Tas Equip, presented in Case Conference, manage my weekly supervision’s between two supervisors
  • Inservice on Perceive Recall Plan Perform (PRPP) completed PRPP on various patients

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Challenging Conversations Workshop - Sydney Education 2025
  • Hoarding and Squalor Course - Sydney Education 2025
  • Involved in PROMOTE Trial for UL rehabilitation - 2025
  • Supervisor for 1 week Western Sydney 2nd year student - 2025
  • Prince of Wales Spinal MasterClass - 2024


Timeline

Occupational Therapist Lvl 1

Balmain Hospital, INPATIENT SUB-ACUTE AGED CARE
01.2025 - Current

Allied Health Assistant

Sutherland Hospital
01.2022 - 01.2025

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy -

Australian Catholic University

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Helena Bunton