Connections Spring 2023

OTs in Action

Breaking the silence: Racism and anti-racism

30th National Conference & Exhibition wrap-up

Celebrating OTA’s award winners

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Connections is a publication of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA), the peak body representing occupational therapy in Australia.

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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.

Occupational Therapy Australia respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country on which we live, learn and work.

President’s Report

Professor Carol McKinstry | OTA President

The last few months have been really exciting times for OTA. Our National Conference in Cairns was the best I have ever attended – and I have attended a lot of national conferences! Congratulations to the Scientific Committee for a truly wonderful program that really hit the mark regarding relevant topics and research for the Australian occupational therapy profession in the current context. It was inspiring to hear about the high quality and impactful research being conducted by occupational therapists. This research will not only inform the practice of clinicians but also enable OTA to lobby for and promote our profession using evidence to strengthen our case.

For me, a highlight of the conference was the lived experience panel. I have been on past scientific committees where we have strived to increase input from consumers but struggled to meet our aspirations. Our wonderful MC Caleb Rixon pulled the consumer panel together in a very meaningful way and highlighted how working in partnerships with consumers to truly co-design services can be effective. The climate change panel was also a highlight, with the lived experience of the impact of climate change conveyed very powerfully. Hearing from Professor Faye McMillian AM about navigating our way to reconciliation and understanding sovereign relations with First Nations peoples was very pertinent to OTA’s Reconciliation Action Plan work. Congratulations also to Professor Leeanne Carey for her Sylvia Docker Lecture: Ignite Your Passion, and Connect, to Make a Difference, highlighting the need to collaborate in research to support ongoing development of researchers.

I wish to thank everyone who presented papers and posters, conducted workshops

and chaired sessions, our exhibitors and of course the Conference Scientific Committee Chair Dr Priscilla Ennals, and Conference Convenor Professor Ted Brown, and all the members of these committees. Thanks is also extended to the OTA staff who enabled such a smoothly coordinated conference.

The National Conference is a time when we recognise those achieving research excellence. This year we inducted four Research Fellows to the Occupational Therapy Research Academy. Congratulations to Professor Rachael McDonald, A/Professor Jacki Liddle, Professor Stacey George and Professor Kate Laver. We also awarded the various OTA Research Awards to Dr Jessica Hill, Dr Kitty Foley, Carolyn Dunn and Professor Lynette Mackenzie. Congratulations and we wish you well in your research endeavours. You can read more about the work of these new Fellows and award winners on page 28.

The conference gave OTA Board Directors and staff an opportunity to talk to many OTA members. Providing information on our current Workforce Development Project, the newly launched Supervision Program, our CPD events and many other member benefits was an important part of the conference. Hearing about our members’ pressing issues is essential to

stay up to date with what is happening across Australia. We continue to advocate on behalf of occupational therapists, particularly in the mental health and NDIS sectors, to highlight the essential, high quality occupational therapy services that make a difference to NDIS recipients’ lives.

With the National Conference giving us an opportunity to come together face-to-face in greater numbers than in recent years, it emphasised the need to keep growing as clinicians, researchers, managers and leaders. Engaging in continuing professional development provides us with opportunities to meet others working in similar practice areas or experiencing common challenges. I would encourage you to consider engaging with a relevant OTA Special Interest Group, attend a Hot Topic event or one of the many CPD events on offer. The next big OTA event is the OT Exchange, which will be held in Perth on 13-14 June 2024, so start planning to attend.

In closing, I am really appreciative of the many members who conveyed their support for the work OTA is doing. I would encourage you all to vote in the upcoming OTA Board elections to have your say in the composition of the next Board and thank those who have taken the time to nominate.

At our National Conference in Cairns, it was inspiring to hear about the high quality and impactful research being conducted by occupational therapists, which will inform the practice of clinicians and enable OTA to promote our profession.

“The times they are a-changin’” wrote Bob Dylan in 1964. We now have Google and Spotify for those who don’t know this anthem of the 60s, a time where social attitudes and societal beliefs were championed, challenged and changed. It does seem that change happens at a greater pace in our contemporary world, and sometimes things change so slowly that progress seems imperceptible. This edition of Connections falls at a time where there is significant change upon us as a society, and critical issues are faced by our profession, and our communities.

