Starting early, learning fast

The best learning happens on the job – and Asha Sewell and Ashleigh Rose are proof. Joining Rocky Bay as Allied Health Assistants while still studying, both gained hands-on experience which built their confidence, and they hit the ground running.

Now, they’ve stepped straight into graduate roles, demonstrating how backing people early creates strong career foundations.

Asha joined Rocky Bay in 2023 during the third year of her Occupational Therapy degree. As an Allied Health Assistant, she worked closely with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech pathologists, gaining insight into how multidisciplinary teams collaborate to support customer goals. “I loved the variety of work at Rocky Bay,” explained Asha. “I wanted exposure to a range of different presentations across the lifespan – which you definitely get at Rocky Bay! I got to work with many different customers with many different goals, which I felt gave me a taste of everything.”

It’s not just about the job

Ashleigh also joined Rocky Bay in her third year of university, after meeting the team at Curtin University’s career expo. Drawn to Rocky Bay’s non‑for‑profit model, she said her decision was shaped by values. “Rocky Bay was different,” reflected Ashleigh. “It really aligned with my values – the work is about caring about the customers rather than making money as a business.”

For Asha, choosing to stay at Rocky Bay wasn’t just about the role itself, it was about the wider team, the organisation in general and how it made her feel coming to work. “I felt so supported by the team,” said Asha. “I saw that the therapists were passionate about providing the best possible service to their customers, which inspired me to do the same. The ethos and culture of the team was what made me want to stay on as a graduate, and I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible clinicians with the same values and dedication to their work that I hope to have.”

The value of the Allied Health Assistant experience

Both Asha and Ashleigh describe their time as AHA’s as foundational, with Asha saying it was genuinely the best decision she could have made for her professional and clinical development.

“Having that experience really sets you apart,” said Asha. “It provides so much context to what you learn through your studies and makes fieldwork placement so much less daunting. I developed the initiative to plan and allocate my time appropriately to manage a caseload, work in a multi-disciplinary team, and communicate with stakeholders over the phone and via email. When I went on placement, I received positive feedback surrounding these skills which is a testament to the experience and practise I had day to day as an AHA.”

Ashleigh echoed this experience, crediting Rocky Bay with helping her excel on fieldwork placements, particularly in her final year. “It gave me real‑world skills and experience before going on prac, which they don’t teach you at university!” explained Ashleigh. “It was also amazing to get support from experienced real OT’s! I remember them offering to read over my assessments and provide feedback – everyone was so willing to provide advice and answer any questions about my university studies.”

For Ashleigh, there was one moment that truly confirmed she was in the right place – when she asked if she could apply for a month‑long overseas fieldwork placement in Vietnam. “When I asked my COM if this was something I could apply for, she was beyond supportive,” said Ashleigh. “The impact it would have on my work was not her main concern. Her focus was on how great of an opportunity it would be for me. This was the moment it really solidified that Rocky Bay did not just care about me as a worker, but as an individual with a life outside of work.”

Transitioning into graduate roles

Now officially stepping into Occupational Therapist positions, both graduates say the transition has felt supported and manageable – even as responsibility increases.

“I always have hundreds of questions,” said Asha, “and the team could not be more supportive. I have never felt afraid to ask for help when I need it and there is always someone who will have an answer for you. I think that is one of the best parts about working for a big company like Rocky Bay – if someone next to you doesn’t know the answer, there is a huge list of people who might!”

When you love coming to work

To have a job that brings you genuine happiness is a goal some people might never find – some might say it’s the true meaning of success.

Ashleigh said she loves going to work knowing she’s supporting customers in achieving long-term meaningful goals. “I worked with one girl throughout her high school experience who had many external barriers in her support to finish school,” explained Ashleigh. “Seeing her get her first job after graduating was so rewarding. Goal achievement may be slow, but seeing progress towards something that is so important to our customers brings joy and regard I can’t explain.”

Asha also loves her work in the community sector. “You have the opportunity to build long-term relationships with customers and their families,” said Asha, “with the space and time to really get to know who you’re working with, what their lives look like and what is important to them. I love getting to advocate for my customers and being able to broaden their belief in what’s possible for them.”

Advice for future students and graduates

Both graduates strongly encourage students to consider Allied Health Assistant roles while studying. “Do it if you have the capacity,” Asha said. “The experience sets you apart and makes placements far less daunting.”

Care is a commonality in the words of our two grads, showing that early support really makes a difference.

“I would say choose Rocky Bay because of the care. It is rewarding to feel like the work you do matters and it is all for the customer’s benefit. That’s why I would choose Rocky Bay.”