Reflections from the OTs of Tomorrow

WFOT COVID-19 Survey Results

A survey on COVID-19 conducted by WFOT between April and June 2020 generated 2750 responses from 100 countries. Results indicate that the pandemic had a widespread impact on the delivery of occupational therapy practice, education and research. This was identified to be due to a lack of preparedness, restrictions in service access, redeployment, frequently changing working conditions, demands of new technology and limitations in resources such as additional space for physical distancing, workplace protocols and personal protective equipment. Reports on the study are available here: wfot.org/ resources/the-impact-of-covid-19-foroccupational-therapy-findings-andrecommendations-of-a-global-survey

International Year of Health and Care Workers

WFOT welcomes the designation of the year 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers by the World Health Organization. As the global health workforce continues to work hard in responding to the impact of COVID-19, the celebration of the International Year of Health and Care Workers in 2021 provides an opportunity to build a stronger and more responsive health system by learning from the pandemic experience.

You can read about the lessons learned by WFOT from the pandemic and recommendations for the future in this public statement, which is available in multiple languages, including Arabic, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish: wfot.org/resources/ public-statement-internationalyear-of-health-and-care-workers

Reflections from the O

Ellice Willcourt, Course Coordinator and Lecturer Occupational Therapy, Flinders University

When teaching occupational therapists, I often reflect on my early understanding of occupational therapy, and how this has evolved over the many years since I graduated. Over this time, I have answered the age-old question, “What is occupational therapy?” more times than I care to remember. With experience, I can now give a clear description.

However, I remember the anxiety I felt when asked this question as a student on placement—and stuttering out an answer. When I started teaching first-year occupational therapy students, I knew I wanted to help them feel confident when discussing their profession.

Introduction to Occupational Therapy is a foundational topic in the Flinders University Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Occupational Therapy degrees. In this topic, students learn about the diversity of contemporary occupational therapy practice, and how the history of the profession has shaped current practice. Students are introduced to the Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards and asked to consider how this will inform their future clinical practice. Over the semester, the students challenged themselves to broaden their understanding of occupational therapy and demonstrate their knowledge each week in class—the first and only faceto-face topic they completed all year!

The following are two abridged assignment submissions from students in their first year of studying occupational therapy in 2020. Students were asked to discuss why they chose to study occupational therapy, and what excited them about the profession and their future practice.

Giving Opportunities Rather Than Prescriptions

Phoebe Siviour, First Year BHS/ MOT Student, Flinders University

My journey to finding a purposeful career has been a rocky one. I graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor in Primary School Education, but with dwindling passion for the profession. I postponed my registration, instead finding work in the disability employment field. My aim was to better educate myself on an aspect of teaching that I felt underprepared for—differentiating for, and supporting, students with disability. I loved that job as it fulfilled my career goal of helping others. However, there were limited opportunities for professional development within the field, and I felt that I still had scope within myself to be challenged.

So, with new understanding of my professional capabilities, but limited knowledge of occupational possibilities, I went in search of a profession where I would be able to help others, challenge myself daily, and that has a versatility in the day to day that would keep me on my toes. I conducted a few fruitless searches into other allied health careers, until one fateful conversation with

Reflections from the OTs of Tomorrow

Phoebe Siviour

my housemate who asked, “Have you looked into occupational therapy?” And the rest, they say, is history.

Prior to the commencement of the course, I had very little understanding of what occupational therapy was. All I knew was that they helped people to do, for lack of a better word, “stuff”. An eager blank slate, I soaked up information about this incredible profession. In particular, the early seeds of its conception as a “work cure approach”, its development spurred on by the First World War, and its establishment in 1917 (Christiansen & Haertl, 2019). What an exciting concept, to be part of a profession still in its relative infancy compared with other fields of allied health. To be entering into a field that is lesser known and understood, but with such a capacity to have a positive impact on people’s lives, is thrilling. To be an allied health professional that focuses on the abilities and occupations of their client, and as stated by Meyer, consists in giving opportunities (1983). From there my understanding was shaped around the OT process, using different contexts to bridge that understanding. Of note, I was particularly interested to learn about the role of OT in acute care. I was previously unaware that practitioners worked within hospitals, as my limited understanding had placed occupational therapists solely within the community sector as secondary care providers. I am fascinated about the prospect of working in a multidisciplinary team in an acute setting, advocating for, and supporting, clients presenting with individual challenges and needs at an acute level. This semester has impressed upon me the breadth of the scope of OT, to which I had previously not considered.

I look forward to my future practice with great excitement. By examining the Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards, I can highlight areas of keen interest. From the professionalism standard, I will be an occupational therapist that incorporates and responds to the historical, political, cultural, societal, environmental, and economic factors influencing health, wellbeing, and occupations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA), 2018).