Now more than ever before, OTA demonstrates that we have a strong commitment to a better society through reconciliation with and recognition of our First Nations people, particularly right now as we are on the precipice of the ability to recognise the occupational injustices of past constructs that lock First Nations people out of important conversations that directly impact their lives, their agency and deny sovereignty and their voice on matters of importance to them.

The Voice to Parliament Referendum will ask a question of each Australian, which will forever shape the future of our nation, of how we see ourselves and how others see us. As a contemporary association, representative of the profession of occupational therapy, we believe we must stand for our organisational and professional values and a take position on issues that

CEO’s Report

Samantha Hunter | OTA CEO

shape our nation’s future and use the lens of occupational therapy to influence and shape the world in which we work, learn and play. We have a responsibility to both articulate and act on our values. In this edition of Connections, it gives me great pleasure to release Occupational Therapy Australia’s Board-endorsed support of voting yes in the forthcoming referendum. A full article can be found on page 18.

I would like to ask every occupational therapist to take some time to reflect on both your professional commitment to reconciliation and greater understanding of sovereign relations, and your role and place, both now and into the future on how we do or can affect the systems that could create greater equity, and how these relate to us as a profession calling out and confronting where occupational injustices are taking place.

Important decisions are before us and this is the intersect of the personal, the professional and the political. It is not the association’s place to dictate personal views; however, we ask you to reflect on this through the lens of occupational justice and through the lens of actions that speak for and strengthen democracy, access and equity. Values that support and strengthen the very tenets of occupation.

In this edition of Connections, we are also pleased to unveil our Reconciliation Action Plan artwork as we successfully

conclude our Reflect RAP and embark on the next phase of our Journey of Understanding. More details on page 19

Whilst the referendum results will change our nation, changes of a different nature are also at hand for many of our members. After a decade of operating, the National Disability Insurance Scheme is under review. Undoubtedly the NDIS has created untold benefits for participants and created both opportunities and challenges for the profession. We have been both relentless and rigorous in the various submissions, reports and advocacy efforts. Every occupational therapist I speak with wants to see a sustainable, fair and equitable scheme with our profession appropriately acknowledged, respected and remunerated. To achieve this goal, our team is committed to providing evidence-based submissions where appropriate but also to ongoing advocacy within the agency hierarchy at multiple levels. Once the review is received and the impact and implementations are understood, OTA will invite members to join us to unpack and understand how the review’s findings will shape the scheme and determine a future path.

As change is happening around us, and we live in an increasingly complex and busy world, we often forget to slow down, relish the positive, reflect on our successes and celebrate ourselves and our profession. OT Week this year celebrates Unity through Community. I invite and encourage every one of our members to celebrate their community and the unity you bring to it. Whether it be colleagues, consumers, carers or our industry partners – our unity is our strength.

This edition of Connections falls at a time where there is significant change upon us as a society, and critical issues are faced by our profession, and our communities.

Quarterly update –Member news

What we’ve been doing for members

It’s been a busy three months, with ongoing engagement about the NDIS Review, the launch of OTA’s mental health endorsement pilot, and a renewed focus on compensable schemes.

Aged Care

Ongoing impact of AN-ACC

OTA, along with Allied Health Professionals Australia (AHPA) and other allied health representatives continue to lobby with the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) and key stakeholders to raise concerns about low levels of allied health service provision in residential aged care and the associated impacts on older people and allied health professionals.

Recently, action was taken to clarify the Quarterly Financial Report results for quarter two that saw a further decline in allied health minutes. Additionally, clarification was sought from the Department on the responsibilities of providers under the Aged Care Act and specifically in relation to Schedule 1 of the Quality of Care Principles that sets out the range of care and services that all aged care homes must provide to residents who need them, including therapy services. We will continue to engage with our members to understand the impacts and convey them to the Department and the Minister.

NACA update

OTA was pleased to attend the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) in Melbourne

on 18 and 19 May. On day one, we heard updates from the First Nations and Workforce NACA strategic priority groups, and from the Interim Inspector General of Aged Care, Ian Yates on the progress of this new position. On day two, we heard from the Care Economy Taskforce on their work addressing aged care workforce, reform updates and budget announcements from the Department of Health and Aged Care, details on data quality initiatives within the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and work underway by the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority to develop aged care pricing.

