OT Students spill the tea on their UK exchange experience

Placed at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, the duo quickly discovered how much healthcare systems can differ, even between two English-speaking countries.

“The hospital environment here is quite different from public health in Australia, particularly in how fast-paced and structured the system is, especially around discharge planning,” said Isabel.

“I’ve developed more confidence in clinical decision-making and communication.”

“While some approaches differ, the core values of occupational therapy remain the same, which has been reassuring and inspiring,” she said.

Stephanie Lowe agreed that adapting to a new healthcare system wasn’t without its challenges.

“Working in a different healthcare environment definitely came with its challenges, especially when approaches differed from what we were used to,” she said.

“Those moments really made us reflect on the kind of clinicians we want to become.”

For Isabel, the placement was a time of constant development.

“I’ve learnt new assessment tools, available services, documentation styles, and observed how multidisciplinary teams function within a UK hospital setting,” she said.

“Living and working in a new country has really pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

Through long shifts, cultural adjustments, and even a frozen fridge mishap, Stephanie and Isabel supported each other across their international learning experience.

“Having Steph there made a huge difference, we always had someone to laugh (or debrief) with at the end of the day,” said Isabel.

“It’s hard to articulate just how different I am from the start of my placement to now.”

The pair credited Southern Cross University’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) team with providing consistent and meaningful support throughout the experience.

“Our WIL coordinator, Linda, was amazingly supportive,” said Stephanie.

“She would go above and beyond to make sure we were doing okay. Without her unwavering support, the initial settling into placement would have been so much harder.”

Outside the hospital, Stephanie and Isabel made the most of their time abroad by exploring London and beyond, adding adventure to an already unforgettable professional journey.