Supporting all people to engage in activities they find meaningful
AUTUMN 2022 | VOL 18 ISSUE 2
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Communication and Collaboration Promoting play Promoting OT to improve outcomes in chronic pain Assistive technology in the time of Covid-19
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CONTENTS
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ABOUT CONNECTIONS
Connections is a publication of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA), the peak body representing occupational therapy in Australia. CONTACT US
Occupational Therapy Australia ARBN 007 510 287 ABN 27 025 075 008 5/340 Gore St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065 T: 1300 682 878 E: info@otaus.com.au W: www.otaus.com.au CONTRIBUTIONS
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This newsletter is published as an information service and without assuming a duty of care. It contains general information only and, as such, it is recommended that detailed advice be sought before acting in any particular matter. The materials included in this newsletter by third parties are not attributable to Occupational Therapy Australia, and are not an expression of Occupational Therapy Australia’s views. Occupational Therapy Australia is not responsible for any printed expressions or views in any third parties’ inclusions. Any enquiries regarding inserts, advertisements or articles placed by these third parties should be directed to them.
FEATURES
04
President’s Report
05
CEO’s Report
06
Policy, Lobbying & Advocacy Update
08
Professional Practice & Standards Update
09
AOTJ
10
WFOT Update
Occupational Therapy Australia respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country on which we live, learn and work.
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Promoting play – Role Emerging Occupational Therapy
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Innovative placement solutions to engage first-year OT students in understanding scope of practice
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Assistive technology in the time of Covid-19 – Global Study Calls for Disability-Inclusive Communication and Stakeholder Collaboration
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Promoting OT to improve outcomes in chronic pain
20
Virtual impossibilities
22
Words that steady us and keep us together
24
Managing difficult conversations under hybrid work arrangements
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Three important features of Professional Indemnity Insurance
CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 3
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President’s Report Associate Professor Carol McKinstry | OTA President
Communication and collaboration
B
eing the first issue for 2022, happy new year and best wishes for a better one. At the time of writing, our hopes of starting the year with a sense of “returning to normal” seem a bit fanciful. Hopefully things have settled down by autumn, and all the extra stress and challenges of Covid-19 are easing. Many thanks to everyone – including clinicians, managers, researchers, teachers, students and OTA staff – for your resilience, dedication and persistence in ensuring we all play our part in helping to get through this pandemic.
This issue’s theme of “Communication and Collaboration” has never been more important than during the pandemic. I commend OTA staff for their role in helping members stay up-to-date with safety requirements for practice during the pandemic. Clear, current and plain language is important when seeking clarity during ever-changing situations. As an organisation, we have sought to provide some certainty for members, hence calling government departments to make decisions regarding mandatory vaccinations for health professionals. Increasingly, OTA wants to ensure we make credible, relevant and timely comments on important issues affecting members and occupational therapy clients. We want to be heard in an often-crowded space, and sometimes this is where we need to collaborate with other similar organisations. Listening to relevant stakeholders is also a particularly important aspect of communication that is sometimes
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underrated. We are developing meaningful and genuine relationships with stakeholders that can inform our position and thinking, leading to better outcomes for all. As a board, we are constantly reviewing with whom we should be collaborating – such as consumer groups, government departments, CPD providers, other allied health professional associations and international occupational therapy associations. As an active member of Allied Health Professions Australia, we recognise the need for allied health professions to have a strong, united voice that can communicate more effectively than disparate individual associations. OTA enjoys a very close working relationship with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTB) and the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC). While the OTB regulates and the OTC accredits our education programs, OTA provides valuable insights into matters such as workforce shortages and the provision of continuing professional development to address issues the OTB may be seeing in regard to trends in complaints. Collaborating with OTC, OTA uses the accreditation reports to assess education programs against the WFOT minimum education requirements, maximising efficiency for everyone, particularly universities. Occupational therapists are recognised for their strong ability to communicate and collaborate. We seek opportunities to collaborate because we know our clients will benefit not only from our services, but from
those of others as well. We communicate effectively within teams, advocating for colleagues and supporting them in their work as well. Communication skills are among the most scrutinised abilities that need to be developed before becoming a registered occupational therapist within the classroom setting or professional education placements. Poor communication is one of the most frequently reported problems when clients lodge complaints. Written communication is particularly important from a medico-legal perspective, with the old saying: “If it is not documented, then it didn’t happen.” During my time as an OTA member, I have seen significant changes in the way OTA communicates. The monthly state association newsletter, for example, was eagerly read by graduates interested in the latest issues affecting the profession, or seeking information on positions or courses. The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has been a long-standing flagship for communicating research findings. Today, OTA communication is efficient, rapid and timely through mediums such as the OTA website, emails, electronic journals and social media platforms. This has also enhanced vital communication from members. As a board, we are looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of 2022. I encourage OTA members to maximise their collaborations and continue effective communication throughout this year to enable OTA to be the best we can be.
CEO’S REPORT
CEO’s Report Samantha Hunter | OTA CEO
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elcome to Connections, and the first issue for 2022. The year ahead will be interesting for the association as both the health sector and the greater community continue to be challenged by the third year of the pandemic. The team at Occupational Therapy Australia has weathered the storm of Covid for two years as we, like many organisations, reacted with major changes in the way we operate and respond to what is happening around us and to us.
across the profession and in the association, technology, economic and social spaces that may have long-term implications on how the association supports, resources and positions the profession for ongoing success and sustainability.
The way we communicated with each other and with our members and stakeholders altered, as did the frequency of the flow of information. While we will continue to update you on changes that affect your practices, we will also be dedicating time and energy to looking outward, to investigate the broad trends emerging
The profession can expect us to be communicating and collaborating with members individually to understand your needs. With online technology allowing us to connect, you can expect to have the opportunity to share your thoughts with us despite any ongoing Covid and border restrictions.
In order to stretch our scope far and wide we will focus on deepening existing relationships and forming new collaborations and connections that provide broader views and new opportunities.
The profession can expect us to be communicating and collaborating with members individually to understand your needs.
One of the great delights of the previous year has been the ability to meet many more members at our mental health forums, through dropping in to our special interest groups, reference groups and at our annual division meetings. For the board and staff it is a timely reminder of the incredible profession we have the privilege to represent, and we look forward to many more of these opportunities in 2022. I always enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of being in a group of occupational therapists, and I am optimistic that this year we will be able to safely bring back these important occasions to our calendar. On a final note, I appreciate how difficult the past two years have been for many members, whether it be the relentless work on the frontline, the juggle of children at home, caring for family, or the disconnection from our teams. These are testing times – working in isolation can mean a lack of innovation for teams, feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and communicating in a way that doesn’t represent our best self. Can I encourage everyone to spend a minute reflecting on how we communicate with those around us and how that might be received or misread. I encourage you to reach out with care and curiosity to someone today. I am very much looking forward to connecting with you as the year unfolds.
CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 5
P O L I C Y, L O B B Y I N G & A D V O C A C Y U P D A T E
Policy and Advocacy update T
his year is set to be an incredibly busy and interesting year in shaping the future of our health care system through the levers of government policy and spending. With a federal election due sometime before the end of May, the team at Occupational Therapy Australia is readying itself for an intensive period of communicating and conveying our interests and issues to those who may determine the immediate priorities of the country. At the time of writing, it appears that the incumbent government is facing an uphill battle to retain control of the House of Representatives, the House in which government is formed. With the Coalition holding fewer than half of those seats, it only governs because the Labor Opposition holds fewer. Labor needs to win just a handful of seats to achieve a change in government, however there is speculation that more independent candidates will consider entering the race. This could result in government relying on independents to hold the deciding vote at each tabling of legislation. Overall, it appears that we will be in for a close call come election night.
What does this mean for occupational therapists? A close race always ensures that Government and the Opposition are increasingly responsive to bright ideas and sound arguments. Election time always presents itself as a promising opportunity to present solutions to existing issues and to highlight emerging problems within current systems.
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Whilst state and federal elections provide opportunities to meet with Ministers and Opposition, the wheels of the bureaucracy continue to grind. The machinations of the NDIS continue unabated and with the pandemic entering its third year the national deficit continues to escalate. This will undoubtedly mean that all government schemes, including the NDIS, will come under pressure to curb costs, revise pricing and look at innovative and different models of operating. This has already been signalled with the NDIS and members can expect OTA to advocate strongly for the scope and rate of services that occupational therapists provide for those living with disabilities. Last year, a review of how we treat our elderly was welcomed with the commitment to a Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and as the commencement of recommendations accepted takes place, we will keep a watchful eye to ensure the value of our members is fully recognized and realized. As a society, we are measured by how we treat our elderly, and we should aspire to recognize, respect, and support
our senior community members regardless of whether they choose to remain in their own homes or enter other arrangements. Last year saw the close of a 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. Occupational therapists will continue to work with veterans and their families from not only this war but from conflicts long past, often for the remaining life span of these clients. OTA welcomes the commencement of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. These independent commissions provide organisations with the unique opportunity to have submissions considered separately and impartially from politics. A strong defence of the role of, and opportunities for occupational therapists to work with veterans will be delivered in consultation with our membership and consumer groups representing our veterans. An enormous amount of work is being undertaken across the country at both state and federal level in the area of mental health. OTA is contributing to the conversation with the Thinking Ahead: The Future of Occupational Therapy and
As a society, we are measured by how we treat our elderly, and we should aspire to recognize, respect, and support our senior community members
P O L I C Y, L O B B Y I N G & A D V O C A C Y U P D A T E
Mental Health in Australia research paper. To be released in the coming months, we outline a proposed roadmap for occupational therapists’ contribution of their skills and expertise and for the unique role they play in mental health. Late last year the allied health sector welcomed the news that telehealth would become a permanent service available to clinicians and clients. Telehealth has been the small silver lining of the pandemic; not only due to ongoing accessibility throughout
lockdowns, but it has enabled greater access to clients where allied health access is stretched, particularly in regional and remote Australia. It is not a panacea to our workforce shortage problems but is it is a handy tool in the toolkit of communication between clients and clinicians. The year ahead looks full of opportunities for Occupational Therapy Australia to position itself for the future. The usual issues, red flags and advocacy and policy issues will undoubtedly raise their
heads, and the pandemic and impact on the economy will continue to make the ride, at times bumpy. As an association and a profession, we put our best foot forward when we work together, when we collaborate within the profession, with our colleagues in the health and allied health sector and with our clients. We look forward to working with our members and our collaborators to showcase the incredible contribution of occupational therapists in creating real impact for the community.
Job vacancies for OTs
Looking to grow your team? Do you need to recruit Occupational Therapists? Target your audience by advertising on OTA’s Classified and Jobs page or in OTA’s monthly OT Jobs Board eNewsletter
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Looking for a change? Are you looking for a new role or a new location? Visit OTA’s Classified & Jobs page that shares opportunities for OTs across the country.
www.otaus.com.au/classifieds CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 7
P R O F E SS I O N A L P R A CT I C E & STA N D A R D S U P D AT E
A glimpse of the future Carol Jewell Acting National Manager, Professional Practice and Development
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s we enter a new year, I have spent time reflecting on where we have been and where we are headed. As an association we are here to represent, support, strengthen and resource the continually evolving profession. I am confident that we will continue to thrive as a profession and continue to have a pivotal role in the healthcare sector and beyond. However, I believe we will have our work cut out for us in the coming years as we navigate more changes in a complex and rapidly evolving healthcare environment. In order to navigate the way ahead, the association’s role is to lead, advocate, represent and develop
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occupational therapy practice to ensure we continue to expand and thrive as a profession. This is best achieved when listening and learning from our members, the sector and the community to deepen our understanding of the ever-changing landscape. By looking both to the profession and at external influences we are able to assess the strategic opportunities and issues ahead of us. In doing so, take a proactive approach to influencing our future and tackling current and emerging issues that affect our profession. Some of our core areas of focus over the next few years include a deep dive into the future of both mental health and aged care. As always, the scheme of importance and focus of much of our advocacy efforts remains the NDIS. We are mindful that changes to legislation, policy and practice will be on the cards in these areas of practice and we expect these changes will present challenges and opportunities for the profession. As an association, we are well prepared for the future with professional practice advisors across these key areas of practice. Collaborating with members through our reference groups, taskforces and special interest groups, our team are well informed and well positioned to represent OTA’s professional interests, promote the reputation and profile of the profession, and influence change. The coming year will see us focus on strengthening and developing the profession by underpinning our advocacy with a solid evidence base and by creating greater opportunities for professional development and support. We will be developing programs and resources in different modalities to ensure they are accessible and can be used flexibly by members. New programs are currently under development and include an online Supervision Training Program that responds to a need for training and development within the profession and to support the growing demand for supervision across diverse employment settings. The Private Practice Toolkit is a self-directed learning program to support occupational therapists to run efficient and effective private practices. The toolkit has been specifically developed to support and resource established private practitioners as well as practitioners transitioning to private practice. As we look to continue to support and develop the profession, we look to our membership to provide insights on their growing needs and interests, and we look forward to collaborating with you on this journey as we continue to evolve and grow.
