Team

Experience & Activities

Worcester occupational therapist Andrea du Plessis was 16 years old when an educational psychologist advised her to pursue a career in the para-medical space.

The prognosis proved correct, as today she is one of the leaders in her field.

The married mother of three boys “and two dogs” qualified as an OT from Stellenbosch University in 1998. Three years later she did a Basic seating workshop at Karl Bremer Hospital in Cape Town followed by Bobath in 2002.

She then took it up a level – three, in fact – when she completed a trio of advanced Bobath courses.

Devil is in the details

Andrea teaches Rehab Skills Lab’s course participants to perform accurate, detailed assessments to ensure precise and correct prescriptions.

“It is imperative to learn the essential knowledge and skills to manage the [Basic to Advanced] wheelchair seating and positioning needs of your patients,” she says.

“You run medico-legal risks should you attempt to get involved with wheelchair seating without this information. You could harm your patients.”

Andrea loves her profession as it enables her to have an excellent grasp of both the physical and mental functions of individuals. This knowledge assists her when undertaking functional capacity and medico-legal assessments.

Handy woman

She particularly enjoys the hands-on physical aspects of wheelchair seating and is proud to be “more proficient in using hand tools than most men I meet”.

While she is all business when it comes to her work, there are lighter moments that make it even more rewarding, she says.

At the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre she once received a donation of socks for patients, forcing her and a colleague to spend hours sifting through the pile to find the right matches.

“We were both too scared of our managers to complain!” she quips.

As busy as she is, she does still make time to run, read, cook and spend time with her family.