Support at Home

OTA met with members of the Support at Home Implementation team on 26 May to discuss the proposed assessment tool (IAT) and care pathways. Members of the AHPA Aged Care working group were present. There was a strong focus on the need for the IAT tool to accurately identify allied health service needs and for this to be reflected in the care plan. To support this, OTA has reviewed the current version of the IAT tool and provided information to the Department on all the questions within the tool that would trigger an OT referral, some additional considerations for assessors to help with accurately identifying an OT referral, and references to literature that evidence the value of OT across all highlighted areas. The Department has agreed to review discipline specific input against the models and tools proposed. OTA will continue to liaise with the Department to inform the development of allied health pathways.

Submissions

OTA provided a response to proposed legislative changes requiring increased reporting responsibilities for providers outlined in the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Transparency of Information) Principles 2023. Our submission recommended the legislation requires providers to supply information pertaining to therapy services delivered as reflected under Schedule 1 Part 2 of the Quality of Care Principles to build a clearer picture of allied health service utilisation and cost in aged care.

OTA submitted a response to the new standard Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard calling on a stronger focus for non-pharmacological strategies and emphasising the expertise of occupational therapists in delivering interventions that support non-pharmacological approaches to managing symptoms of cognitive disability or impairment. Scan the QR code to read more about the new standard:

The Department released Consultation Paper No.2 on A New Model For Regulating Aged Care following the release of their concept paper in February 2022 and Consultation Paper 1 in September 2022. In addition to providing a response to the first consultation paper, OTA, in conjunction

with AHPA, presented a submission in response to Consultation Paper 2. Key recommendations addressed concerns around over-regulation, delivery of quality care and sector harmonisation.

OTA was invited, as a member of AHPA, to contribute to the Inspector General of Aged Care’s Implementation Report on Royal Commission Recommendations. The report outlines the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and called for feedback on the action taken to address the recommendations outlined. The submission highlighted the lack of action pertaining to allied health recommendations and made a call for priority attention.

Mental health

OTA Mental Health Strategy

Deakin University has been busy developing the first two modules in a comprehensive suite of training developed by expert OTs designed for OTs. The Mental Health Assessment and Planning module was released on 30 June, followed by the Mental Health Systems, Mental Health Diagnoses and Co-occuring Factors module. The Mental Health Capability Framework has been used to drive the development of these eLearning modules and support the pathway for occupational therapists seeking OTA mental health endorsement. Check out page 17 for more information about these modules.

OTA launched the Mental Health Endorsement Pilot Program on 1 March 2023. The pilot is intended to test and support implementation of the OTA Better

Access to Mental Health endorsement

review. With the pilot phase coming to an end in the coming months, the new endorsement program provides a greater alignment with mental health occupational therapy practice across a range of funding programs, including the Medicare Better Access and Eating Disorders programs, and provides a more comprehensive and focused application process. Built on the foundations of the OTA Mental Health Capability Framework, the OTA Mental Health Endorsement Program provides recognition of the additional knowledge, skills and experience of OTs focusing their scope of practice on mental health.

The endorsement program sets a high standard for our profession and provides an important signal to practitioners, funders, and users of occupational therapy services about what the profession considers the foundation for safe and effective practice. For more information about the endorsement program and application process, please scan the QR code.

opportunities and issues papers that have been released by the Review to date.

In May, OTA made two submissions on NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework and NDIS Participant Safeguarding, calling for better information for providers and participants about the Safeguarding Framework, increased oversight on the NDIA, and a reduction in red tape for providers undergoing the NDIS registration and auditing processes.

In July, OTA made a submission to the Review responding to its Pricing and Payments issues paper. OTA’s submission calls for better expertise and evidence gathering when setting NDIS prices to ensure these accurately reflect the true cost of delivering services. OTA has also objected to the proposal to replace fee for service payments with outcome or enrolmenttype payment for services and objected to the proposal to introduce preferred provider arrangements, as these pose a significant risk to smaller providers.

A huge thank you to our NRG and individual members who provided their feedback; this has greatly helped to inform our submissions. You can read more about OTA’s advocacy in this area and view OTA’s recent submissions by scanning the QR code.

