Student story

Lily Purdon

Lily Purdon uses her Postgraduate qualifications in Applied Science at work every day. She is a fall prevention specialist who helps older adults be healthy and active. 

Lily has always been interested in health and fitness but was particularly inspired by her Grandma to specialise in fall prevention.  

“Growing up, I saw first-hand how falling can affect someone’s quality of life.” 

During her undergraduate studies, Lily had the opportunity to work with older adults, and that’s when her calling became clear. She has been following her passion for fall prevention ever since. 

Lily Purdon profile image

"My two favourite things about my current job are the like-minded people I get to collaborate with and the feeling of making a difference."

Lily Purdon, Community Group Strength and Balance Programme Lead at a Regional Sports Trust

Lily chose the postgraduate programme at Otago Polytechnic because she knew she wanted to conduct research about fall prevention. “I shopped around, and this was the logical postgraduate qualification for me.” 

After completing a six-month Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Science, Lily continued into the Masters programme — “it was a very easy transition.”  

This pathway enabled Lily to step into her current role as the Community Group Strength and Balance Programme Lead at a regional sports trust. There, she gets to work directly with the older adult populations that she has prepared to support.  

Lily has found a sense of purpose and community in this role. “My two favourite things about my current job are the like-minded people I get to collaborate with and the feeling of making a difference.” 

Lily finds the skills she learned during her studies allow her to manage the complex multitasking her job requires. “Every day is different. My time at Otago Polytechnic taught me how to manage my time, effectively prioritise and keep a level head.” 

“Being able to help the older adult population has been a long-term goal of mine, and I feel as though I am achieving it.” 

Published on 30 Aug 2022