KATE Martin has found her dream job, even though she did not know it existed while she was completing her studies at The University of Queensland.
The Morningside 22-year-old has been working as a leisure therapist at Bayside Mental Health since graduating from UQ in 2008 with a Bachelor of Business.
Miss Martin completed the bachelor specialising in sport and leisure management through the School of Tourism.
“I have played softball and hockey since I can remember. I wanted a career path where I could incorporate my interests in sport,” she said.
“I had physiotherapy in the back of my mind, but I was not all that much into anatomy. Then I thought about sport management. I took leisure subjects at UQ because I could see the link between leisure and health.
“When I was at UQ I did not know this position existed. I did not know it was my dream job until I started in the job.”
Miss Martin said the job involved designing meaningful leisure programs for people with mental health issues to help them reduce anxiety, aid relaxation, improve health and fitness and teach new skills.
This included taking people for hydrotherapy sessions, craft lessons and teaching them skills in sports such as softball, hockey and touch before having a friendly game.
Despite graduating more than a year ago, Miss Martin has retained links with UQ, including a spot in the UQ Women’s Hockey side.
“I was very happy during my time at UQ. Now I am part of a team which represents the uni and promotes a feeling of belonging and spirit,” she said.
“My education at UQ is already assisting me in my accomplishing and excelling in this career.
“I had lecturers who were more than willing to provide resources and work with me in order to help me achieve my goals.
“They also formed partnerships with professional groups. That helped further the promotion of the particular major in the degree as well as to help the development of my career.”
Media: Kate Martin (0422 486 490) or Erik de Wit (0417 088 772)