National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS Review

OTA has been engaging heavily with the NDIS Review, working with the OTA NDIS National Reference Group to develop a range of submissions to respond to consultation

What we’ve been doing for members

Continued from previous page

OTA also wrote to the NDIS Review Panel in July to outline the important role that mental health OTs play within the NDIS and broader mental health system and reiterated our strong expectation that this scope of practice and clinical intervention will remain a vital and funded area within the NDIS.

In June, OTA attended the DSC Annual NDIS conference in Sydney, where we connected with key stakeholders and leaders in the NDIS sector. OTA has also been invited to attend a peak provider forum hosted by the NDIS Review in early August to represent the occupational therapy profession. Additionally, OTA is engaging with AHPA to leverage further opportunities to represent the allied health sector within the NDIS.

Mental Health OT Community of Practice NDIS advocacy

The Mental Health OT Community of Practice has made two submissions to the NDIS Review. The CoP has engaged with lived experience advocates to develop a submission that contains specific recommendations to improve psychosocial supports both within the NDIS and in the broader mental health system. Their second submission focused on increasing sensory modulations within the NDIS. OTA congratulates the CoP for their hard work and continued advocacy in this important area and has supported both submissions.

NDIS Pricing Review 2022-23

In April, OTA made a submission to the NDIS Annual Pricing Review 2022-23. OTA’s submission called for an immediate increase of 18% to the maximum fee payable for the ‘therapy supports’ item code, due to the complexity OTs experience in servicing NDIS clients (including self-managed clients and clients seeking service in the home), increased inflation and increased business costs. OTA is disappointed with

the NDIA’s decision, announced in June 2023, to maintain the therapy supports cap price at the current rate for another 12 months, commencing on 1 July 2023. However, this is not unexpected given the NDIS Review is expected to make a range of recommendations to NDIS pricing arrangements, and OTA is continuing to advocate for better pricing via this avenue.

Engagement with NDIA

Following a number of changes in the NDIA’s leadership team in late 2022, OTA has been building connections with new senior leaders within the NDIA, including the Deputy CEO Corri McKenzie, and several Directors. OTA met with four senior NDIA staff in June and outlined a number of issues members are experiencing. OTA highlighted our strong interest in working with NDIA to improve their systems and processes, and NDIA committed to working more closely with OTA when implementing the recommendations of the NDIS Review when they are made public later in 2023.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

OTA continues to await the outcome of the Occupational Therapy Fee Schedule Redesign Project. In May, OTA made a submission to the Review of Veterans’ Compensation legislation, which seeks to implement some of the initial recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. OTA’s submission was developed in consultation with OTA’s DVA National Reference Group, and requests the review ensures the current arrangements that enable veterans to access allied health services are not impacted. OTA recently wrote to the Minister for Veterans Affairs

The Hon. Matt Keogh MP and expressed our dissatisfaction with the current fee

schedule review. OTA has been invited to meet with his office and will update our members on the outcome of this meeting.

Workforce

OTA commenced a Workforce Development Project in March this year in response to known challenges being experienced by OTs across the country.

Since the commencement of the project, over 100 OTs have participated in focus groups and stakeholder interviews, and 2,145 responses were received to the survey we released, which will help us to better understand the issues and opportunities for the profession. The insights received through these channels, as well as the thorough literature review and quantitative data analysis that have been completed, will contribute to the development of an action-focused report for OTA to guide our efforts in the workforce space. Visit www.otaus.com.au/workforce to sign up for updates on the project.

State/Territory news

In June, OTA appeared before the Parliament of South Australia’s Social Development Committee, alongside OTA member Kobie Boshoff to provide evidence to an inquiry regarding funding for children and students with additional learning needs in public schools and preschools. This evidence was supported by a written submission.

Compensable schemes

We are strengthening relationships with representatives from workplace injury and transport accident injury compensation schemes in each state and territory and have contributed feedback to several

consultation opportunities and fee schedule reviews. This has supported the recognition of mental health occupational therapy by ReturnToWorkSA, WorkSafe Victoria and WorkCover Queensland. WorkSafe Victoria has also increased all occupational therapy fees by 20%.

We remain in discussions with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on several matters, and will continue to work with the TAC on these matters and

on its review of the Statewide Equipment Program credentialing process.

Hot Topic events

OTA’s Hot Topic program series is in full swing with several events held over recent months. Hot Topic events provide an invaluable opportunity for OTs to engage with other OTs, OTA and other key stakeholders to unpack issues impacting

them, ask questions and expand their network. The events are intended to ignite conversation and provide information that is practical and relevant to OT clinical practice and/or business operating environments.

