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OTs in schools supporting the wellbeing of young people Nicole Keller, Executive Director Mental Health and Wellbeing at Wellbeing SA
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or the first time in more than two years since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions began, more than 50 occupational therapists gathered in South Australia for an OTA Hot Topic event, OTs in Schools: Supporting Social and Emotional Wellbeing. It was a privilege to have the OTA board president, Associate Professor Carol McKinstry, in Adelaide to attend the event, together with two iconic SA occupational therapists and OTA honorary life members Dr Angela Berndt and Marilyn Pattison. With the mental health and wellbeing of young people never as prominent as it is now, the event explored the challenges and opportunities for occupational therapists to help create vibrant futures through evidence-based practice in classrooms. Occupational therapists were considered to have a central role as agents of change, showing that an integrated, holistic approach was possible to support positive, inclusive and resilient learning environments in which every child/young person, educator and family/carer could achieve optimal mental health and wellbeing. Guest speakers included South Australian Mental Health Commissioner and Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation founder John Mannion, and Department for Education Student Support Services director Sarah Anstey. They reminded the audience that just over 16 per cent of the Australian population was under 12 years of age, and 21 per cent under 18 – with evidence that the first 2000 days of life were critical to a
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child’s development, and interventions during this time could result in significant improvements to health and outcomes. Occupational therapists had an opportunity to lead the way in early intervention, prevention and health-promoting action that gave children and young people the best start in life, and the audience was challenged to be ambitious and innovative, and to remember the value of person-centred practice and partnering. The panel was joined by a number of leading occupational therapists in SA educational settings – Lisa Varona, Sarah Enthoven and Anna Forgan from the Department of Education’s Self-Regulation Service, and Judith Merritt and Michael Sharp from the University of South Australia’s Orion Allied Health Student Service.
The panel shone a spotlight on the opportunities for occupational therapists to work holistically in classrooms using trauma-informed practices to support the participation, engagement, growth and development of children at the earliest possible age and life stage. At the same time, they could also build the capacity, capability and confidence of teachers, schools, families and caregivers to help young people achieve their educational and well-being goals. Key questions and comments from the floor highlighted the passion and potential to explore further opportunities to combine sectors and systems to influence policy, practice and investment in the programs known to make a measurable difference. The vision to empower and embolden occupational therapists to improve
