This month, we’re excited to introduce Sarah Ferguson, Occupational Therapist based in our Milton office. With a genuine love of people, a curiosity for their stories, and a thoughtful, strengths‑based approach to her work, Sarah brings warmth, insight, and calm confidence to everything she does. From supporting meaningful return‑to‑work outcomes to celebrating the small wins that matter most, Sarah embodies Strive’s values in action — and we’re so pleased to share a little more about what drives her, both professionally and beyond the office.
What made you want to become an Occupational Therapist in the first place?
I have always had a love of hearing stories and helping people through working as a Remedial Massage therapist for 10 years prior to commencing Occupational Therapy. Unfortunately, unless the joints in your hands are built for it, it isn’t a career that may be maintained through a lifetime. As I considered what was most valuable to me within my career and the skills I obtained within that work, the outcome of discussions with friends and family was that becoming an Occupational Therapist was the perfect fit for me with the opportunity to work within a wide variety of environments.
What do you love most about your role as an RC/OT in the Strive Milton team?
I love that I get to step into services which align with my skills and I am able to see meaningful change over time for the people we assist. I will often say to employees and clients I engage with, what a privilege it is to become a part of this season of life and meet them where they are, to work towards their goals of return to work, a safer workplace, or strategies to navigate tough times.
If someone followed you around for the day, what would a typical workday look like?
You may hear this often, but no day is the same in occ rehab! I do love a routine so I will start work by greeting my colleagues and sitting down to orientate myself to my day, checking emails, checking report due dates, printing any documents I require for the next day or so. I will then typically respond to any urgent correspondence or calls before heading out for an assessment on a worksite, a home assessment, or meetings with clients to check in. Once I’ve been out, I’ll come back to the office and settle in for report writing mode and finish the day with a plan for the next day. Ready to start it all again!
What’s your favourite thing about working at Strive?
I’m going to put my OT had firmly on here for the environment that Strive creates and say my favourite physical thing is our office is full of light, with trains running in the distance and Suncorp stadium sound tests for gigs. Socially, the people are so caring and always being a sounding board for clinical reasoning and just being their authentic selves. Culturally, we all share the same core values of Strive which helps create a lovely work culture; and institutionally we have standards and policies to uphold which provide a great structure and framework to maintain our quality service.
How do you look after yourself—what does self‑care look like for you?
Self-care is a non-negotiable within this industry and I enjoy taking the time to be playful with my kids, ensuring I do one small activity that brings me joy each day and I love to end my week with showing myself some self-compassion for the things I achieved, and what will be able to wait for another day.
Is there a moment or client win that really reminds you why you love what you do?
Big wins are wonderful, but it’s the small wins that I appreciate and make me love what I do the most; that first day back at work, the simple solution that helps someone feel more comfortable, or the client or customer expressing that they feel supported from the workplace or from myself. That means the world to me.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to unwind or spend your time?
I have an insane amount of interest to try almost anything, however my favourite past times at the moment are spending time with my husband and two kids camping or going to the beach, being arty in any form, playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, and a lazy Sunday market with a coffee and a Bahn mi from my favourite food van.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Elle Balchin, Senior Consultant – OT