A O TJ
Leaning into the language of being client-centred Dr Carolyn Murray Editorial Board Member, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
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o meet the communication standard in the Australian Occupational Therapy Competencies [1], a therapist must:
“practise with open, responsive and appropriate communication to maximise the occupational performance and engagement of clients and relevant others” [1, p. 9] Communication is a core aspect of occupational therapy practice. It was identified from a Delphi survey by Swan et al. as one of the top three attributes of excellence in Australian acute settings [2] (alongside self-management and critical thinking). A key aspect of communication is our language (both verbal and written). Language needs to show respect for and be inclusive of the people who are recipients of occupational therapy services or participants in occupational therapy research. As such, the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal includes the following statement in the author guidelines. Terminology. Choice of terminology used to describe a person with an impairment or disorder should reflect respect (e.g., do not use ‘the epileptics’, ‘the mentally retarded’), should protect dignity (e.g., do not use ‘suffering’, ‘case’), and should be free of stereotypes (e.g., do not use ‘confined to a wheelchair’, ‘victim’). The movement toward ‘person-first’ language was first introduced in 1992 in the United States [3]. Since then, the nomenclature used in health and social
care sectors continues to be discussed and debated within the literature [4-7]. These critical conversations are necessary and valuable as they challenge our assumptions about the language we use. As an example, Foley and den Houting [8] explained in their letter to the editor of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal that some people with autism prefer to be called ‘autistic’ (identity-first) rather than ‘a person with autism’ (person-first). They asked occupational therapists to “seek clarification from the autistic people you work with regarding their language preferences” [8, p. 97]. This letter gives an important reminder of the meaning of being a respectful client-centred practitioner and the weight our language choices carry to the people we serve. Research published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has showcased how strongly we value being client-centred [2, 9-12]. To be client-centred we need to deliberately look past the diagnosis and demographics (i.e. age) to see the person, and in doing so, draw on multiple forms of professional reasoning (i.e. collaborative and interactive) [13]. An exploration of the literature about expertise in occupational therapy found that conscious critique and communication of our reasoning enables “challenges to our cognitive biases, assumptions and social norms” [14, p. 70]. In a recent editorial in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Laver [15] progressed the conversation by asking occupational therapists to actively avoid stereotypes and prejudice in our language to counter
ageism and promote healthy ageing. Being deliberate in our language and reasoning is relevant not only with clients, but also in our documentation and communications with colleagues (i.e. avoid inadvertently referring to people by diagnosis, bed number or behaviour). Doing so, may enable a shift in perspective and therefore client outcomes. In other words, actively changing our language, may change our thinking and the thinking of those around us, to lean even further into deliberately being client-centred practitioners. As a profession we sustain a reflective stance on our practice, using our core values as a touchstone. Initiatives such as the CORE approach [10] (Capabilities, Opportunities, Resources and Environments), which provides practitioners with a framework for inclusivity, and the development of the culturally responsive goal setting tool ATOMIC (Australian Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure for Indigenous Clients) [12] keep the occupational therapy profession in Australia on track with our client-centred values and ideals. As a collective, occupational therapists can work toward inclusivity and being respectful toward our clients through being deliberate about the language we use in all aspects of our practice, including our written communication.
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 9
WFOT REPORT
WFOT update Dr Emma George, WFOT 1st Alternative Delegate
T
he WFOT 2021 calendar drew to a close in November with the Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress hosted by the Philippines. The Congress was accompanied by the Asia Pacific Occupational Regional Group General Assembly which acknowledged the outgoing President, Patrick Ker from Singapore and with the election of new office bearers. OTA extends a warm welcome to newly elected President, Associate Professor Ling-Hui Chang of Taiwan and the return as Treasurer of Fusae Ishibashi of Japan. Occupational Therapy Australia has strong representation with former board member and WFOT second delegate Associate Professor Lynette MacKenzie being elected as Vice President and current board member and Delegate, Adam Lo being elected as Secretary. The Congress was facilitated virtually with more than 700 conference delegates from 21 countries joining online. Congress highlights included “Transitioning to Client Drive Care: the Australian Experience”, a presentation by OTA’s Michael Barrett and of particular current relevance were sessions focussed on disaster reduction and preparedness from an occupational perspective. Presenters prioritised understanding disaster risk, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Keynote presentations are available through the QR code provided. The 8th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress will be hosted by Japan in 2024. Prior to the Congress, Japan will
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host the 56th Japanese Occupational Therapy Congress & Expo in 2022. President of Occupational Therapy Australia, Associate Professor Carol McKinstry has been invited to present on Occupational Therapy in Australia. As 2022 begins WFOT’s focus turns to Paris and the hosting of the WFOT Congress in late August with the theme Occupational R-Evolution. In response to the ongoing uncertainty of these times the Congress will be also held as a hybrid event, both face to face and virtually. The unexpected consequence of the pandemic that has led to the changes in the way events are delivered allows for greater participation. OTA thanks the many members for their contribution to the program and understand that there will be quite a contingent of Australian OT’s both travelling to, and attending and presenting virtually.
Communication & Collaboration Communication and collaboration are essential to the effectiveness of the WFOT and our partnerships with both members and international organisations. Collaborating and communicating in culturally safe ways is an important feature of the work of occupational therapists. Recently, Tirritpa Ritchie, a Karuna man, occupational therapist and academic in South Australia, and I were invited to help facilitate a discussion with occupational therapists in the United Kingdom on the documentary ‘In my blood it runs’. This is the story of Dujuan, an Aboriginal child in the Northern Territory, his exclusion in education, and a “heartbreaking sense
of failure” (Gorey, Turner and Vadiveloo 2020). Depicting the education system in a way that highlighted the colonial history of brutality, fear and exclusion the program sets a “trajectory [for children] towards profound risk onto a well-worn treadmill heading for incarceration, welfare and early death that devastates so many children and families” (Children’s Ground, 2020, p. 27). In collaboration with our international colleagues, we discussed the themes of systemic racism, the importance of intersectionality, and brainstormed how best to respond to personal initial reactions and to the injustices exposed. The conversation explored the need for open and honest dialogue about the limitations of current systems and the ongoing legacy of colonisation with consensus that conversations that support people to decolonise our thinking, and then our practice, can have an impact on the way we work – especially the way we communicate and collaborate. The ability to reach out, learn, and form relationships with our international colleagues through the WFOT network is an enriching way to grow understanding, connections and collaborations. WFOT Membership is included in the member benefits package for OTA Members.
