Connected Conversations | Kimberly Charlton
Kimberly Charlton’s love of science, unwavering determination and wanting to help others has seen her grow and excel in her career in Occupational Therapy.
She has been part of the School of Allied Health Science and Practice since its launch, seeing its first students through and now approaching graduation. Her career and studies are balanced with her love for her family, the great outdoors, sunshine and ice cream.
Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.
Hi, I am Kim. I am an Occupational Therapy lecturer at the University of Adelaide, where I have the pleasure of teaching students in the newly established School of Allied Health Science and Practice. I live in Semaphore with my husband, my two children, aged ten and eight, and our six chickens! We are a very active family and much of our week is filled with various sporting commitments and catching up with our family and friends. I am also an avid runner and reformer pilates enthusiast!
Tell us a bit about your time at the University
I joined the University of Adelaide as an Occupational Therapy lecturer in 2021 when the School of Allied Health Science and Practice first launched. I am the Practice Education Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy program, which involves me overseeing student placements and I am also the course coordinator for the subjects Enabling Change: Musculoskeletal and Neurological and Introduction to Behavioural Neuroscience. I am currently completing my PhD in the area of manual wheelchair training for those coming into wheelchair use as an adult.
What has been your journey to get where you are today?
During year 12 I knew three things; I wasn’t ready to work full time, I was science minded and I liked helping people. This led to my interest in Occupational Therapy (OT). I didn’t get the score required to get into the degree or the grades to transfer into the course after completing a year of my undergraduate degree for that matter, but I didn’t give up and my passion to be an Occupational Therapist was too strong to let this deter me.
After completing post graduate Occupational Therapy I was privileged to work for twelve years as a clinical occupational therapist working largely in community aged care and subacute rehabilitation, specialising in the area of orthopaedics, amputees and burns. During this time I had a thirst for continued knowledge and a passion for research which led me to complete my Masters degree and seek causal tutoring opportunities within the university sector. When the School of Allied Health Science was being launched at the University of Adelaide with the opportunity to be part of the team building and delivering a new Occupational Therapy program, I knew that this was path I wanted to take.
What do you love most about working at the University of Adelaide?
I am constantly in awe of the beautiful campus we have at the University of Adelaide and its proximity to the Botanical Gardens and River Torrens. I love that I have the opportunity to roam these areas on my lunch break. However, nothing compares to the joy I get from supporting students and witnessing their educational journey and progression through the degree.
Who (or what) inspires you?
Having worked as an OT in the area of rehabilitation, I have been lucky enough to witness the resilience and determination of multiple individuals engaged in rehabilitation. Their stories, perseverance and progress serve as inspiration for me to not only investigate evidence-based practice interventions but to communicate this to students to enable the translation of this knowledge into practice and support individuals in their rehabilitation journey.
What is the best decision you have ever made?
The best decision I have made is moving down towards the beach. We absolutely love spending time on the beach, at local cafes and shops in the area and it is just such a relaxing, happy lifestyle.
What is your favourite thing about living in Adelaide?
I love the relaxed pace of Adelaide and that you can be so close to both the beaches and the hills. As a family we love going down to Port Noarlunga for a surf, hiking at Morialta or Anstey’s Hill and spending time at local cafes on Semaphore road. We are regulars at Copenhagen and are always keen to try their ice cream flavour of the month.
What’s something that people are surprised to find out about you?
Colleagues and acquaintances are often surprised to hear that I was previously in the Army Reserves as I don’t exude a stereotypical military persona. However, I think it’s a nice reminder that everyone has a multifaceted story that shapes them to be the person they are.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years’ time?
I hope that I will have completed my PhD and be contributing meaningfully back to the Occupational Therapy profession from a research capacity perspective and will have transitioned to working at the new Adelaide University. On a personal level, I hope that I have had the opportunity for increased international travel with my family and having a nice work-life balance.
What do you do on your commute to/from work?
I blast Taylor Swift Songs on my walk from the University to the Train and all the way home on the train and read the Advertiser on my phone.