OUR WORK

THE ROLE OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Occupational therapy is a client centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.

Rehabilitation and aged care

Helping clients regain or enhance their daily lives after specific events such as hip replacement or stroke. Assessing and modifying clients’ home and community environments to improve their safety and independence. Prescribing and educating clients and carers in the use of adaptive equipment to assist function.

Acute care

Specialist interventions in various health conditions including surgery, burns, HIV and acute mental health. Assessing clients’ cognition, function and psychosocial needs. Monitoring clients’ function and progress, prescribing adaptive equipment to ensure safety upon discharge from hospitals.

Injury management

Using specialised assessments to determine the functional requirements of various jobs, and clients’ capacity to return to work. Designing and coordinating graded return to work programs. Educating clients in safe work practices. Modifying the work environment to suit the needs of individuals so as to prevent or minimise injuries.

Mental health

Designing individual and group programs and activities to enhance clients’ independence in everyday activities. Developing coping strategies for clients in overcoming their mental health issues. Improving clients’ confidence and self esteem in social situations.

AT THE BEGINNING...

To begin, an occupational therapist will try to find out why you cannot do what you would like or need to do…

Depending on your situation, an occupational therapists may check: what you can and cannot do physically (this includes your strength, coordination, balance, or other physical abilities) what you can and cannot do mentally (your memory, organization skills, coping strategies, or other mental abilities) what materials you use to participate in the occupation (for example, work tools, furniture, cooking utensils, clothes, or other materials) the social and emotional support available to you in your home, school, work and community the physical setup of your house, school, classroom, work place, community, or other environment