ABOUT US | Fieldwork
First Steps Fieldwork
First Steps Wellness Centre (FSWC) offers students in a kinesiology or related fields the opportunity to participate in a fieldwork semester where they are provided practical, hands-on experience working with clients that have varying levels of spinal cord injuries or associated disorders. As an organization, our purpose is to educate our clients, community, professionals, and future professionals with the leading research, methods, and recovery techniques used to work with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) and associated disorders.
FSWC aims to provide prospective applicants with the following:
FSWC has the following expectations of students during their fieldwork:
Questions? Contact First Steps Today!
Doing my fieldwork placement at First Steps Wellness Centre was the most valuable portion of my undergrad degree. It allowed me to take what I learned in class and apply it to real work situations. Not only did First Steps put me in positions to further my education, it provided a place that was conducive to learning. Both the staff and clientele were willing to educate me and possessed a lot of knowledge. I believe that I achieved both professional and personal development working in this one-of-a-kind facility.
I would recommend doing fieldwork at First Steps to Kinesiology students who are interested in learning about exercise physiology and rehabilitation. The staff and clientele are such an amazing resource in the world of spinal cord injuries. It was such an amazing experience working there and I am excited to see them grow in the future.
- Matthew Lueck, 2015, Regina
Being able to work so closely and independently with clients was one of the best parts of completing my fieldwork at First Steps, as it gave a realistic taste of what it would be like to work as a therapist and use my degree regarding therapy for neuromuscular conditions. As a smaller non-profit organization, First Steps highly values the assistance that fieldwork students and volunteers are able to provide. As such, I experienced a high level of respect and value from my peers at First Steps. Fieldwork students are essential to the everyday operations at First Steps, and perform duties ranging from assistance during therapy to schedule coordination, as well as one-on-one therapy with clients. The skills and experience that I have gained while working at First Steps will benefit me as I continue in the field of Kinesiology, and as I pursue a career in providing quality care to my future patients and/or clients.
- James Hill, 2017, Regina
This experience has not only substantially contributed to my professional knowledge but has given me the opportunity to undergo valuable personal growth. The ability to create a genuine bond with the clientele at FSWC has undoubtedly been the most enjoyable part of my fieldwork experience and has truly guided me towards a better understanding of the type of professional I want to be. Being in an environment that supports creativity and ingenuity has challenged me to expand how I perceive the area of rehabilitation and has given me the knowledge and insight to foster success as an emerging professional.
- Jamie Prisciak, 2018, Regina
Here are testimonials from previous fieldwork students:
My experience at First Steps provided an opportunity for professional and academic growth that far exceeded my expectations. Fieldwork at First Steps is an intensive professional skill building environment through which I learned diverse practical skills, gained professional confidence, and was inspired to even greater learning than I anticipated. First Steps provides the opportunity to put theory into practice and learn from knowledgeable exercise therapists through direct observation and active participation in therapy sessions. The learning curve at First Steps is steep, but totally worth it to enter the workforce with a well-rounded professional skill-set.
- Kaylin Herman, 2021, Regina
Being able to work with a variety of individuals with complex disabilities was by far the best part of my experience. Being a Kinesiology student, we must be prepared to work with a multitude of populations that present different disabilities. First Steps has equipped me with experience and knowledge on how to be as effective as possible when working with any population. Besides improving the practical portion
of my skills, First Steps has also developed and improved my personal skills. Having to work with the clientele one on one, helped me become more comfortable in conversing and building proactive relationships with the clientele.
- Landen Boisvert, 2024, Regina
As a university student who completed her fieldwork placement at FSWC, I could not have imagined of a better place to enhance my learning within the profession of Kinesiology! FSWC is not just a clinic, it is a community! From the staff to the clients, everyone made me feel so welcomed and were extremely supportive making sure I got the most out of my three month experience! If you are a student within kinesiology and want to enhance your learning along with developing hands on learned skills, I highly recommend FSWC!
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