Emma Flint Utilises the ACA MyCareer Work Placement Program

Since making the move from New South Wales, Emma Flint has played plenty of cricket for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes as a batter and occasional bowler.

Off the field, Emma works as a physiotherapist, and has taken a particular interest in neurological physiotherapy, dealing with strokes, brain injuries, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. With a limited number of neurological private clinics in Hobart, the ACA was able to arrange a week’s placement as part of the ACA MyCareer Work Placement Program, enabling her to further develop her knowledge and reassure herself it was a direction she wants to take.

“It was a really nice way to immerse myself in that environment, learn, and reinforce that that is where I want to go, and be inspired by clinicians working purely in that area,” says Emma. “It is a bit of a specialty kind of space, you manage those populations a little differently to your general sports or private practice sort of space.”

The opportunity to see a larger volume of neurological specific clientele was one of the main benefits for Emma, as her goal is to create a neurological component to her current clinic in Hobart.

“To be able to see a really large volume of different clients and how they’re conditions are being managed in the space of a week which, if I was sitting in private practice in Hobart, it might take me a year, there was that many different sorts of people and presentations,” she says.

The placement has reinforced that neurological physiotherapy is the career path she wants to take, and is now driven to pursue more training and continue to seek out further resources and professional development opportunities. In addition, Emma now has contacts with some of the senior physiotherapists at her placement clinic, who have offered their assistance, should Emma need some help in the future.

As well as this placement, Emma has also completed a Specialist Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation with the help of funding from the ACA.

Emma described these programs and opportunities for both current and Transitioning players as really important.

“It provides a taste of the real world for current players, but also importantly can broaden your horizons in terms of what the ACA can provide in a professional development capacity.”

“As an elite athlete there are opportunities and networking chances that pop-up that a lot of the general population don’t get access to, so you may as well take advantage of that for as long as you possibly can, and see what you can get from it that’s going to advantage you, whether its socially, financially or career-wise, I think its super important for both current and transitioning players.”

Emma describes the process of arranging the Work Placement Program as easy and simple, and had a clear message to any players interested in a work placement or career exploration.

“I think if you have a conversation with people who have used the Work Placement Program before, they’ll say it’s quite straight forward and worthwhile, and I think it so much comes down to using the resources whole you’ve got them.

“There’s such an advantage to having something like the programs the ACA have to support us as a playing group, you’d be silly not to take advantage while you can.”

ACA members are encouraged to reach out to the GamePlan Team or your PDM for more information on the Work Placement Program, other Career Exploration or Personal Development initiatives that the ACA offers.