In this episode I meet Access to Higher Education student Jonathan, who is studying the Health Science, Physiotherapy diploma at level 3. In his own words, Jonathan will talk about his studies with academy online learning, his background as a fitness instructor and physio assistant. As well as his expectations of studying the online diploma with AOLL.

Hi Jonathan, thank you for joining me on this podcast episode. What has brought you to study an access to HE in Physiotherapy course with Academy Online Learning?

So I picked the course of academy training online as basically I was doing an access course there last year so it was September 2022 to June 2023 of this year and that was a local college so that was coursework and then obviously we had exams and I found when I was doing that course there was a lot of gaps and information. You thought you were on the right track but losing marks. Exams are not my strong suit. So I kind of struggled with them. I did pass and I got in through to the second year. There's only limited options of where I can go due to commitments for family and kids and stuff. So it really put me in a dilemma because as I want to become a physiotherapist, as I work currently as a physio assistant, I want to progress into physiotherapy. So it was actually the university that suggested yourselves, Ed Manson used my name, and I looked at what you were offering and the fact that I would have to start over and do the two-year access course like I was doing, I could just literally do a year. That's why I picked Academy Online course, Access to Physiotherapy, because it fits in better and it's laid out in a more, I think, user friendly way. And also there's no exams, which is a plus. You're not having to do plain memory gain, it's more tuned into I think most people can do research or be able to do writing and stuff like that. 

It sounds like you've navigated a complex situation with your education and career goals, especially considering your family commitments. It's great that you passed your exams and moved on to the second year, even though exams aren't your strong suit. The shift to the Academy Online course, Access to Physiotherapy, seems like a smart choice, particularly because it aligns better with your learning style and life situation.

You mentioned that this course is more user-friendly and focuses less on rote memory and more on skills like research and writing. That's really important, especially in a field like physiotherapy where practical knowledge and critical thinking are key. Have the units on the diploma supported your knowledge and understanding, even after your previous experience of working as a fitness instructor and physio assistant?

I've always found physiotherapy interesting. Previously I worked as a fitness instructor in a local leisure centre, so I was helping training people and designing programs for them. And I also got involved in GP referral, so this is a program local health agencies would promote where people of certain conditions can be referred to designate leisure centres of trained staff, where you would then help people with Parkinson's, mental health conditions, maybe people recovering from surgery and stuff like that. So their doctor or their physio would have referred them to ourselves and we would have then designed a program for them. I always find that interesting and the other thing was I always get asked questions when you're training people. People inevitably unfortunately pick up injuries and stuff like that. And as a fitness instructor or personal trainer, your knowledge is limited and you have to also work within your own scope of practice. So when I got asked questions like, why is my leg sore, my arm's a bit sore today? You also don't know. You can't say, oh, did you over train or did you stretch last night or did you get proper nutrition? You're really limited in what you can really ask and probe in that way. So sometimes you just didn't, the majority of times you just don't know why someone's arm's sore or not be able to help somebody and you also have to refer them on to a physio. And I always find, always kind of, the people that train me, physios were kind of put at the top of the pyramid in regards to that. So it was always something I was always interested in and something I always wanted, I would love to be.  I've had that interest for a long time and I find the human body interesting and that's what I like about the Academy Online training. The course I'm doing, Access to Physio, it's specific to where I want to go, health-based NHS, but also it's focused on the human body. I said the Access course at Manson previously that I was doing last year, you were doing chemistry and biology and then there's physics. And as much as I love those subjects and they are interesting, it's not what I need, if that makes sense. No one's going to ask me a chemical formula in regards to their back pain.

Your journey from a fitness instructor involved in GP referrals to pursuing physiotherapy is quite inspiring. It's clear you have a passion for helping others and a keen interest in the human body and health. The experience you gained working with people with various health conditions must have been invaluable. It's interesting how your role as a fitness instructor highlighted the limitations in your ability to address certain health-related queries, leading you to seek more specialised knowledge in physiotherapy. This must have been a significant motivating factor in your decision to further your education. The focus of your current Academy Online course, Access to Physiotherapy, seems to align perfectly with your interests and career goals. It's great that it concentrates on relevant areas like human anatomy and health, as opposed to more general scientific subjects. What was your expectation of studying online?