I am aware that as a white Australian I occupy land that belongs to the traditional custodians of this country. I strongly align with the belief that all Australians have a responsibility to recognise the right to, and assist with, self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a healthcare practitioner, I will need to do my part in providing services that are safe, accessible, and responsive to the needs of my Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

If I have learnt anything from the past few years, it is not to believe anything will happen with certainty. What I can speak to, instead, is what I hope for the future. I hope that I will graduate and be able to register as an occupational therapist. I hope that I can be the kind of occupational therapist I have spoken about here, and I hope that I can make a difference in the lives of clients for many years to come.

About the Author Phoebe has just completed her seventh year at university. As a lifelong learner, she strives to challenge herself every day. Phoebe is an active member of her community, sitting on the committee of the Flinders University Women’s Football Club and supporting other local clubs that further the development of women in sport.

References Christiansen, C.H. & Haertl, K. L. (2019). A Contextual History of Occupational Therapy. In B. A. B. Schell & G. Gillen (Eds), Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy (13th ed, pp. 11-42). Wolters Kluwer. Meyer, A. (1983). The Philosophy of Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 2(3), 79-86. Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (2018). Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards 2018. https://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/ codes-guidelines/competencies.aspx

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Going into the university setting, I was unsure about what pathway was right for me. With so many options, the opportunities are endless.

When I was young, I wanted to grow up to become an Olympian and break records that no one thought possible. Over the years my interests have changed, and with this so has my answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. I dreamt about becoming an Olympian, a chef, teacher, social worker, AFLW player, paramedic, and a pilot. I was changing my career every day.

As I approached the end of high school, I came to a crossroads in my life where the thought of deciding upon my future was intimidating and significant. At a university open day, I was late to the speech pathology presentation, so I went to the occupational therapy presentation instead. I am so grateful I did. This is where the question became answered. This is what I want to do when I grow up.

When beginning my course at Flinders University, I was unaware of what occupational therapy entailed. I never knew how to answer the question, “So what is an occupational therapist? What do they do?” Over the course of the semester, I have developed an understanding that occupational therapy involves more than treating clients. It’s a shared process and journey between a therapist and client.

Being an occupational therapist is about being compassionate and understanding towards clients. It’s about empowering clients to pave their own path, and attempt new things, and develop new ways of thinking. This profession is about being creative, and acknowledging that each client is a unique individual that has different goals and challenges.

The core value of client-centred practice and a holistic approach in occupational therapy has sparked my interest and passion for the profession. I want to be an occupational therapist who encourages clients to pursue their dreams, regardless of how impossible they may seem.

At the 2016 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference, keynote speaker Jessica Kensky defined occupational therapy as, “Where science, creativity, and compassion collide” (AOTA, 2016). This encapsulates the profession as its whole—creativity-based, client-centred, and evidence-based.

The Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards of professionalism, knowledge and learning, occupational therapy process and practice, and communication provide structure and expectations for me as a future therapist. Regarding knowledge and learning, a key expectation that spoke to me was, “An occupational therapist reflects on practice to inform current and future reasoning and decision making, and the integration of theory and evidence into practice” (Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, 2018). The constant and regular upkeep of knowledge and skills within the profession interests me as I am passionate about learning and always strive to further develop my skill set.

The communication standard has two key segments, “An occupational therapist communicates openly, respectfully, and effectively” and “uses culturally responsive, safe, and relevant communication tools and strategies” (Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, 2018). I have always valued respect and honesty, and have found that respect is key to any relationship. This standard and expectation of respect within the occupational therapy profession is something that I wish to carry with me into future practice.

After one year of study, I now know how to answer the question, “So what is an occupational therapist and what do they do?” An occupational therapist is a professional who strives to encourage their clients to do what may seem to be the impossible, and believes in their own ability regardless of personal or environmental limitations. We work alongside clients and their supports to find creative approaches to completing meaningful occupations, and maintain a holistic approach to every unique and individual client.

The words by AOTA president Ginny Stoffel encompass what occupational therapy is. “Occupational therapy practitioners ask, “What matters to you?” not “What’s the matter with you?” (AOTA, 2020). About the Author Airlie is a first-year occupational therapy student at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. After a university open day, Airlie’s passion and interest in occupational therapy began, finding value in the clientcentred approach and empowerment-based practice. Airlie hopes to work with individuals either in remote Australia or children in a paediatrics setting, to make a change and difference in people’s lives, inspiring them to defy the odds and reach their goals.

Empowering Clients to Pave Their Own Path

Airlie Schirmer, First Year BHS/MOT Student, Flinders University

Airlie Schirmer

References American Occupational Therapy Association (2016). Videos of 2016 annual conference now available. https:// www.aota.org/aota16video American Occupational Therapy Association (2020). About Occupational Therapy. https://www.aota.org/ About-Occupational-Therapy.aspx Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018). Rural and Remote Populations (series no. 16). https://www. aihw.gov.au/getmedia/0c0bc98b-5e4d-4826-af7fb300731fb447/aihw-aus-221-chapter-5-2.pdf.aspx Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (2018). Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards. https://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/ codes-guidelines/competencies.aspx