Brooke McMaster, AES, Disability Sector

Name: Brooke McMaster

Job title: Allied Health Assistant (AHA)

Company/Organisation: Wimmera Health Care Group

How long have you been in the role?
5yrs at WHCG Community Rehab and 2.5yrs in community health at Rural Northwest Health.

Give us a brief background on your career to date
5 years working in promoting physical activity in low socio-economic area project worker, so organising ‘events’ to encourage youth to become more physically active. Allied Health Assistant for 8 years (including 1 year mat leave); coordinating exercise groups and individual exercise programs (prescribed by EP and Physio) along with assisting with OT and speech programs.

What have been the highlights?
Experience working with different ends of the spectrum, young people as the project worker and mid-aged to older adults as an AHA. As the lead AHA for my department, being able to control my own workload load and be able to work with a broad range of disciplines to provide broad range of care (this was applicable for every position that I have held). 

What are you plans for the next 3-5 years?
Personally my family (have another child) has priority in the next 1-2 years but after 5 years have considered going back to finish off my study to become an EP, online learning where able to would assist this.

If you could name 3 skills, you need for your role what would they be?
Be able to think on your feet; relatable to different personalities; and organisation is key!!!

One piece of advice you would give a student?
Make the most of any opportunities that is provided to you, I ended up gaining employment at one of my placements down the track, so try and leave as good impression as you can. You never know who you end up working for.