So basically, I'm 43 and it was basically a few years ago, my wife kind of started me on this whole journey. She was just talking about where I was wanting to go, especially after COVID and lockdowns. She kind of pushed me to the view that I could become a physio. And high school for me was a very bad time and long story short, I didn't have any GCSEs worth talking about. And to get to university, you do need some. So I kind of started off getting my GCSE maths and then I did an English-based course. And then I went on to do, as I said, the access course, which is a two-year one at local college [Academy Online learning is 12 months study time]. I have to say, it's helped me be able to go through that course, but I would also say that if you're coming into this for the first time in my education, the first five modules help get you up to speed. They help lay out what you need to do. If you focus on those first five modules so that they're on graded modules, they will help prepare you for when it comes to the graded ones. And I think my advice to anyone coming in to the course, and of course previous experience, if you have no previous experience, so you've got a GCSE, maybe there's like a 10-year gap, focus on those first five modules. When it comes to doing assignments, the colleagues will lay out for you what they're looking for with regards to how they answer the questions. So you are kind of guided for that. And the tutor I have are great. You can arrange a phone call with them and you can kind of pick their brain over anything. So yes, my previous experience has helped me vastly, but also I would say that even if you didn't have, or you've been a bit rusty, or had your case up for a while, I'd say the colleagues kind of helps bring you up to speed and gets you back into that again.

It's fantastic to hear that your previous experiences have been beneficial in your current journey towards becoming a physiotherapist. Your advice about focusing on the first five modules for those who might be new to this type of education or have a gap in their academic background is valuable. These modules seem to provide a strong foundation and help prepare students for the graded ones.

It's also reassuring to know that the course provides guidance on how to approach assignments and that your tutor, Chrissie, is supportive and available for discussions. Having that kind of support can make a significant difference in the learning experience. Life can be busy at the best of times. How have you managed your work and family life around studying the online access diploma?

Yeah, so with regards to work experience, as I've worked for 14 years in the fitness industry, I also ran my own fitness classes, did my own personal training, self-employed. I also taught martial arts for a number of years. I was doing this right up during COVID. So that experience, doing GP referral, teaching people, teaching people how to exercise and all, that that's helped me greatly and it's helped lay a good foundation. Also, in that industry, as you know, you need to keep your skills up to date. So you're doing training courses and career progress and stuff for the years. So in those years, I got to also do courses who were taught by physios or they were being taught by physios themselves. So a lot of knowledge and stuff like that helped and it's laid a good foundation. But my current work, I've been working as a physio assistant for the past year and a bit at the local hospital. And I work on the fracture wards there. So I work in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. So that's an acute hospital. So all the major injuries, or if you have a serious break, you'll come to us, get your surgery. And then we're in there the day after your surgery, helping get you mobilised and getting you back on your feet. So all my experience and my current work experience is definitely a big help. And I think it'll also help with regards to hopefully me getting a place in university as well.

Your extensive work experience in the fitness industry, including running fitness classes, personal training, and teaching martial arts, is undoubtedly a valuable asset as you pursue a career in physiotherapy. It's impressive how you've maintained your commitment to staying updated with training courses and career progress over the years, which has allowed you to accumulate knowledge from physio instructors. Working as a physio assistant at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, particularly in the fracture wards, is incredibly relevant to your future career goals. Your role in helping patients mobilise and recover after surgery plays a crucial part in their rehabilitation process. This experience not only contributes to your skillset but also demonstrates your dedication to the field of physiotherapy. Having such a strong background in fitness and physiotherapy-related work will likely make you a strong candidate for university programs and future career opportunities in this field.

