Dominique Trewern
Pretoria
Summary
Occupational Therapist and therapy leader with advanced experience in neurorehabilitation, outpatient service delivery, and team supervision. Responsibilities have included managing staffing, therapy schedules, billing checks, referral pathways, and interdisciplinary treatment planning while supporting clinicians and patients across a rehabilitation unit. Academic work and teaching experience strengthen evidence-based practice and clinical standards.
Overview
3
3
Languages
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Therapy Manager
Nurture Health
Pretoria, South Africa
05.2026 - Current
- Managed daily therapist staffing for a new rehabilitation unit operation schedule.
- Delivered correct therapy dose for each patient session each day.
- Handled patient family and staff complaints promptly and documented follow-ups.
- Provided training and guidance for therapists across the whole unit.
- Developed outpatient department workflows, scheduling, and referral pathways for continuity.
- Led recruitment for therapists and doctors to staff unit services.
- Managed a case load of 5 patients consistently across sessions.
- Developed unit service standards for consistent care delivery.
- Facilitated interdisciplinary meetings to coordinate therapy plans and risk priorities.
- Compiled therapy reports to support clinical review and record accuracy.
- Completed billing checks to confirm coding and prevent processing errors.
- Managed physiotherapy, occupational therapy, doctor, social work, and speech inputs.
- Ran day-to-day out-patient therapy department activities to meet targets.
- Implemented healthcare change initiatives and trained staff for adoption.
- Liaised with team members to align therapy programme for individualised care.
Therapy team Leader
Hillandale
Bloemfontein, South Africa
09.2025 - 04.2026
- Facilitate interdisciplinary meetings
- Compile therapy reports
- Billing checks
- Managing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Doctor, Social work and speech
- See patient load of 2 hours
- Manage out-patient therapy Department
- Implement Healthcare changes and training to staff members
- Liase with all team members regarding therapy program for individualised care.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Nurture Hillandale
Bloemfontein
05.2023 - 08.2025
- Nurture Hillandale Bloemfontein - Working in adult neuro-rehabilitation treating strokes, SCI, orthopedics and other rehabilitation patients.
- Evaluation, program development and treatment of patients admitted to unit with 8-10 patients as daily case load.
- Out-patient therapy
- Training committee
- Wheelchair committee
Acting Rehabilitation Intervention Leader (Therapy unit manager)
Nurture Hillandale
Bloemfontein
11.2023 - 04.2024
- Facilitate interdisciplinary meetings
- Compile therapy reports
- Billing checks
- Managing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Doctor, Social work and speech therapy daily programs.
Part time lecturer: Occupational Therapist
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Neurology lectures for First, second- and third-year students during first semester of 2023.
- Setting up exams and tests
Occupational Therapist
Life Healthcare (Pasteur Rehabilitation)
Bloemfontein
02.2014 - 04.2023
- Evaluation, program development and treatment of patients admitted to unit with 8-10 patients as daily case load.
- Function effectively as part of interdisciplinary team to meet requirements of quality patient care.
- Education of patients and their families about condition of patient.
- Participation in weekly team and family meetings.
- Active participation in continuing professional development activities of unit.
- Supervision and training of university students.
- Building relationships with referring doctors and therapists.
- Seating specialist in unit
- Provide for emotional needs of patients and assist with management of depression and anxiety as required.
- Performed evaluations and assessments to recommend best treatment for individual patients
- Evaluated patient conditions, histories and goals
Tutor (Mathematics and Science)
Entropic Tutors
Bloemfontein
06.2013 - 06.2014
- Performed Grade 12 tutoring of Mathematics and Science subjects
- Actively listened to customers' requests, confirming full understanding before addressing concerns
Occupational Therapist
Vocational Evaluation And Rehabilitation Centre: Free State Department Of Health
Bloemfontein
01.2013 - 12.2013
- Implemented and piloted a Pre-vocational Skills program for unemployed youth aged 18-25 years
- Developed screening tool to measure changes in motivation and self-image of participants
- Developed user manual for Occupational Therapists to present Pre-Vocational program in their communities
- Managed tasks regarding vehicles and documentation
- Compiled community profiles of selected areas for outreach services
- Presented life skills groups within respective communities
- Regular travel and liaison with community of Botshabelo, Dewetsdorp and Heidedal
- Devoted special emphasis to punctuality and worked to maintain outstanding attendance record
- Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents
- Conducted research, gathered information from multiple sources and presented results.
Education
Bachelors of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy
University of The Free State
Bloemfontein12-2012
NSC Matric Certificate -
St Michael's School For Girls
Bloemfontein12-2008
Master of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy
University of The Free State
Bloemfontein, FS06-2024
Skills
- Documentation skills
- Staff education and training
- Public speaking
- Self-motivation
- Dependability and responsibility
- Interpersonal communication
- Case management
- Willingness to learn
- Interdisciplinary care
- Patient education
- Clinical documentation
- Staff supervision
- Therapy scheduling
- Billing reconciliation
- Recruitment coordination
- Outcome reporting
- Client relations
- Clinical communication
- Change leadership
- Teamwork
- Team leadership
Languages
English Excellent
Afrikaans Excellent
Sesotho Very Good
Certification
- Intermediate Seating certified
- NDT certified
Interests
- Music, singing and choirs
- Knitting and crochet work
- Spending time with my loved ones
Accomplishments
- Seating specialist at Life Pasteur Rehabilitation
- National Level 2 Wheelchair Rugby Classifier
- Board member at St Michael's School for Girls as an Old Girls Representative until May 2026
- Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy and peer-reviewed article awaiting publishing
- External examiner for 4th years Occupational therapy students in 2022, 2024 and 2025
References:
- Karen, Vosloo, Therapy Unit Manager, 083 763 7745, Life Pasteur Rehabilitation
- Monique, Strauss, Research Supervisor, 0514019768, University of the Free State
- Buhle, Rammala, Hillandale Hospital Manager, 051 412 3300
Interests
Physical Rehabilitation & Patient-Centered Care Committed to supporting individuals in achieving meaningful rehabilitation outcomes aligned with their personal goals., Mentorship & Professional Development Passionate about coaching colleagues and students, fostering reflective practice, and cultivating leadership in healthcare settings., Mental Health Advocacy Dedicated to promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and integrating mental well-being into holistic care approaches., Community Participation & Accessibility Invested in creating inclusive environments that support engagement and occupational justice for all community members., Knowledge Exchange & Lifelong Learning Enthusiastic about acquiring new knowledge, teaching, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration., Cultural Engagement Active participant in a cappella singing and other cultural initiatives that enrich community connection and well-being.
Affiliations
- OTASA
- HPCSA
Disclaimer
All certificates and proof of qualifications will be provided upon request
Timeline
Therapy Manager
Nurture Health
05.2026 - Current
Therapy team Leader
Hillandale
09.2025 - 04.2026
Acting Rehabilitation Intervention Leader (Therapy unit manager)
Nurture Hillandale
11.2023 - 04.2024
Senior Occupational Therapist
Nurture Hillandale
05.2023 - 08.2025
Part time lecturer: Occupational Therapist
University of the Free State
01.2023 - 07.2023
Occupational Therapist
Life Healthcare (Pasteur Rehabilitation)
02.2014 - 04.2023
Tutor (Mathematics and Science)
Entropic Tutors
06.2013 - 06.2014
Occupational Therapist
Vocational Evaluation And Rehabilitation Centre: Free State Department Of Health
01.2013 - 12.2013
Bachelors of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy
University of The Free State
NSC Matric Certificate -
St Michael's School For Girls
Master of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy
University of The Free State