SARAH OLAUSSEN
Summary
A passionate, dedicated occupational therapist with over 14 years of experience working with children, families and in leadership roles. Special interests in the areas of public health, cultural diversity, service and process improvement, leadership and support of junior therapists, supporting neurodiverse conditions.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Child and Health Development Program
North Richmond Community Health
12.2018 - Current
- Acting Team Leader (Nov 2021 - Feb 2023)
- Provision of clinical services in a range of modalities including individual, group, clinic-based, outreach and telehealth
- Working with families and children to establish goals and priorities for functional outcomes and promoting the child’s participation in everyday settings
- Providing services as the sole OT practitioner for my first 2 years at NRCH
- Writing of council grant applications and coordinating submission
- Involvement in the process and quality improvement for the CEH and NDIS services
- Collaborating with other NRCH programs and wider community services to promote the CHAD program.
Occupational Therapist
Early Childhood Development Program
Melbourne City Mission
01.2011 - 11.2019
- Working with families to build their capacity to navigate the health care system, including the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Project management of the promoting and development of refugee/asylum seeker parent and child support groups, focusing on the importance of early intervention
- Assessment, evaluation and treatment of children with a range of developmental delay and disabilities
- Process improvement and analytical skills
- Clinical supervision of students and junior staff.
Occupational Therapist (private contractor)
Various schools across Melbourne
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Assessment, evaluation and treatment of student’s functional, social skills and abilities
- Development and facilitation of training for wellbeing staff and educators on supporting students’ needs
- Self-promotion and business management.
Community Case Manager
Community Access Program
Melbourne City Mission
11.2010 - 08.2011
- Conduct and analyse client assessment outcomes, support client’s goals and develop plans
- Provide adequate intervention programs to support clients to achieve independence in accessing community.
Project Management
Cardinia Casey Community Health Care Service
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Project management; development and implementation of a 10-week health education program with refugee women and children
- Application of health promotion principles of community development, empowerment, capacity building and sustainability
- Conducting situational analysis, data gathering and analysis, collaborating with stakeholders
- Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the health education program.
Volunteer Experience
Ruben Community Health Centre
Kenya, Africa
01.2014 - 03.2014
- Project management to support increase in service provision and accessibility of service for children and families in Nairobi
- Assessment, Intervention and planning of treatment for children and families within clinic and schools
- Training support for the occupational therapy and physiotherapy department
- Stakeholder management and collaboration within community settings such as health care clinics and schools.
Volunteer Experience
Fundatia Heart Children’s Occupational Therapy services
Romania
06.2010 - 08.2010
- Provision of therapy within paediatric community services, schools, transitional living centres and hospitals
- Conduct assessments of children with disability, intervention planning and implementation.
Volunteer Experience
Tanner Romania Health Clinic
Nicoresti, Romania
05.2008 - 12.2008
- Independent living skills training, facilitation of workshops within community settings such as health care clinics and schools.
Volunteer Experience
Huruma Health Clinic and School
Kenya, Africa
09.2007 - 12.2007
- Volunteer English teacher/program facilitator.
Education
Master of Public Health -
Monash University (2011 - 2015)
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy -
Monash University (2006 - 2010)
Conference presentations
- Occupational Therapy Australia Conference, Perth, Australia, 2017
- Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
- Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development Conference, Toronto, Canada, 2015
- International Conference on Migration, Social disadvantage and Health, Melbourne, Australia, 2015
- The Victorian Occupational Therapy conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2010
Awards
- Recipient of the Staff Leadership Scholarship Award, Melbourne City Mission, 2013
- Recipient of the Deans Award for Achieving Excellence, Monash University, 2010
Publications
- Establishing components of cultural competence health care models to better cater for the needs of migrants with disability: A systematic review, Jamison Olaussen, S., Renzaho, A., Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22, 2, 100-112, 2015
- Establishing components of cultural competence health care models to better cater for the needs of refugee children and families with disability: A qualitative study, Jamison Olaussen, S., Renzaho, A., Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2020
Referees
- Imogen Hay, CHAD Team Leader, NRCH, 0497 126 701
- Amy Schulenburg, Lead Occupational Therapist – Southern Peninsula Occupational Therapy, 0414012383
Training
- Mental Health First Aid officer
- Occupational Health and Safety
- STAT model (Specific Timely Assessment and Triage – waitlist management)
- Family Partnerships Foundations – Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- Tuning into Teens and Tuning into Kids facilitator
- CO-OP (Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance)
- Zones of Regulation
- Various paediatric occupational therapy specialised training
Timeline
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Child and Health Development Program
12.2018 - Current
Volunteer Experience
Ruben Community Health Centre
01.2014 - 03.2014
Occupational Therapist (private contractor)
Various schools across Melbourne
01.2013 - 01.2016
Occupational Therapist
Early Childhood Development Program
01.2011 - 11.2019
Community Case Manager
Community Access Program
11.2010 - 08.2011
Volunteer Experience
Fundatia Heart Children’s Occupational Therapy services
06.2010 - 08.2010
Project Management
Cardinia Casey Community Health Care Service
01.2010 - 01.2011
Volunteer Experience
Tanner Romania Health Clinic
05.2008 - 12.2008
Volunteer Experience
Huruma Health Clinic and School
09.2007 - 12.2007
Master of Public Health -
Monash University (2011 - 2015)
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy -
Monash University (2006 - 2010)