The event is also a special occasion for the polytechnic Occupational Therapy School as the 79 occupational therapy graduands graduating today will bring the total for the school to more than 1000 since it began in 1991.
Ms Sinclair (33) completed an LLB (Hons) and a BA in French at the University of Otago in 2001, and has since spent some time abroad and later undertook regulations-related work for Land Information New Zealand.
''I just felt like a change, and wanted to go into healthcare,'' she said.
She then returned to Dunedin and began her three-year polytechnic studies, which proved challenging, because of health problems.
Ms Sinclair had earlier experienced fatigue and bronchitis arising from scoliosis, a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side.
She seriously considered taking a year off after her second year at polytechnic, but was able to successfully complete her studies.
Although she is graduating in absentia today, it remains a special day, which she will be celebrating with classmates.
She had decided to continue her studies this year, for a fourth year, doing honours. Ms Sinclair was excited to be involved in occupational therapy.
''I think the main thing that appeals to me about it is the way it's client centred. You're working with people and helping people who are really vulnerable,'' she said.
''Occupational therapy is about enabling people to take part in things that they want to, and to try to enable people to learn the skills for themselves.''
