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Inspired insights from the opening day of the 2021 National Conference
The 29th National Conference and Exhibition differed from the conferences that went before – like many things in recent times. Adaptations were made, and a hybrid of in-person hubs and online participation occurred on the first day with a single stream of important presentations. While the subsequent days of the conference had many opportunities for learning and showcasing excellent work within the occupational therapy community, I will focus on lessons from this first day.
We were privileged to hear from (in temporal order), an international jurist, educator and QC (Hon Michael Kirby), a proud Youta Youta woman, Elder and advocate (Aunty Lyn Warren), health professionals and COVID-19 survivors (Annie McCluskey and Karl Shurr), leaders of international occupational therapy associations (Giovanna Boniface (Canada); Dianne Cox (UK), Wendy Hildenbrand (USA), Carol McKinstry (Australia); living experience experts and advocates (Caleb Rixon, Dennis Frost, Grace McLoughlan, Carl Thompson) and Waanyi and Jaru medical anthropologist and change leader in cultural safety, race relations and decolonisation (Prof Gregory Phillips).
While each speaker shared their own distinct messages and perspectives, there were shared themes. Speakers made recommendations for actions that could be started now, and then built upon to create lasting and needed change. To reach our brighter futures for our clients and communities, (and critically to meet unmet needs and address inequities) we were encouraged to:
1. Know our history and ourselves: as a professional, individually and on the lands on which we live and work. We need
to critically engage with our history, our cultures and understand the impacts on the current context. Active reflection on our beliefs, practices and experiences is required for effective practice. 2. Listen – really listen within our practice and take more time to engage. Use open and genuine listening, rather than rushed, formal engagement. Listen from an informed place to engage in the ways that people need and wish to communicate. Part of listening will be sharing some of ourselves and making genuine and warm connections. Putting ourselves out there and trying things can go a long way to building mutual respect in therapeutic relationships. 3. Apply a human rights framework.
Regardless of the occupational therapy models that are applied within research and practice, the relevance of a human rights underpinning to all of our work is clear. We need to be aware of human rights declarations, reflect on who is being excluded from our services and spaces, and build our appetites for advocacy and dismantling unjust systems to make sure we are supporting the rights of all people. 4. Create solutions together. In building upon these previous recommendations, codesign or partnership approaches with those who engage with occupational therapy services were strongly recommended. Recognising and valuing lived expertise and other knowledges that are required in creating meaningful educational, clinical, research and systemic approaches. Above valuing and working together, openness to co-creating and applying frames of reference and definitions of (and means of measuring) success is required. The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has published research works related to all of these important areas over the years including reflective practice1, listening and connection2, human rights3 and participatory evaluation and design4. Importantly, as the conference showed us, new insights are likely to come from including diverse investigators, methodologies and frames to examine the issues. We expect to see more cross-disciplinary approaches, critical methodologies, anthropology, law, Indigenist and participatory methods in future works.
We also anticipate more lived experience experts as co-authors, and in active research roles. Recent works in the journal indicate that while occupational therapists have been active in applying participatory methods (for example, in education5 and in health research6), reviews found the engagement has not always been as shared and complete as it could be. The enhanced and genuine engagement with lived experience experts is a current priority of the journal. As clinicians, researchers, advocates and community members – we can only build a brighter future by collaborating together.
About the Author Dr Jacki Liddle is a Board member of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (and a member of the Scientific Committee of the 29th AOT Conference)
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