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
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F E AT U R E
Promoting play
Role Emerging Occupational Therapy Olena Narovska and Nourah Brown OT students from the University of Canberra
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ccupational therapy as defined by WFOT (2012) is a client-centred health profession, of which the primary goal is to promote engagement in meaningful occupations for wellbeing (Reed, 2018). As fourth-year bachelors students at the University of Canberra, we value how holistic occupational therapy can be, and were excited to embark on our first community role emerging placement (REP). The placement was situated within an early childhood research project with the community. The role was to engage with early childhood educators and caregivers of young children (0-5 years) to support their healthy development, aiming to reduce their vulnerability and health inequity. The key approach was to do this by encouraging pretend play. REPs occur when students are situated in a work environment that does not already employ an occupational therapist. Our placement was an opportunity to work directly with clients and understand the challenges they were experiencing in their current situations, and view these through an occupational lens. The nature of the REP meant that there was not a strongly established occupational therapy presence
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working with the community, there were many opportunities for us to immerse ourselves in the work and take the lead in making suggestions to our team. Our unique approach to understanding and working with the clients helped us to work within a multidisciplinary research team and promote holistic practice. We developed great initiative in promoting occupational therapy, as many of the community members we spoke to did not have a good understanding of what occupational therapy is. REP provided a fantastic opportunity for both the community and ourselves to learn about the potential that occupational therapy has in making a positive impact on people’s lives. We began by promoting pretend play at an early childhood education centre (ECEC) by setting goals with the early childhood educators. We used coaching and modelling approaches to promote loose parts play, to increase the pretend play of children in the ECEC rooms. The exciting part of this placement was connection to the community. Complementing our engagement with the ECEC, we also helped facilitate playgroups in a shopping mall!
A play area was set up that supported interaction between caregivers and children as well as pretend play. We found this approach to promoting health and wellbeing in the community amazing, and a valuable new emerging role for occupational therapy. In the second week of our placement, Canberra went into lockdown. What started as a one-week lockdown eventually spanned the rest of our placement. The lockdown changed our work journey and we quickly adapted to a virtual platform. We had to connect with some new stakeholders, such as early childhood educators who were running community playgroups online via a Facebook page. With support from our supervisor and colleagues, we also reconsolidated relationships and rebuilt rapport with the ECEC. We have had many positive outcomes since we started
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working from home, including developing online resources and creating engaging presentations and resources to support caregivers and early childhood educators during lockdown. The aim of these resources was the same as it was pre-lockdown: To build the knowledge and understanding of caregivers to support children’s engagement in pretend play for healthy development. Interestingly, lockdown had a powerful impact on our perception of occupational therapy. We recognised that we, as soonto-be occupational therapists, had a unique understanding of the way the environment could affect people and their occupations, and the impact on their wellbeing. Personally, we felt the effects of lockdown on our regular occupations, too. The powerful message is that occupational
Lockdown had a powerful impact on our perception of occupational therapy. therapy plays a vital role in the community as this profession can understand, rebuild and empower communities to engage and develop in ways that are meaningful to them, and thereby promote health and wellbeing in children and adults. About the authors Olena Narovska and Nourah Brown are fourth-year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students from the University of Canberra, who completed their final placement in August-September 2021.
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 13
F E AT U R E
Innovative placement solutions to engage first-year OT students in understanding scope of practice Charles Sturt University, University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural Health
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he past two years have created unimaginable challenges in locating quality, clinical placements for occupational therapy students – particularly those in their first year of study. Covid-19 disruptions have demanded innovative thinking to maintain these face-to-face experiences, which shape student perceptions and can be key to them continuing studies and establishing professional identities early. While online formats for placements became the ‘new normal’, some students found the remote learning lacked authenticity. The challenge of engaging students in online placements, to give them an understanding of the scope of occupational therapy practice, was met by being creative. Using a peer-assisted learning model, the teams at Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural Health (UDRH) adapted by developing online placements for CSU’s first-year occupational therapy students.
Using Zoom as a communication platform, they developed and fine-tuned the online formats to ensure a rich experience that met all placement objectives, and showed possibly sceptical students it could be an authentic learning opportunity. During 2020-21, 18 first-year occupational therapy students took part in the placements, which had the unique feature of a collaborative, long-arm supervision model with an interprofessional team. Aligning with the objectives of first-year placement, each block of students was set the task of exploring a broad range of occupational therapy practice areas. To keep the placement format engaging and reflective of practice, individual students then had to investigate a particular practice area and interview an occupational therapist or another health professional working within that specific domain. For example, students had the opportunity to interview an occupational therapist and speech pathologist about their approaches to working with a client with dementia.
Online, peer-assisted placement models create efficiencies in resource use, supervisor workload and the ability to take more students. 14 otaus.com.au
Students used the collective data gathered from their research and interviews to develop an infographic presentation illustrating the broad scope of occupational therapy practice (2020) and the role of an occupational therapist in interprofessional practice settings (2021). This facilitated their understanding of the scope of practice, and their significant role in the interprofessional team context. At an individual student level, this placement approach promoted the development of student competencies in communication, adaptability, self-direction, teamwork and time management. Understanding of the scope of occupational therapy practice was broadened by peer learning opportunities. Regular group and individual supervision was embedded throughout to facilitate reflective practice and the development of skills. Opportunities to interview practising occupational therapists and health professionals across a range of clinical areas provided an authentic placement experience that was highly valued by students, despite their initial reluctance. Online, peer-assisted placement models create efficiencies in resource use, supervisor workload and the ability to take more students. Opportunities to replicate this model within and beyond the occupational therapy discipline exist. This particularly facilitates building capacity in our rural
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and remote regions. Online placements can achieve positive outcomes in student learning, including enthusiasm for career choice. In 2020, the first infographic – released during OT Week and promoted through social media – drew a positive response and international recognition. The infographic presentations have provided the UDRH with a variety of sustainable educational resources that not only depict the scope of occupational therapy practice and its role in an interprofessional team, but also promote the value of servicelearning placements for future rural health students. These outcomes have resulted in
reciprocal benefits with additional first-year occupational therapy placements for CSU. Based on this collaborative model of working together, we believe online placements provide students with authentic learning experiences. Undertaking online service-learning placements has positively challenged, and changed, perceptions for both students and university staff about what is possible. About the Authors Dr Helen van Huet is a lecturer in Occupational Therapy Workplace Learning Coordinator at Charles Sturt University.
Tara Case is an occupational therapist and clinical supervisor with the University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural Health. Rebecca Oates is an associate lecturer in Rural Health Community Placements with the University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural Health.
