FELLOWS, Aaron

Degree

Graduate Diploma - Clinical Exercise Physiology

Graduation year

2014

Current position

Rehabilitation Service Specialist

Employer

Lifemark Health group / Canadian Armed Forces

What are some of your career highlights?

April 2018 - Hired as Manager  of Kinesiology (working in an English and French environment) in a neuro-rehabilitation clinic and creating the kinesiology services as it was previously only a physiotherapy clinic.

October 2019 - Hired as Project Coordinator and Kinesiology Clinic Supervisor at McGill University.

October 2019 - Hired as a Physical Education Teacher at Vanier College.

January 2023 - Hired as a Rehabilitation Service Specialist working with veterans in the Canadian Armed Forces - coordinating their rehabilitation plans.

Describe the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of your job

Most enjoyable - networking and joining a big team of other health professionals all with different backgrounds but working towards the same goal.  Being part of a multi million dollar program launched by the Canadian Government to help improve the quality of rehabilitation for Canadian Veterans returning from service.

Most challenging - working in two languages (English and French) and listening to the stories and experiences of the veterans.  It can be very difficult to hear what some people have been through and to hear the challenges they face when re integrating into regular civilian life.

What are your strongest memories while you were studying at Federation University?

Living with my house mates on Inkerman Street in Ballarat, helping each other study for exams or staying up until 3am finishing essays and drinking coffee.

Another memory was just how professional the department was and how well they prepared you for life after Uni.  Even just starting my career in another country (Canada).  I felt I already had so much experience.  The practicum experiences albeit intense made me a much better professional today.

Do you have any advice about life after study to pass on to current students?

Continue to acquire experience in any way you can, try to work out what motivates you to work and what direction you want to go in with your career.  Persistence is key, keep trying and actively send cv's everywhere.  Then when you get your chance, take it with both hands and put everything into it.  Put yourself into new situations and go out of your comfort zone.