ACM GRADUATE INTERVIEW - Daelene Bourke

03/08/2010

Combining her massage with other techniques, Daelenes holistic approach to treatments has seen her achieve great results with clients

What first interested you about Massage?

I have always had an interest in natural health and the body. With a Division 1 Nursing qualification under my belt I had received experience in the health industry already. I was always massaging family and friends at home when they had aches and pains. I initially started learning massage as a hobby; I was simply trying out something new. I wanted to make sure the massage I was already giving at home wasn’t doing any harm and I wanted to learn techniques and improve what I was already doing.

How long have you been massaging?

I have been massaging professionally since 2003 and prior to that just on family and friends.

What do you enjoy most about massaging?

"I love the instant results I receive with clients."

I especially enjoy working with post-operative clients and clients that have undergone lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery. I work holistically with a wonderful team and in our clinic we also have an Osteopath and counsellor and we all work together and refer clients to each other.

What was your experience at ACM like?

I completed my Certificate IV in Warrnambool in 2003 and my Diploma in Melbourne in 2004. I loved the on-campus training, when I studied in Melbourne there was a group of students - including me - that travelled from Warrnambool to Melbourne together for the three hour trip for our weekend practical classes. We had a ball! And we supported each other well throughout the year.

If ACM didn’t offer the weekend timetable I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn massage. I have a husband and six children to take care of and I was also working full time massaging during the year that l was completing the diploma.

"The Lecturers I had for both years of my training on-campus with ACM were great to learn from - they were working in the industry alongside lecturing and not only trained us on ACM’s techniques but passed on industry related experience information as well."

How have your studies at ACM assisted preparing you for working in the massage industry?

I felt confident to start seeing clients and earning money straight away. In fact I did start straight away with a home clinic and my clientele list keeps growing in the clinic I have established with my business partner Gayle Smith.

What advice would you give aspiring massage therapists?

On completion of the course look for a mentor, maybe a therapist that has treated you and you feel aligned with their approach to massage. Offer to work for them at a reduced rate or even see if you can sit in on some of their treatments with regular clients. In return you can have them sit in on your treatments and give you feedback on your treatments. I think this is invaluable experience and it really helps to boost your confidence. My business partner Gayle and I are always looking at ways of improving as therapists and we occasionally sit in on each others treatments to learn from each other and give feedback.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have continued to study and have combined new techniques with my treatments and l am achieving great results with my clients.

I have made a great friend and business partner out of massage, Gayle Smith who was previously my Massage Therapist. Gayle has 12 years experience in the industry and her and I share the same holistic approach with our clients. It is great having that partnership and our business is expanding to bigger premises during 2010.

"I have also taken on a recent ACM graduate to mentor her through her first year/s in the industry, which is proving to be very rewarding."