It’s a walk in the park for Caboolture occupational therapist Katie

OT Katie helps patients to participate in the activities of everyday life again.

For Caboolture Hospital occupational therapist Katie, her career as a professional race walker comes in handy as she walks the hallways visiting and treating patients, aiding them to participate in the activities of everyday life again.

Starting out as an 8-year-old doing little athletics, Katie found her talent in race walking. “I trialled all the different events and I wasn’t a particularly fast runner, or jumper and wasn’t that great at throwing either,” Katie said. Katie met her walking couch at age nine, and he has coached her through to 22 years of age as she represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, The Commonwealth Games in 2022 and World University Games where she took home gold. “I always reflect on how my sporting career crosses over with OT, in sport if you’re injured you do rehab, and the right people help to get you back on track, it’s the same in a hospital if you’re unwell or inured, it’s a similar process just a different goal.” Now that her professional walking days are behind her, Katie has more time to focus on her career, and training for half marathons to keep the athletic fire burning inside.