David’s activities bring the fun to Ward 5B patients.

David Frame is STARS’s invaluable recreation officer on Ward 5B, facilitating different patient engagement activities including morning and afternoon walks, mindfulness, bingo, tai chi, and reminiscing sessions.

“I conduct a range of activities for the patients to participate in, including those that have a calming influence for patients or help them maintain physical activity,” David said.

“By keeping patients busy with fun activities we also keep them mentally stimulated and provide a distraction from what is sometimes a lengthy hospital stay.

“One of the favourite activities amongst the patients is reminiscing about school. We use props to help prompt conversations about the patients’ days at school and they love sharing their memories of that time.

“One of the most vivid school memories shared by many of the patients is the free milk that was provided at schools and how it always hot and unpleasant to drink.”

Before his current employment at STARS, David worked for 24 years in forensic mental health.

“I initially started working at age 17 as a physiotherapy assistant in a mental health facility in Scotland. I was the ‘muscle’, assisting patients to get in and out of the hydrotherapy pool,” he said.

“After working in the mental health sector for many years I decided on a change. I made a goal to work at a range of Queensland Health facilities and I worked at the Royal, TPCH, Gold Coast University Hospital, and Sunshine Coast University Hospital, before settling on STARS.

“It really is such a lovely place to come to work and being in a building that doesn’t look or feel like a hospital certainly helps in my role as Recreation Officer.

“I also love the innovation at STARS, there is a general openness to new things and new ideas. I think we should always be open to learning something new.”

When David is not caring for the patients on Ward 5B he enjoys spending time in the Noosa region and is looking forward to an overseas holiday with his partner later in the year.

“I’m from Scotland so the trip includes spending time in my home country as well as Singapore and London. One of the highlights will be driving the North Coast 500, Scotland’s ultimate road trip, a Scottish version of Route 66. The drive winds along the spectacular scenery of the north Highlands coastline.”