2020 and 2021 Infographics and references can be viewed by scanning the QR code
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CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2022 15
F E AT U R E
Assistive technology in the time of Covid-19 Global Study Calls for Disability-Inclusive Communication and Stakeholder Collaboration Dr Natasha Layton1 and Associate Professor Libby Callaway1,2, 1 Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Australia; 2 Occupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University
ageing rely on assistive technology (AT) to take part in activities that are meaningful to them. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that less than 10 per cent of the global population had access to necessary AT. Even high-income countries like Australia had undermet need,.
Millions of people around the world affected by illness, disability or the impacts of
What, then, happened to AT users during the Covid-19 global pandemic?
The WHO commissioned Monash University’s RAIL Research Centre with the Centre for Inclusive Policy to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on AT use and provision. This global study employed a team of regional researchers – many with lived experience of AT or disability – across the six WHO global regions (see figure one). Accessible surveys and targeted interviews with nearly 150 AT users, their families and AT providers were conducted for the following reasons: 1. To understand the experience of AT users and providers during Covid-19 2. To identify strategies for AT systems strengthening and pandemic response
Findings
The study elicited the following information about a range of enablers and barriers specific to AT access and use:
Figure 1: A regional researcher conducts an interview with an AT user. 16 otaus.com.au
Communication enablers and barriers AT users, practitioners and suppliers enacted innovative strategies to manage pandemic restrictions and meet AT supply and maintenance needs. Information and communication technologies such as smart phones and reliable internet connectivity enabled AT users to access information, organise remote service delivery, and obtain advice from occupational therapists, other AT advisers and AT suppliers. Civil society (that is, neighbours, local communities and
FFEEAATTUURREE
disabledpersons personsorganisations) organisations)collaborated collaborated disabled findsolutions solutionstotothe theimpact impactofofpandemic pandemic totofind restrictions.Examples Examplesincluded includedsharing sharing restrictions. ATresources, resources,making makingmasks masksfor forpersonal personal AT protectionwhen whenaccess accesswas waslacking lackingoror protection specificdesigns designswere wereneeded neededtotoenable enablelip lip specific reading,and andoutreach outreachactivities activitiestotocheck checkon on reading, peoplewho whomight mightbe beisolated isolatedororvulnerable. vulnerable. people Acrossregions, regions,AT ATusers userswere wereoften oftennot not Across includedininpublic publichealth healthresponses. responses. included Overall,government governmentpolicy policychanges changes Overall, wereconsidered consideredless lessagile agilethan thancivil civil were societyactions. actions.Important Importantmessages messageslike like society howtotoavoid avoidvirus virustransmission transmissionwere were how notunderstood, understood,particularly particularlyby bythose those not livingwith withhearing, hearing,vision visionororcognitive/ cognitive/ living communicationimpairments. impairments.Greater Greater communication disadvantageexisted existedwhen whenthere therewas waslimited limited disadvantage accesstotoinformation informationand andcommunication communication access technology,internet internetconnectivity connectivityoror technology, dataallowances allowances––asasininremote remoteareas. areas. data ATstakeholders stakeholdersvoiced voicedaaclear clearneed needfor for AT policymakers makerstotoensure ensurepublic publichealth health policy messageswere wereaccessible accessibletotoeveryone, everyone, messages consultthem themon onhow howpublic publichealth health totoconsult responsesmight mightimpact impactAT ATusers, users,and andtoto responses recogniseinformation informationand andcommunication communication recognise technologieslike likesmart smartphones phonesasasaapriority. priority. technologies Collaborationenablers enablersand andbarriers barriers Collaboration ATpersonnel personnelrequired requiredinfection infectioncontrol control AT trainingand andadequate adequatesupplies suppliesofofpersonal personal training protectiveequipment. equipment.Stakeholders Stakeholders protective suggestedAT ATservices servicesbe beintegrated integratedinto into suggested healthcaresystems systems(particularly (particularlycommunity community healthcare primaryhealth healthcare), care),that thatgovernments governments ororprimary guaranteethe theprocurement procurementand andsupply supplyofof guarantee quality-assuredassistive assistiveproducts, products,and andthat thataa quality-assured broaderrange rangeofofhealth healthpersonnel personnelbe betrained trained broader andequipped equippedtotoprovide provideand andsupport supportAT AT and usetotomitigate mitigatethe theimpacts impactsofofaapandemic. pandemic. use
TheAT ATsupply supplynetwork networkneeded neededtotobe be The consideredasasan anessential essentialservice serviceinin considered ordertotostay stayopen, open,safe safeand andaccessible accessible order throughoutthe theCovid-19 Covid-19escalation escalation–– throughout howevermany manygovernments governmentsdid didnot notsee seeitit however thisway. way.This Thisposed posedsignificant significantissues issuesfor for this ATaccess, access,and andindividual individualhealth, health,function function AT andparticipation. participation.When WhenAT ATservices serviceswere were and closed,people peoplelost lostaccess accesstotomaintenance maintenance closed, advisoryservices serviceslike likeAT ATrepairs repairsand and ororadvisory replacements.Many ManyAT ATservices serviceswere werenot not replacements. well-preparedfor forthe theglobal globalhealth healthcrisis, crisis, well-prepared andwere wereoften oftenonly onlyavailable availableininbig bigcities cities and andnot notregional regionalororremote remoteareas. areas.Telehealth Telehealth and serviceswere wererarely rarelyavailable, available,and andmany many services ATusers usersand andproviders providersdid didnot nothave have AT digitalliteracy literacyororproduct/internet product/internetaccess. access. digital Somemiddle middletotohigher-income higher-incomeregions regions Some wereable abletotoenact enactrapid rapidpolicy policychanges changes were fundtelehealth telehealthand andthe theAT ATrequired required totofund engageininit,it,while whileAT ATusers usersininlowerlowertotoengage incomeregions regionswere wereseverely severelyimpacted. impacted. income Recommendations Recommendations Thefollowing followingkey keyrecommendations recommendations The weremade madetotoinform informglobal globalpublic public were policyand andensure ensurepandemic pandemic policy responseswere wereAT-user AT-userinclusive: inclusive: responses Makepandemic pandemicpublic publichealth health 1.1. Make responsesinclusive inclusiveofofAT ATusers; users; responses RecogniseAT ATproducts productsand andservices services 2.2. Recognise essentialduring duringaapandemic pandemic asasessential healthemergency; emergency;and and ororhealth StrengthenAT ATservices, services,including including 3.3. Strengthen outreachand andtelehealth telehealthservices, services, outreach improvepreparedness preparednessfor forfuture future totoimprove pandemicresponses. responses. pandemic Studyfindings findingsand andrecommendations recommendationshave have Study beenpresented presentedatatthe theSecond SecondGlobal Global been Consultationtotoinform informthe theWHO-UNICEF WHO-UNICEF Consultation GlobalReport Reporton onAssistive AssistiveTechnology Technology(to (tobe be Global releasedininApril), April),used usedtotoengage engageAustralian Australian released
