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Deb Hopper
An Amazon.com best-selling author and occupational therapist (OT) from Forster has been approved to complete eight different professional workshops through Rural Doctors Network's (RDN’s) Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP).
Working also as a supervisor for another 11 OTs around rural NSW, Queensland and South Australia, Debbie Hopper is using the skills she has gained from the workshops to share knowledge and educate her peers.
“It’s great to be able to my learnings back to my paediatric OT group,” Deb said.
“The knowledge and information I’m gaining isn’t just impacting positively on my local community, it’s extending beyond that and having a national flow-on effect as it’s giving these OTs more confidence, awareness and skills.”
With more than 20 years’ experience as an OT, Deb also has a Master of Health Science (OT), writes for Autism Parenting magazine, and regularly presents workshops and webinars to industry professionals.
“The things I have learnt from these courses, and the skills I have gained, have definitely impacted positively on the context of my regular workshops and webinars,” she said.
As a mother to two boys, one of whom struggles with learning difficulties and sensory processing issues, Deb says she understands the challenges faced by families who find themselves in similar situations.
“I find it very rewarding, knowing that I am making a difference to parents’ and children’s lives. I am truly passionate about helping children overcome sensory and emotional issues and empowering their families to deal with the stresses of their day-to-day lives.”
Deb said as a private practitioner, she is particularly grateful for the HWSP funding allowing her to complete these courses so she can continue to not only educate her peers, but use her learnings to benefit the families and children she’s working with.
“I have developed some great processes and strategies that can help parents make sense of their child’s behaviour and understand why things can suddenly go from peace to panic.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any of these courses without the funding,” Deb said.
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice. The Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, administered in New South Wales by Rural Doctors Network.