OTA recently held two online Hot Topic events, Building Optimal Energy and Resilience for OT Career Satisfaction, and Assistance Animals: The Scope of Occupational Therapy and NDIS Considerations.

CPD & Events – Coming soon

20 September

Hot Topic: Navigating ‘No’ – Managing those difficult conversations

9-10 October

Brisbane workshop: Intro to Seating & Wheelchair Prescription

28 October

Sydney workshop: Complex Home Modifications

27 September Webinar: Disability Inclusion & Accessibility in Healthcare by Get Skilled Access

9-10 October

Adelaide workshop: Sleep with Disability

16 & 23 November

Online workshop: An Occupational Understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder

OTA’s CPD program is an evidence-based, peer-reviewed program covering a wide range of practice areas, clinical expertise and career development stages.

27-28 September

Online workshop: Professional & Clinical Supervision

11 October &

29 November

Online workshop: How to Choose the Most Suitable Assessment and Outcome Measures in OT Practice

16-18 November

Sydney workshop: OT with Children: Principles of Assessment & Intervention

6 October Melbourne workshop: Empowering Mobility – Use of the Powered Mobility Device Assessment and Training Tool (PoMoDATT)

20-21 October

Adelaide workshop: Learn the CO-OP Approach

13-14 June

OT Exchange 2024, Perth Conference & Exhibition Centre

Scan the QR code to browse all upcoming CPD & events and to register. OTA members benefit from discounted tickets.

Environmental sustainability – What role does occupational therapy have to play?

Tenelle Hodson

In 2023, we have become accustomed to extreme weather events regularly occurring within Australia. From bush fires, to floods, to drought, Australians are no stranger to such events. During the Climate Change Panel at OTA’s 30th National Conference and Exhibition, we heard from Yessie Mosby, a Torres Strait Islander man, who brought to attention the impact rising sea levels are having on everyday life in the Torres Strait Islands. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC; 2021) has now established that human activity (or occupations) has directly contributed to the frequency and intensity of such events and experiences through climate change.

Occupational therapy and environmental sustainability

As occupational therapists we can proudly state that we are the “experts” in occupation. Our conceptual practice models clearly delineate how occupations are the bridge between humans and the environment. This relationship is bi-directional, with the environment impacting the occupations individuals can participate in and individuals impacting on the environment through occupations. Due to this knowledge, it is suggested that occupational therapists are well positioned to help people to adapt their occupations to reduce the impact on the environment. Additionally, we can also help people to adapt their occupations after they have been impacted by climate change events.

Adapting occupations

As humans, we need to change the way occupations are engaged in to ensure that future generations have the same occupational opportunities that we enjoy today. Occupational therapists can draw upon core skills such as occupational analyses to critically analyse how occupations are engaged in and how they could be completed in a way that reduces the use of fossil fuels. This can be completed on an individual or community level.

Starting at an individual level, we can look at our own personal lives to grow skills in identifying opportunities to live life in a more sustainable manner. If, and when

appropriate, we could transfer these skills when working with individuals. Potentially starting with asking whether environmental sustainability is something important in an individual’s life and whether they would like environmental sustainability integrated into therapeutic plans. When working with groups and communities, occupational analyses can again be used to identify ways for collective occupations to be completed in a more sustainable manner.

Considerations for practice

In our recent research (Seville et al., 2023), it was identified that occupational therapists practicing

Climate Change Panel – LR: Tenelle Hodson (moderator), Cate Sinclair and Yessie Mosby

in Australia do see the potential for occupational therapy to contribute to matters of environmental sustainability but are not entirely sure how to do so. This is understandable as it is an emerging area of practice. There are some important factors that need to be considered though. For instance, occupational therapists who participated in our survey research flagged that discussing climate change issues with people experiencing severe mental health conditions may not be appropriate. This is well justified, with climate anxiety being something that is occurring more and more, especially in younger generations.

Where from here?