governmentsand andpolicy policymakers, makers,and andresulted resulted governments openaccess accesspublications publicationswhich whichcan canbe be ininopen foundby byscanning scanningthe theQR QRcode codebelow. below. found podcastfeaturing featuringtwo twoofofthe thechief chief AApodcast investigatorsisisalso alsoavailable availableby by investigators scanningthe theQR QRcode codebelow. below. scanning Aboutthe theauthors authors About NatashaLayton Laytonisisan anoccupational occupational Natasha therapistwhose whosePhD PhDexplored exploredthe therole role therapist ATand andrelated relatedsupports supportsininachieving achieving ofofAT equaloutcomes. outcomes.She Sheisisinterested interestedininthe the equal nexusbetween betweenevidence, evidence,practice practiceand and nexus policy,and andhas hasworked workedclinically clinicallyand and policy, research,policy policyand andadvocacy advocacyroles. roles. ininresearch, Natashaisiscurrently currentlyaasenior seniorresearch research Natasha fellowwith withthe theRehabilitation, Rehabilitation,Ageing Ageing fellow andIndependent IndependentLiving Living(RAIL) (RAIL)Research Research and CentreatatMonash MonashUniversity, University,and andan an Centre industryadjunct adjunctatatSwinburne SwinburneUniversity. University. industry LibbyCallaway Callawayisisaaregistered registeredoccupational occupational Libby therapistand andassociated associatedprofessor professorwho who therapist worksacross acrossthe theRehabilitation, Rehabilitation,Ageing Ageingand and works IndependentLiving Living(RAIL) (RAIL)Research ResearchCentre Centre Independent andOccupational OccupationalTherapy TherapyDepartment Departmentinin and theSchool SchoolofofPrimary Primaryand andAllied AlliedHealthcare Healthcare the MonashUniversity. University.AtAtMonash, Monash,Libby Libbyleads leads atatMonash nationalprogram programofofresearch researchfunded fundedby by aanational stateand andfederal federalgovernments governmentsand andfocused focused state onhousing, housing,technology technologyand andworkforce workforce on co-design.Libby Libbyisisalso alsothe thepresident presidentofofthe the co-design. AustralianRehabilitation Rehabilitationand andAssistive Assistive Australian TechnologyAssociation Associationand andthe thedirector director Technology community-basedprivate privatepractice practice ofofaacommunity-based workingwith withNDIS NDISparticipants participantswith with working neurologicaldisabilities. disabilities. neurological
Referencescan canbebeviewed viewed References scanningthe theQR QRcode code bybyscanning
CONNECTIONSAUTUMN AUTUMN2022 20221717 CONNECTIONS
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Promoting OT to improve outcomes in chronic pain Katrina Liddiard, Academic at Edith Cowan University
F
or people with chronic pain, a multidisciplinary approach can achieve better quality-of-life outcomes (Vartiainen et al., 2019). This should include occupational therapists, who can help restore, or establish, meaningful occupation for the more than 3.24 million Australians whose lives and livelihoods have been significantly disrupted by chronic pain (Breivik et al., 2006; Dueñas et al., 2016; Economics, 2019). Occupational therapy is well placed to expand its scope and scale within primary care settings (Jordan, 2019), particularly in chronic pain management. While people with chronic pain can expect better outcomes with timely referral to occupational therapy services , this will only
occur if other healthcare providers know what occupational therapy can achieve. We must therefore actively promote, not just explain, occupational therapy. The role of occupational therapy is not always well-understood. Chronic pain is a current health crisis, and the incidence may increase following the Covid-19 pandemic (Clauw et al., 2020), so it is vital that occupational therapists speak up about the role they can play in chronic pain management. There has been a recent expansion of physiotherapists and psychologists addressing aspects of chronic pain that occupational therapists could often carry
out more instinctively and effectively. This is not to diminish the important role those professions play, but simply to question whether we, as a profession, could do more to educate other health professionals about our unique knowledge and contribution in the chronic pain field. A recent multidisciplinary, professional development session highlighted the need to better communicate the benefits of occupational therapy. Two experienced, non-occupational therapy professionals reflected with surprise and fascination on their Aha! moment when a client they had been treating for many months suddenly improved dramatically – emotionally, physically and cognitively – when he returned to horse riding (a passion he had before an injury). Of course, the occupational therapists in the audience nodded politely, while screaming internally: “Of course he did! That’s what meaningful occupation can do!” Many general practitioners (GPs) – often the first point of contact for people with chronic pain – are also unaware of occupational therapy’s unique perspective in chronic pain management. During 2020, a Western Australia training day called “Managing Pain: A Team Approach” was established for GPs. The line-up of presenters on the first occasion included an addiction specialist, anaesthetist, pharmacist, psychologist, physiotherapist and psychiatrist, but no occupational therapist. The psychiatrist spoke strongly about the huge benefit he had seen when his patients attended
Attendees at “Managing Pain: A Team Approach”, November 2021, (left to right) Wey Chan, Katrina Liddiard (presenter), Kym Beanland, Gemma Porter, Elenita Ford and Catherine Yates. 18 otaus.com.au
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occupational therapy to help restore a sense of meaning in their daily lives. After some lobbying, these training days now contain a short promotion of occupational therapy. Up to five occupational therapists also attend, to learn and to join the roundtable discussion to engage with GPs and promote their role. It’s a drop in the ocean, of course, but feedback has been positive, with GPs asking: “Where can I source occupational therapy? I have some patients who really need this stuff.” Complex interactions between social, psychological, and biological factors and contexts are known to create the experience of pain (Carr and Bradshaw, 2014). This makes perfect sense when viewed through an occupational therapy lens. Not all professionals are trained to understand complexity in a client’s system the way we are (Lambert et al., 2007). We need to embrace the phenomenal contribution that meaningful occupation can make in the life of a person with chronic pain (Lagueux et al., 2018); and
We need to embrace the phenomenal contribution that meaningful occupation can make in the life of a person with chronic pain to communicate our unique potential and perspective (Breeden and Rowe, 2017). For the benefit of clients, we need to collaborate with other health professionals and adapt the way we communicate with them to place greater emphasis on promoting occupational therapy, rather than simply explaining it. About the Author Katrina Liddiard graduated as an occupational therapist in 1987 and has worked in broad clinical areas including burns and hand therapy, where she first became interested in pain management. She has helped to establish the use of neurostimulation for an occupation-based approach to pain management.
