A movable career at KINNECT keeps Team Manager Jake Dornan motivated

It’s said that variety is the spice of life. But for many people, finding a job that offers variety and progression both in terms of the role itself and the location is something of a rarity. For Jake Dornan, his career at KINNECT has given him the opportunity to move offices (twice!), progress through the company and enjoy a wide range of experiences.

Jake Dornan is the team manager at KINNECT’s new Nundah office, however his career began across the Brisbane river.

After graduating with a degree in Human Movement Studies in 2011 from QUT, during which he undertook an industry placement at an Occupational Rehabilitation Provider, Jake accepted a job as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist at a gym. In addition to gym members, Jake provided exercise interventions for patients from the attached medical center who needed care for conditions like knee replacements, diabetes or post-cardiac event rehabilitation. After some time, however, he realised that the work he did during his university placement in Occupational Rehabilitation was what he enjoyed the most.

Jake sought a new role and landed in KINNECT’s Woolloongabba office. Soon after, KINNECT’s Sunshine Coast office opened and called for consultants. Living on Brisbane’s northside, Jake put his hand up for temporary role, but loved the coast so much he ended up staying and being promoted to Team Manager.

Fast forward to 2023, and Jake has taken up a role as Team Manager for the new Nundah office. “I was Team Manager at the Sunshine Coast office and when I saw KINNECT had advertised the position I raised with my manager that I’d be interested in moving to be the Team Manager at Nundah. KINNECT aims to hire internally whenever possible, so it was a good chance for me to start working closer to home in Brisbane,” Jake explained.

While Jake admits that it’s a challenge moving offices and managers, the team have been very accepting. He is thoroughly enjoying working in a new office with the chance to meet new people and work with a new team of consultants.

Unsurprisingly, his favourite thing about working at KINNECT is the variety of work:

“In previous roles, I would go to the same location and do the same thing most days. As a Consultant, and even as a Team Manager, you’re on the road going to different work locations and seeing things along the way. I’ve had the opportunity to go to coal mines, defense bases, and recently I met with the Royal Flying Doctors Service where I got to see the rescue helicopters,” Jake enthused.

Jake is also grateful for KINNECT’s commitment to offering employees plenty of opportunities for promotion and progression. “In my last job I was feeling a bit stuck working in the gym but that’s the only real option unless you wanted to run your own business. Whereas, at KINNECT I’ve moved from Consultant to Senior, where you’re combining clinical work with other responsibilities, and now I’ve progressed to Team Manager,” Jake said.

If you’re interested in a career with genuine mobility and growth opportunities, why not join us? For information about current vacancies, visit our Careers Centre.