The issue of climate change can seem overwhelming, and it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily for us, resources are starting to be developed for occupational therapists to use to integrate environmental sustainability into practice. OTA is developing a range of resources, guided by the OTs in Action – Climate Change Action Group. Occupational therapists are encouraged to look out for initiatives developed by the group as they are distributed and incorporate those that might be applicable to their own lives and practice. If occupational therapists are interested in joining the action group, they are welcome to contact OTA. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists also has a number of resources, with the Sustainability Matters: Guiding Principles for Sustainability in Occupational Therapy Practice, Education and Scholarship (2018) being a great place to start. Likewise, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, based in the United Kingdom, also provides a range of resources for occupational therapists.

About the author: Dr Tenelle Hodson is a lecturer in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at Griffith University. She has supervised two research student projects that have focused on the relationship between occupational therapy and environmental sustainability. Additionally, she has collaborated with colleagues in the USA on matters of environmental sustainability and how it relates to occupational therapy.

References can be viewed by scanning the QR code

As humans, we need to change the way occupations are engaged in to ensure that future generations have the same occupational opportunities that we enjoy today.

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WFOT Update

Associate Professor Emma George (1st Alternate Delegate)

Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems

Since 1950, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise and support the human rights of all people to live meaningful lives. At the 76th World Health Assembly, 194 member states adopted a resolution on the topic of ‘Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems’. A copy of the WFOT submission to the statement can be accessed at www.wfot.org/about/wfot-statements. The resolution is founded upon principles that promote accessibility of rehabilitation for all the population and through all stages of the life course; efforts to strengthen rehabilitation should include systems approaches; and that rehabilitation is an essential service. The resolution calls for a number of measures to strengthen global access to rehabilitation services, including:

• Raising awareness and building national commitment for rehabilitation and assistive technology, and strengthening planning for integration of rehabilitation into national health plans and policies at all stages of planning and delivery;

• Improving financing mechanisms for rehabilitation services and including rehabilitation in packages of essential care;

• Expanding rehabilitation to all levels of health, from primary to tertiary, and ensuring the availability and affordability of quality and timely rehabilitation services;

• Ensuring integrated and coordinated provision of high-quality, affordable, accessible, gender-sensitive, appropriate and evidence-based interventions for rehabilitation along the continuum of care and the promotion inclusive, barrier-free environments;

• Developing strong multidisciplinary rehabilitation skills related to physical, mental, social and vocational functioning;

• Enhancing health information systems to collect information relevant to rehabilitation;

• Promoting high-quality rehabilitation research, including health policy and systems research;

• Ensuring timely integration of rehabilitation into emergency preparedness and response;

• Developing available, affordable and usable assistive technology and support for implementation research to maximise impact and cost-effectiveness.

The WFOT is taking action on a number of measures of the rehabilitation resolution. These activities include:

• Participation on the primary care, workforce and emergency preparedness workstreams of the World Rehabilitation Alliance to advocate for the aims of the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative

• Participation on a number of WHOled projects outlined in our WHO Collaboration Plan, including the

National Workforce Accounts Project, Packages of Rehabilitation Interventions Initiative, Training in Assistive Products, the Wheelchair Service Standards, Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, and Family of International Classifications

• Development of partnerships with other nongovernmental organisations to advocate for rehabilitation as part of universal health coverage. This will include the publication of advocacy tools and information to support engagement at local and regional levels.

World Occupational Therapy Day

On 27 October, World Occupational Therapy Day will celebrate the theme ‘Unity through Community’. The theme promotes our role in working together with others to facilitate participation and community interaction. As a profession, we collaborate with many groups and communities for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. WFOT is partnering with Boston University to support Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service (OTGDS), coinciding with World Occupational Therapy Day. Occupational therapists and students can participate by volunteering community service. Service is not always about direct action; it can also include mentoring, education, environmental action, health promotion, fundraising, companionship, advocating for human rights, and more. Details about participation can be found online: www.bu.edu/promotingot/

WFOT Congress

The WFOT is excited to announce the 19th WFOT Congress 2026 will be in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information, visit www. wfot.org/congress and join the official WFOT Congress Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/wfotcongress

Occupational therapists representing different organisations at the WHO 3rd Global Rehabilitation Meeting

Evidenced-based practice and the lived experience

Angus Buchanan, Associate Editor, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2021) highlighted major concerns regarding the care of our elderly citizens, many which were emphasised in the 2019 submission made to the Commission by Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA, 2019). In 2022, the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (AOTJ) published an article by Calderone et al. titled Occupational Therapy in Australian Residential Aged Aare Facilities: A systematic mapping review. The study concluded “This review identified that there is a dearth of Australian occupational therapy literature. This creates challenges for occupational therapists seeking evidence to guide their practice to optimise resident health and well-being and for national associations seeking to lobby for the profession. Consequently, there is a crucial need to develop the evidence base to support the profession within this practice setting and, ultimately, residents.” (p. 625)

As occupational therapists we strive to deliver quality services that are evidence based, contemporary and will have the greatest impact on our client’s wellbeing. There is a rapidly increasing expectation of the visibility of evidence within our practice, yet it would appear in areas such as aged care, research evidence may not be available.

