We are excited to share with you our next staff spotlight blog post, this time we’re shining the spotlight on Drew Crawford, one of our Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Consultants based in Strive’s Milton team.
Drew’s career journey began in Exercise Physiology before she transitioned into Occupational Therapy, driven by a desire to take a more holistic approach to helping people recover and thrive. With a genuine passion for understanding the person behind the injury, Drew brings curiosity, compassion and creativity to every client she works with.
What Drew enjoys most about occupational rehabilitation is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, helping them rebuild confidence, regain independence and achieve sustainable return-to-work outcomes. Whether she’s completing a workplace assessment, collaborating with treatment providers, or supporting a worker through their recovery journey, Drew takes the time to understand each individual’s unique story and circumstances.
When she’s not supporting clients, you’ll often find Drew recharging outdoors, soaking up some fresh air and enjoying the simple wellbeing benefits of nature.
We sat down with Drew to learn more about her pathway into occupational rehabilitation, what motivates her in her work, and the three words she believes best describe her approach: curious, compassionate and collaborative.
What originally drew you to occupational therapy, and what do you enjoy most about working in occupational rehabilitation today?
I actually started off in Exercise Physiologist, where I developed a real passion for helping people improve their physical health and confidence. In my practice I wanted to take a more holistic approach, looking beyond just the physical side of recovery and considering how a person’s environment, daily life and personal beliefs all play a role which is what drew me to Occupational Therapy.
What I enjoy most about occupational rehabilitation today is helping people regain their independence and confidence after an injury. It’s rewarding being able to bring my clinical Occupational Therapy knowledge to facilitate employers, works and the treatment teams to create sustainable plan that supports return to meaningful work and everyday life.
No two days in occupational rehab are the same, what’s something you really enjoy about the variety your role brings?
I love that scope of work is broad, meaning no day is the complete same. One day I might be out on a worksite completing an assessment and the next I’m collaborating with General Practitioners and specialists to support recovery. Every client has a different story, different goals, and different barriers, which allows me to utilise my Occupational Therapy lens to think creatively to support the most sustainable outcome for each individual.
Is there a moment or experience in your role that’s been particularly rewarding or has stuck with you?
Yes, there has been. Even in the short time transitioning from practicing clinical Occupational Therapy to working as a Rehabilitation Consultant, the most prominent experience that has stuck with me is that even if I’m doing a simple ergonomic assessment to adjust a worker workstation in the office or at home, there can be much deeper barriers that I could be the first health professional identify or bringing to light. Hence, even when doing simple assessment, I make sure to take the time to truly understand the story of each individual person, as a referral is just a piece of paper and doesn’t capture a person’s experience.
Just for fun, if you had to sum up your approach to work in three words, what would they be?
Curious. Compassionate. Collaborative.
I believe the best outcomes come from staying curious about each person’s unique situation, showing genuine compassion for their experience, and working collaboratively with everyone involved to achieve sustainable, meaningful outcomes.
What’s your go-to wellbeing habit during a busy work week, something small that makes a big difference for you?
For me just getting outside into the fresh air and hearing the bird songs. I find moving my body and exercise really grounds me, however, sometimes life gets busy and don’t always fit this into my day, so taking a small moment to just breath in and listen to nature really helps and makes a big difference.
✨ Staff Spotlight: Annabel Gibbs ✨