Alison Knuckey, Orthotist and Prosthetist at Austin Health

14 October, 2022

Did you know we have more than 1,000 Allied Health Professionals that work across our sites at Austin Health?

In recognition of Allied Health Professions Day and Amputee Awareness Week, we wanted to shine a line on the wonderful Allied Health Professionals that work with our patients every day.

We caught up with Alison Knuckey, an Orthotist and Prosthetist at Austin Health. Alison overseas patients across our sites where she will work with patients to assess and customise orthoses (external supportive devices) to help protect the affected body part and achieve their goals.

What would a typical day look like for you?

For inpatients we spend the day visiting multiple wards, sometimes multiple campuses in one day, assessing, treating educating and reviewing our patients.

For each patient, we receive referral, carefully read medical history, assess, prescribe the relevant orthosis, measure, fit and customise the orthosis to ensure that it is fitting optimally. At times this requires lengthy time in the workshop. 

We review most orthoses that we fit, checking that it is performing the prescribed function, not causing pressure areas or discomfort. 

We also educate the patient and/or carer regarding the purpose of the orthosis, importance of its use, how to put it on and off and how to manage their personal hygiene in the orthosis.

Today is Allied Health Professionals Day and Amputee Awareness Week, what do these awareness days mean to you?

Allied Health, particularly orthotists and prosthetists, are often lesser-known or forgotten parts in the health system and wider community. I love that we get the chance to showcase the great work we do to better the lives of our patients in this dedicated week.

Being an orthotist and prosthetist is so much more than making splints for patients. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing patients mobilise for the first time in the orthosis I've fitted, particularly if it’s a deficit that they’ve lived or struggled with for many years. Hearing and seeing their reaction is a joy to witness.

Which Austin Health value do you feel you live out daily in your work?

We Bring our Best – I always strive to bring my best self to work and do the very best job that I can for my patients, and I try and instill this in my team as well.

What’s one moment in your career that you are most proud of?

Some clients stand out in my mind: We had a young man with Down Syndrome who required a Halo for an unstable C-spine fracture. It was a very intense and stressful fitting due to his anatomy, but he got through it, and I saw him fortnightly throughout the following few months. The Halo was removed as scheduled and he got back to life as normal.

Another client was a lovely 80-year-old man who continued to wear his Hip Abduction Brace well beyond the time he needed to (quite rare for this particular orthosis!) - he was such a lovely and positive person, one of my sons is partially named after him.