Your story shows that it's never too late to rekindle one's passion for learning and pursue meaningful goals. What are your achievements that has made studying with Academy Online Learning in terms of supporting your learning for the future at university and beyond in your new career?

Achievements-wise, I have a few I'm very proud of over the years and the stuff I've gathered. My two sons would be obviously the first one. I know, again, that sounds quite a cliche, but yeah, I'm proud of my two boys. But I would say one of the achievements I'm proud of is where I am now and what I'm doing now. I got a C in GCSE Maths and I'm close to hopefully getting into university and the job I'm doing as well, working in the hospital. I think just that thought, just that encouragement from my wife, why don't you go and become a physio? Where I am now, I would never have thought that I would be. So, yeah, I would say that would be an achievement. I think I've proved to myself that I've got this ability to kind of fight through. Obviously going back to education and sitting down and trying to do a full-time job and a part-time job. And then obviously looking after kids as well hasn't been an easy one, but I'm getting through it. And I would say, yeah, it's maybe a simple achievement, but I'm proud of that.

 

Your achievements are a testament to your determination and resilience. Being a parent to your two sons is a significant and meaningful accomplishment, and it's not cliché at all to be proud of them. Your dedication to your family is evident. Getting a C in GCSE Maths and being close to getting into university is a remarkable achievement, especially considering your earlier challenges with education. It demonstrates your ability to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Your journey of going back to education, working full-time, managing a part-time job, and taking care of your kids is indeed no small feat. It showcases your determination and commitment to your aspirations.

In summary, your achievements reflect your strength and the willingness to fight through challenges to reach your desired destination. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story of personal growth and accomplishment. Over the past year, studying online, what skills do you think you have developed?

The skills I learned from last year, I started the other access course at the local college and then ultimately I leave that because I said before the grades were good, but they weren't good enough for the university I needed to get into. I would say I learned a lot of skills and that's kind of transferred over and so it's helping me with regards to the academy online course, Access to Physio, which can bring to it, it gives me a good grasp of like academic writing as well and so far in my assignments I've been hitting that kind of academic style writing which you're looking for, so that would be kind of the skills I'm bringing in. And also previous healthcare knowledge.

Once you have completed the level 3 diploma that has enabled you to apply to university, and then three years down the line you have completed your undergraduate degree, what are you long term goals?

Long-term goals, obviously complete this course and hopefully get into Ulster University, which is one of two universities here in Northern Ireland, and want to complete my three-year degree course and become a qualified physio. I want to work in the NSS. I'd be interested in working either in the Belfast Trust or the Northern Trust. There's a number of hospitals and facilities there that I'd be interested in working, and then work my way up from band 5 to band 7 and develop my skills and maybe specialise in one particular area of physio. But I'm also interested in MSK physio as well, specifically lower back pain. That's something I'm very interested in. I suppose thinking further along the line, maybe do a bit more research into that area and offer maybe a programme or design a programme to help people with lower back pain, and have that as a side gig as such, and offer my expertise and help resolve that, and help people get back on their feet and be able to work and have time with family and all that having to do with back pain. So that's something I'm very interested in, and just learning more. I'm excited to be a physio and there's loads of options in which you can go down. I think within the NSS I would be very interested in getting some experience in respiratory physio, as well as cardiology and neurological as well. There's a couple of big departments in the hospital I work in, and I speak to some of the physios that work there, and the work that they do with stroke patients and patients with neurological conditions is very interesting. So I would love to get some experience there as well, because at the moment the work I'm doing with the physios in the hospital is all fracture, so it's all MSK, which I do find interesting, but it would be good to kind of see other aspects of physio. So yeah, the long-term goal is to expand my career as well.

Your long-term goals reflect a deep passion for helping others and advancing your career. It's clear that you have a well-thought-out plan for your future in physiotherapy, and I have no doubt that you will achieve great success in your endeavours. Thank you for your time and best of luck with your application to university.


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