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Katrina has represented occupational therapy in an interprofessional working group and established an Occupational Therapy Pain Interest Group in Western Australia. She is a full-time academic at Edith Cowan University and is undertaking a PhD into what people with chronic pain find personally meaningful in their rehabilitation, and to advance the skills of therapists who treat people with chronic pain.
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
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Virtual impossibilities Tracy Spencer, Senior Occupational Therapist at Therapy Connect
H
ow would you deliver high-quality occupational therapy to clients living anywhere in Australia, with a team of mostly part-time allied health professionals scattered across the country in multiple time zones? Virtually impossible? Or is it possible, virtually? This is the core business of Therapy Connect, a provider of high-quality, allied health therapy services solely via telepractice. Therapy Connect’s client cohort is geographically dispersed across metropolitan, rural and remote locations in almost all states and territories. The Therapy Connect team is also geographically dispersed, including some practitioners who live overseas. To make this arrangement a success, adapting the way we communicate and collaborate with clients and colleagues is vital to the delivery of a high-quality service. The nature of this virtual workplace means that, unlike face-to-face services, clients and practitioners do not share the
same physical location. Often there may be very little in the way of shared lived experiences. The diversity of cultural and social backgrounds on both sides is vast. In order to build high-quality and effective therapeutic alliances, it is vital for a cohesive therapy team to adapt traditional communication methods. The key to overcoming potential communication barriers is not through highly specialised or new and innovative technology, but through what is now mainstream technology: teleconferencing, email, phone call, text message, and shared drives and documents. Utilising multiple technology modes for synchronous and asynchronous communication increases the accessibility of information to the team, clients and their families. After all, quality telepractice is founded in personcentred practice, is relationship-based, and technology is simply the vehicle for service delivery (Hines et al).
In order to build high-quality and effective therapeutic alliances, it is vital for a cohesive therapy team to adapt traditional communication methods. 20 otaus.com.au
Before a teleconferencing session, therapists may email clients and their families with documents to print, resources to collect, and information on how to set up the session. During sessions, in addition to the real-time exchange of audio and visual communication, therapists also frequently use the chat function to share written information, documents and links to helpful websites. The share screen function allows for a shared workspace, either through an onscreen activity, a virtual whiteboard (such as the Zoom feature or Google Jamboard), shared video demonstration of an activity, and completing onscreen assessment questionnaires. Photos can be taken by clients or carers and emailed to the therapist during the session to allow for greater analysis, such as that of handwriting. However, it is not only high-quality communication during a telepractice session that is vital. The use of asynchronous methods of communication outside sessions is essential to ensure the client, family and team work collaboratively and effectively. This varies greatly based on the client and family’s needs and preferences, however, a combination of some or all of the following strategies is commonly used: • Joint report writing using shared drive and shared digital document tools; • Recording parts of sessions to promote multidisciplinary assessment and collaboration;
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• Client sharing video recordings with the therapy team to review; and • Shared virtual whiteboard (such as Google Jamboard) between therapy team members and clients to promote and support collaborative interventions. When starting out at Therapy Connect, I was excited about the challenges of adapting my skills to telepractice. But now I have done far more than this. Telepractice has taught me to adapt the way I communicate and engage with clients and families in ways I probably would never have explored otherwise. Having seen the value in diversifying my methods of communication and interaction, I believe there is value in applying these adaptations to all areas of our practice, not only telepractice.
About the Author Tracy Spencer is a senior occupational therapist at Therapy Connect, with more than 10 years’ experience working in paediatric occupational therapy roles. Tracy is strongly guided by the input from clients and their families to ensure she supports clients in the most meaningful and effective way. Tracy has a strong interest in the areas of attachment, emotional regulation and sensory regulation. She believes sensory and emotional regulation provide children with an essential stable base in order to participate fully in play, learning and at home. Tracy believes her creativity and problem-solving skills emerged as a result of growing up on a farm in Western Australia. She enjoys problem-solving to come up with new and innovative ways to assist her clients to achieve their goals.
References can be viewed by scanning the QR code
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Words that steady us and keep us together Caroline Thain, National Clinical Lead, headspace School Services
W
ith so much uncertainty as we continue to ride the next wave of Covid-19 in our country, communication is having an impact on us all – whether it’s messages from our politicians and community leaders, discussions at our dinner tables, or phone calls with our friends. Strong messages and narratives can steady and comfort us, but some can invoke fear, confusion and uncertainty. In addition to this, being situated in northern Tasmania I am aware of the ripple effect of the recent traumatic events at Hillcrest Primary School in our community. The grief and loss in Tasmania is palpable. Through these traumatic times, I have seen communities pulling together and services working collaboratively like never before. A collective leaning-in to each other is heart-warming, and a reminder of the importance of connection and belonging. Communication has been kind, thoughtful and considerate of the community needs.
22 otaus.com.au
As occupational therapists, we have always been taught to have a clientcentered focus. This allows us to view our clients through a professional lens that is respectful, holistic and compassionate while assessing individual occupational needs. This includes thinking about how people of all ages communicate.
times when I must make decisions for myself and my family – whether I need to go to the supermarket, or decide with whom we can safely interact.
Our professional background is helpful when thinking about how we receive and impart information outside our professional lives. I was reminded recently of the importance of keeping things simple when I communicate and receive information. Like many of us, I am now more thoughtful of where I receive information, and try to be kind when communicating with others.
As occupational therapists, we are meaningmakers and problem-solvers. While we all try to make sense of messages of ambiguity, having a sense of agency and control can sometimes feel hopeless and out of reach. However, in writing this article I have been reminded of how thankful I am for our profession’s teachings. It has reminded me of the importance of my own daily routine, the meaning of relationships with friends and family, and to be grateful for a simple life.
Living with uncertainty is incredibly challenging. We want answers to soothe our anxious minds, and sometimes there are none. I have returned to two questions many
• Am I being safe to myself and others? • Am I being kind to myself and others?
About the author Caroline is a passionate Occupational Therapist, who has worked in the mental health sector for over 17 years, primarily with children, adolescents and their parents. Her experience has extended to Specialist Palliative Care Services, Family Violence Counselling and Support Services and in early 2021 trained as a Witness Intermediary for the Department of Justice in Tasmania. Caroline has held clinical lead and clinical manager positions with NGO’s and is currently the National Clinical Lead of headspace School Services, headspace National.
