Hi Guys,Just thought id put a quick comment in to this thread, i have participated in a AIS soft tissue therapy placement in Canberra back in 2008.I was there for one week in total, was shortly after the Beijing Olympics. And i have to say the week i was there was a very informative time for me as a Remedial therapist at that time, as well as a great networking opportunity.During the week, i had at least one 1 on 1 tutorial with all of the soft tissue therapists that were there at the time, i found it great to see the diversity between there treatment approaches and styles, and picked up some nice little tricks at the time.I attended a weekly meeting with all the Sports Medicine team which all staff had there input to the various athletes conditions. I attended a recovery/stretching session in the recovery centre that was run by a soft tissue therapist, this was also used to help teach the athletes how to manage there own bodies while competing away overseas when they are unable to have staff constantly with them. I had no issues watching any of the Physios while i was there however i didnt feel i had a huge amount of free time to do this anyway. I also got to meet other staff such as Strength & Conditioning, Exercise Physiologists etc and learnt a lot from these guys as well.It was a great learning experience for me and was a eye opener to a team orientated approach to athletes health and condition. I was never apart of the AIS as an athlete by a long shot but understand the importance of a 'flush' or a regular maintenance type treatment to the overall recovery, I think it is the nature of the Job though in Canberra and im sure you would find that all of the therapists would be able to use more skills when there is a opportunity for example when traveling with a team and they are a solo therapist etc. In saying that only one of the athletes i treated while i was there had no specific complaint, so i did get to use all my clinical skills while i was there. So far for me it has probably been the most beneficial experience i have had as it has given me the chance to be exposed to the sports medicine team behind the team and has provided me with job oportunites with AIS teams since being there which i have worked along side therapists from Canberra again. It was great to see therapists work for the week that were not my teachers at school which have no experience with the countrys top athletes let alone any athletes. Another positive of the week for me was the resources for soft tissue therapists in the library there. books/magazines and dvds that i would struggle to find at any other library for example the travell and simons trigger point video series, journals etc. So i tried to take advantage of this when i could although time did not allow to see too much of these, it would be a place i would love to work from, if you had the self motivation and drive you could learn an incredible amount there.i Just thought id send this thru to show that i had also gone thru the placement and had a great time while i was there, and have been rewarded with more opportunites because of it.* and u cant go past the food while your there haha
Good point lass. I was pushing the oppression line rather than the STT apathy line.We can only guesstimate what is actually happening without someone from the inside telling exactly what is going on. BJ could but sounds green, raw and a bit starry eyed. Daisy has but she is being questioned. There are others that have been there but are choosing not to speak. I'm gathering the AIS still holds some power over their future. Never good to bite the hand that feeds you.I wonder how the AIS feels about the possibility that people are nice to them because they hold the lollies we wish to eat, and not because they are people/professionals to look up to?And on the apathy thing. Well, lets just hope that those STT's at the AIS are there because they deserve to be. And they are as passionate as they should be. If not they should leave, or be sacked. HOw do you get to work at the AIS? That has been questioned recently as well. And from my sources I believe the AIS don't look too far for therapists. Who knows how they work. Great big secret. Which usually means they have something to hide.Did anyone from the AIS go to the STT conference?
Ahh, you have been gagged BJ?Price you pay when working for Uncle Sam. Not allowed to have an opinion. Especially when it is a sticky situation. But when is any government department reported gleefully?And biggins, what about 'gift of the gab' being important in a clinic? Or the ability to bullshit maybe? Always helps.
That's such a good question BJ but a very open ended one. The answer could be a book. I'll give it a crack and maybe throw some anecdotal stuff in toward the AIS.1 - Fundamental Education. This is not an option, it's a must. You can't build your niche if you don't have the fundamentals. Everyone in a clinic needs that.2 - A really good leader/mentor/boss/director. If you don't have someone who is passionate, enthusiastic, good,..no make that 'great perspective', patient, no ego, no arrogance, integrative and fosters growth, then your clinic is dead. The director creates the culture and has the power to curb cultures when they go astray. So important.3 - Very healthy network with other health professionals. This is always the difficult one as it really depends on the ego's of local therapists. Some Docs won't have a bar of us and most physio's can't see us for their pedastles (pride and business purposes). Hence this one can be the decider between a good clinic and a great clinic.4 - Communication. No brainer. There must be a great system of communication. It must be a team, not a bunch of individuals.Yeh that's about it. Maybe the institute lacks in point 3?I have had the good fortune to be a part of a few different clinics on my travels. I have seen some very good and some absolute shockers. The differences were points 2 and 3 from one clinic to the next. Hence, you have to have 'good' people. Insecurity, ego's or apathy from leaders kills clinics. Actually it kills everything!Good people. SINCERELY nice people. I highlight that as insincere leaders aren't trusted by their workers. Incompetent leaders are mocked by their workers.
Cheeky indeed, Gents ;-) As much as I will defend the AIS, I really enjoy this discussion. Some perspective and self criticism is always an important part of our job: standing on our "pedestals" here, or hiding at home on a mac. In answer to the criteria question, it's a minimum Diploma as I understood it. I have the Adv. Dip and a ba. exercise science (+ psych) but the Ba is not essential and I think most softies just have the dip or adv dip. With regards to the conferences, I personally often miss these as I am often away competing internationally. Commonwealth Games are late this year so lets just say I will try and prove you boys wrong ;-)I may have bit off more than I can chew with this chat. The powers that be know about it here (Daisy: Mission accomplished), and obviously any cover I may have had is blown so there are things that are inappropriate for me to say on a public forum. All I can say is that I am deeply passionate about my job. The difference between my current level of knowledge or skill and what I feel I should know is light years apart, but I am tyring to bridge the gap. I also know that there are people around me that feel similarly. Can I ask a question to the group, though?What exactly makes a clinic successful? Is it the people? The numbers? The 'success' of the treatment given? The education of practitioners?I'm not trying to divert any attack here. It just seems we are flirting around these core issues. Impart me your knowledge, oh wise men and women...
Dam good point that imassage. But we will never know. We are currently working on the anecdotal evidence of Daisy and a little from some extras. Hence our objective information is extremely limited.But i ask, why would Daisy raise such a contraversial topic without the absolute need to do so. Necessity to do so,..mmm. Necessity. Why would she feel the need to do such a thing. Well, we can only go by what she has suggested. Maybe her intentions are honerable? Maybe she does want the place to be better? But if they aren't honerable then why would she raise the issue? Why? Relationship? Bad rep? Or just insecure? Daisy, you seem to be too logical to be a whiner. So is Daisy correct in her impressions of the palce? If so, who is going to change it? BJ the new kid on the block? Or the the mysterious others in the lurches? Mmm, it won't change. It will remain as it is. Good,ad or ugly.
Nice post Greg, but what happens if it is a case of apathy by the STT's and not oppresion by the 'authorities'?
Geez Greg, thought I was reading Plato. Bit serious old fella. Im not sure if that was a good post or not? I'm full of red wine so can't quite tell!
Maybe an inherent sense of protecting your 'own'
Mm, I hope you are accurate in your opinion Daisy. I just supported you without questioning your perspective.
