Cal, a current Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) student is not new to tertiary study. Before studying Occupational Therapy (OT), Cal was studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in Environment and Geography. However, after persevering through part of the degree, Cal realised that science was not the right fit for him. Cal embarked on a journey to try and discover what he really wanted to do, and triumphed.

“I began studying a Bachelor of Science because I had received an early offer from the University of Newcastle, and it seemed like a good fit at the time. It took me a good year of struggling through courses, to realise that science was not the right fit for me. I had struggled quite a lot with the transition from high school and living out of home and began to think University maybe wasn’t right for me, and I felt like I really needed a fresh start.”

Cal then spent the remaining half of his second year carefully evaluating his options.

“I realised that a lot of my personal values really aligned with a career in health. I just wasn’t sure what that career looked like, or which degree that was, and if I was even capable of achieving it”

For Cal, OT encompassed all the aspects he found appealing about the other health professions that he had previously considered.

“It was not until I really looked into OT that I realised how incredibly broad its scope of practice is, encompassing many different areas of health, across many different practice settings.”

Cal entered the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program, and the rest is history.

Since his change of career, Cal’s academic ability has been celebrated through his offer of the Betty Josephine Fyffe Scholarship.

“I remember thinking maybe it was a mistake that I'd been offered it! My heart was literally racing while I logged into myHub to accept the offer, I was so excited,” he said.

“Being awarded the BJF scholarship was incredibly validating. I felt really appreciated and supported that someone had taken the time to read my application, see the progress I’d made, and decided I was a suitable candidate. It was the first time I personally felt like I had really achieved something. It was a huge morale boost,” he said.

“The scholarship has provided me with financial security and relieved a great deal of stress in terms of balancing employment alongside my studies. Completing over 1000 hours of placement, plus the contact hours required at Uni often doesn’t allow for normal employment.”

Cal has had the opportunity to attend several clinical placements where he applies the theory he learns in the classroom in a workplace setting.

“Prior to this year, all my placements were in various settings across the Hunter New England Local Health District, spanning transitional aged care programs, acute mental health units, and hand therapy. I’m currently completing my final placement at a local paediatric clinic, and really enjoying it!”

Cal’s career aspirations reflect his experiences in placement.

“I really enjoy working in the hospital setting, particularly in acute mental health. But I’m also really enjoying my current paediatric placement, there’s surprisingly quite a bit of overlap between mental health practice and paediatrics I am realising. There’s just so many areas that OTs work in, and I find myself wanting to do a bit of everything.

I would also love to do some locum work in the UK at some stage. I would love to experience what living and working overseas would be like!”

Receiving financial relief through the BJF scholarship, Cal wants to put the money to use and expand his training

“I’m actually going to be attending the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference next year - the largest LGBTQIA+ Human Rights conference held in the Asia-Pacific region to date. I’m really looking forward to learning about how we can better achieve justice for the community, improve health and wellbeing and tackle the systemic barriers to healthcare. I’m also considering attending the OT Australia National Conference next year, to present my honours research at the conference.

These are just a few examples of opportunities that I would not otherwise have been able to afford,” he said.

It’s no doubt that University provides an ample number of opportunities, both socially and academically and Cal has showcased just that. Cal is currently in his fourth year of study in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program and has been awarded three Faculty Commendations in recognition of his academic achievement over the past three years. He was also invited to participate in the Faculty of Health & Medicine Scholars program three years in a row. Not only has Cal achieved academically, but he was also the President of the Occupational Therapy Student Society, which is a student-led organisation that aims to provide a range of social and educational opportunities to OT students.

Cal portrayed his participation within the OT community through his prior work with the OT Student Society (OTSS) to endorse other students, creating a social and professional networking society.

“I wanted the OTSS to be well known among students, and for students to be excited to get involved, attend social events, wear the merch and identify with our profession.”

“I’m proud of these achievements because in retrospect, they help me identify how far I have come in my journey as a student, but also my personal growth as a person.”

After taking a break to discover his goals, Cal found his passion with health and realised he could achieve his academic goals and feel proud of his accomplishments.

“When I made the decision to switch to OT, I really changed everything including my lifestyle. It was really amazing and validating to see that I could succeed if I tried.”

Whilst Cal has his goals in check, he also has a backbone of supportive friends that he has made through his program.

“I’m actually so lucky to have an amazing and supportive cohort, it really surprised me how nice everyone in our degree is, I’m obviously quite biased though.”

Reflecting on his achievements, Cal said the journey to discover a degree and career that he is truly passionate about was all worth it in the end.

“A few years ago, I really didn’t think I could be so passionate about studying anything - but the more I learn about OT and encounter other clinicians in the field, I am realising there are quite literally endless possibilities, which is super exciting!”

Study a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at the University of Newcastle

Callum Sinclair `

Callum Sinclair

Callum is currently studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at the University of Newcastle. It is his journey that got him here that is most valuable.

Being awarded the BJF scholarship was incredibly validating. I felt really appreciated and supported that someone had taken the time to read my application, see the progress I’d made, and decided I was a suitable candidate. It was the first time I personally felt like I had really achieved something. It was a huge morale boost.