Empowering new graduates

Starting a career in Occupational Therapy can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, and for graduates like Sophie, Rocky Bay’s Graduate Program has provided the support to help them thrive.

Joining Rocky Bay in January this year, Sophie is one of the many graduates who have benefited from the program’s tailored supervision, mentorship, and hands-on experience.

Sophie, who studied occupational therapy at university, said her passion for working with children drew her into paediatric therapy, and she is currently working on the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) pathway at Rocky Bay.

“I did three placements during my degree, and my last one was at Rocky Bay in the Duncraig Hub. I loved it,” she said.

“The support I received from everyone, particularly my supervisors, was invaluable. They encouraged me to take things slow, which was important to avoid burnout.

“That kind of support was crucial as a new graduate, and it has been the same now that I’m working at the Ascot hub,” Sophie said.

Sophie said despite the initial nerves, she has found the transition from university to full-time work to be smooth.

“The orientation was great, and the intensive learning blocks helped me get up to speed on processes and workload management,” she said.

“When I first started, I had a small caseload and gradually began seeing families and running through plans.

“Weekly supervision was also so beneficial as I was learning,” Sophie said.

One of the key highlights for Sophie has been building rapport with families.

“I didn’t realise how much I would be involved with parents and families,” Sophie said.

“Being that support person while they’re going through a diagnosis process has been one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

“It’s great to see the impact of our work in action—like helping kids learn to advocate for themselves at school.”

However, starting as a new graduate hasn’t come without its challenges.

“Being pushed outside my comfort zone with my caseload has been good for me,” Sophie said.

“But keeping up with the NDIS policies and managing the administrative side has been tough.,” Sophie said.

Thankfully, Sophie has found tremendous support from her mentors at Rocky Bay, including Advanced Clinician, Aliesha, Clinical Operations Manager, Carolyn and New Graduate Coordinators, Olivia and Wesley.

For anyone considering the Rocky Bay Graduate Program, Sophie said it’s a great program with lots of support.

“It is challenging as a new graduate to juggle everything at once, but if you actively seek help, you will succeed,” Sophie said.

“Knowing when to ask for help is the most important thing,” Sophie concluded.

Rocky Bay’s Graduate Program is designed to nurture the next generation of therapists by providing the tools, mentorship, and experiences needed to build a successful career in disability services.

For more information about Rocky Bay Graduate Program, please visit and apply here: https://www.rockybay.org.au/graduate-program-student-placements/