Since finishing her Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology Nelda Hazelhurst has worked as a graduate intern at UCOL’s U-Kinetics Exercise & Wellness Clinic.
Along with some of her fellow Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology students, Nelda has been involved in the delivery of exercise, lifestyle education and behaviour modification programmes for clients attending the
U-Kinetics clinic, getting valuable first-hand experience at the health and rehabilitation centre. “I feel really privileged to continue my work here,” she says.
Nelda says working with clients and getting to know them on a personal level and making a difference in their lives has been a highlight during her studies.
Nelda has a Bachelor in Physiotherapy from her homeland of South Africa and she has since worked for 12 years in private practice and hospitals in South Africa, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“After completing my studies, my husband and I decided to travel and work abroad. During this time we decided to visit New Zealand, the plan was to stay for a year before returning home. We fell in love with New Zealand and New Zealanders and decided to stay. Our three children were born in Palmerston North and we are now living in Whanganui.”
Nelda says the Postgraduate Diploma is a unique programme not taught in exactly the same way anywhere else in Australasia. “The wealth of practical experience that you gain through the year combined with extremely knowledgeable Lecturers, provide for a course that is second to none.”
Nelda’s dream job would be to start, or be involved in, developing a U-Kinetics style clinic in Whanganui. In the meantime she working at U-Kinetics in Palmerston North and is enrolled in the
Certificate in Adult Teaching (Advanced) at UCOL.
U-Kinetics is a unique and innovative centre based around providing supervised and specific exercise rehabilitation programmes to clients with medical conditions, injuries, and/or multiple health issues. Located within the U-Kinetics Centre are the UCOL Exercise & Wellness Clinc and TBI Health.