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Managing difficult conversations under hybrid work arrangements WorkPlacePLUS
W
e have all experienced how the pandemic has changed the landscape of working life, particularly with the normalisation of working from home. With telehealth becoming a permanent feature of Australia’s healthcare system, staff requests to maintain more flexible, or hybrid, work arrangements are becoming even more common. Hybrid work arrangements generally mean an employee performs part of their work on-site and part remotely. This can promote a greater sense of work-life balance for some employees, and help reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the workplace. However, occupational therapy managers and supervisors can also face human and cultural challenges associated with these arrangements. When approving new hybrid work arrangements, practice owners need to consider how they will monitor staff engagement and maintain a
good flow of communication and cohesion among the team.
understanding of the communication styles and personality types in their teams.
Workplace conflict still occurs when staff work remotely. Communicating via email, phone or video conference can lead to misunderstandings, silences or unconsidered messaging. When individuals cannot resolve conflict directly, employers need to support their staff to communicate openly, find win-win solutions and resolve issues.
A number of situations in an allied health practice will require managers and supervisors to have difficult conversations with their staff. Broad examples include when an employee fails to adhere to lawful and reasonable directions by the employer, when an employee disregards the organisational processes and policies, or refuses to attend work. Practice managers and supervisors should always conduct difficult conversations in a constructive manner, taking a considered approach and using positive language so the employee clearly understands what is expected and what needs to happen next.
To help mitigate staff issues, it is important that team members are reminded of the practice’s professional standards and code of conduct around workplace communications, including, for example, the rules of engagement around video conferencing, emails and expected response times. To improve team cohesion, it would also be helpful to provide staff with training to develop their emotional intelligence and gain a better
…conduct difficult conversations in a constructive manner, taking a considered approach and using positive language so the employee clearly understands what is expected and what needs to happen next. 24 otaus.com.au
Best-practice guidance for managers and supervisors is to facilitate a conversation that is direct, firm and polite, including the following: • What is expected; • Tangible examples where the employee is not meeting those expectations; • Identifiable areas for improvement; and • What support is being offered to assist the employee. Employees should always be given an opportunity to discuss and respond to the issue. The option of the employee bringing a support person to the conversation should also be offered ahead of time. Details of the conversation should be
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confirmed in writing, including the timing of any planned actions or reviews. When employees are working remotely, this can add a layer of complexity to facilitating difficult work conversations. Under hybrid working arrangements, an employee would generally still work on-site some of the time, so it is advisable to plan for difficult conversations in a face-to-face setting where possible. However, if the discussion needs to be had remotely, the following are some factors the manager or supervisor may wish to consider: • Have I planned what I need to say?
• Have I reviewed any organisational protocols related to the issue? • How can I create a safe space for this discussion? • Am I using a secure video conferencing platform? • Are all parties adhering to confidentiality protocols? • Are there any unauthorised people present in the room during conversation? • Are all parties able to maintain good eye contact? • Do all parties have the opportunity to speak freely and practice active listening? • What follow-up measures do I need to take?
The practice’s performance management procedure is a tool that can be used to help guide managers and supervisors through the process of conducting difficult conversations. Practice owners should ensure the organisational policies and procedures are updated to take hybrid and remote working arrangements into account. OTA members receive special OTA member benefits through WorkPlacePLUS for support with HR and IR issues. For more information, contact Anna on (03) 9492 0958 or visit WorkPlacePLUS.com.au.
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Three important features of Professional Indemnity Insurance Aon Risk Services Australia
While you may already hold Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance – and renew your cover each year without a second thought – there’s more to it than you might think. Due to the way PI policies work, it is worth keeping some aspects of the cover in mind to ensure you have the protection you need.
Your cover should not end after you stop practising
Most insurance policies end when you no longer own an asset. When you sell your car, for example, you cancel your car insurance. With PI, however, you may need run-off cover even when you’re no longer in business. Because PI is a claims-made policy, it only covers claims made while it is in place. If your business has long-lasting implications, you need to ensure you are covered for possible claims made against you in the future – even if you have stopped practising. For example, if your business provides advice to a client, they may take professional negligence action many years later if they blame your advice for suffering or loss. It is not enough that your insurance policy was in place when you gave the advice. It needs to be in place when the claim is made. Remember, PI insurance does not automatically include run-off cover. You need to apply for it, and possibly pay an extra premium. An insurance broker can help advise you. 26 otaus.com.au
Your coverage can (and should) start before your policy starts
Another equally important feature of PI insurance to protect you against future claims is ‘retroactive’ cover. This sets a date from which claims will be covered – preferably from when you started practising your business, not when your insurance policy started (which could leave you with a significant gap in cover). It is worth remembering that, for retroactive cover to apply, you must not have known about any impending claim or related circumstances before you sought the insurance.
You might need to contact your broker before a claim is made
With most insurance policies, you simply contact your broker when you need to make a claim. With PI insurance, however, you must notify your broker as soon as you become aware of a claim/allegation or circumstances that may lead to such. For example, warning signs like clients saying they are not completely happy with your advice or service, or verbal threats that they will take legal action or make a complaint, should prompt you to contact your broker. If you do not notify your broker of possible legal action or circumstances that could lead to such, you may not be covered if a claim is made at a later date.
Importance of understanding your cover
When it comes to PI insurance, there is more to coverage than meets the eye. It is wise to understand the various features to ensure you have the protection you need. Consulting a broker who understands all the risks of your industry in detail can be a valuable exercise in making sure you have ticked all the right boxes. For more information, visit aon.com.au/ota. Aon has taken care in the production of this article, and the information contained in it has been obtained from sources that Aon believes to be reliable. Aon does not make any representation as to the accuracy of the information received from third parties and is unable to accept liability for any loss incurred by anyone who relies on it. The recipient of this document is responsible for their use of it. © 2022 Aon Risk Services Australia Limited ABN 17 000 434 720 AFSL no. 241141 (Aon) This information contained in this article is general in nature and should not be relied on as advice (personal or otherwise) because your personal needs, objectives and financial situation have not been considered. Before deciding whether a particular product is right for you, please consider your personal circumstances, as well as any applicable Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination and full policy terms and conditions, available from Aon on request. All representations on this website in relation to the insurance products we arrange are subject to the full terms and conditions of the relevant policy.
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Am I covered if my client misinterprets my advice? not sure?
Talk to Aon, the small business insurance specialist. Our occupational therapy industry and broking expertise helps you make more confident decisions when using us to arrange your insurance purchase.
Visit aon.com.au/ota or call 1800 805 191.
Don’t just insure, be sure. © 2021 Aon Risk Services Australia Limited ABN 17 000 434 720 AFSL 241141 (Aon). Coverage terms, conditions and exclusions apply to all covers. Please carefully read the policy terms prior to making a purchase decision to ensure it meets your particular objectives, financial circumstances and needs. Contact Aon on 1300 836 028 for a copy of the policy wording and/or Product Disclosure Statement. AFF20210329-OT
