Get to Know Adam Baldock: Understanding the Whole Person, Not Just the Diagnosis
Most healthcare careers don’t start in a chemist’s back room.
But for Adam Baldock, Occupational Therapist, the path to healthcare has never been conventional. Long before he was helping people navigate life-changing injuries and complex disabilities, he was running his first business at just 12 years old, cleaning chemist bottles for local pharmacies.
“I’ve always had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit,” Adam laughs. “School wasn’t really for me.”
After stints in hospitality and even working as a wedding coordinator, Adam returned to university at 22. He applied for both physiotherapy and occupational therapy. “Physio rejected me,” he says. “So I ended up in OT which has been great. I’ve been doing it for 25 years now.”
Today, Adam specialises in occupational therapy assessments, particularly in complex cases involving autism, trauma, and long-term disability. What stands out most is his belief that good healthcare starts with human connection.
“One of the first things I do is call people the day before I meet them,” he says. “It’s just courtesy. People are often surprised by it, but it helps them know who they’re about to meet.”
That focus on trust has taken him into some extraordinary situations, from spending hours earning the confidence of a wary rural client over coffee, to advocating for vulnerable families living in incredibly challenging circumstances.
For Adam, occupational therapy is about understanding the whole person, not just the diagnosis.
“The whole idea of rehab is stability and sustainability,” he explains. “We need to help people function day to day without that constant up-and-down experience.”
His passion for autism is also deeply personal. Adam’s daughter is autistic, and navigating her healthcare journey shaped both his career and his perspective. “When you’ve seen one person with autism, you’ve seen one person with autism,” he says. “Everyone’s experience is different.”
If there’s one message Adam hopes patients take away, it’s this: don’t be afraid of the process.
“My job is to understand what life looks like for you and what support you need,” he says. “At the end of the day, I’m there to help.”
And after just a few minutes with Adam, it’s easy to see he’s genuine.
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