We have been taught to understand and apply the evidence-based framework (Bennett and Bennet 2000) to our work as it is fundamentally good practice to consider the efficacy and veracity all aspects of what we do and why we do it. I strongly believe most practitioners aim to engage in evidence-based practice that supports excellent client outcomes. I recently attended the OTA National Conference in Cairns with 1,100+ other occupational therapists, where many of our colleagues presented their research connected to various levels of research evidence to

support their interventions. One important part of the National Conference was the presence and voice of consumers. Consumer voice and experience is an important component of evidence-based practice that must be heard and integrated into our work.

In Cairns we heard directly from consumers and their lived experience insights were powerful. While hearing directly from our clients is critical, this may not be always possible and consumer voice for many of our most vulnerable clients is vested in guardians and advocates. During one of the presentations in Cairns, I had a realisation that while many people in the room are occupational therapists, they are also likely a voice for consumers of services, as is the case for me.

My wife and I are the co-guardians, power of attorney, and advocates for our 94-year-old aunt who lives with dementia and resides in an aged care facility. It is a privilege and responsibility that someone, when they are capable, places their complete trust in you to make decisions when they can’t. We have made many big and small decisions and have needed to be the consumer voice, as my aunt is now unable to speak for herself or often not afforded the respect and time to do so. As I am writing this, we are in the process of finding a new care facility so my aunt can experience a significantly improved quality of life. For the last 18 months, my wife and I have watched my aunt experience services that are inadequate to meet her needs, do not support her personhood and at times her human rights, do not reflect contemporary evidence-based practice, and do always not reflect aged care standards.

We are and need to be the consumer voice for my aunt. My wife, who is a nurse, and I have taken a respectful, evidenced-based approach to try and work with the facility, including allied health practitioners, to

improve outcomes for my aunt – sadly with little tangible impact. At times we have felt disrespected, ignored, been made to feel like we are being unreasonable and demanding, and above all wrong about the person we know a lot better than the very transitory staff. As an occupational therapist, I know things can and should be better and there should be compelling evidence to support this.

I am deeply grateful to be in a profession that believes in the value of evidence. I am; however, challenged in my role as a substitute consumer voice about not being heard, and to see my profession within the system delivering substandard care to some of our most vulnerable community members. I would like to hope that I am a sample of one but sadly do not believe this to be the case. As a nation we are struggling with the provision of quality aged care supports and continue to be challenged by the outcomes from the Royal Commission. As occupational therapists we should have significant evidence to support and inform quality practice, including our personcentred approaches, which if authentic must include the consumer voice. Some people reading this may consider that there is an inherent conflict between being, at the same time, an occupational therapist and consumer in the same context. Ultimately, it is passion that drives change for the better. Maybe it is time for the legitimate emergence of the occupational therapy practitioner and consumer (a consumer practitioner) who speaks with authority of their lived experience, advocates for practices that promote human rights and sit in the space of published evidence-based practice.

References can be viewed by scanning the QR code

Breaking the silence: Racism and anti-racism in occupational therapy

In everyday occupational therapy practices, where passion and expertise intersect, a silent adversary lurks, compromising the foundations of our professional practice: racism

Occupational therapy originated in Western Europe and North America and as a result, has long held Westernised views such as independence and capitalism at its core (Mahoney & Kiraly-Alvarez, 2019). As occupational therapy practices and education programs have expanded into non-Western locations, the dominant Western cultural narrative has prevailed.

When we persist in valuing Westernised ideals in occupational therapy without questioning them, we risk exacerbating power imbalances within occupational therapy practice that diminish non-western values and occupations. We also risk alienating occupational therapists who themselves do not align with Westernised values and occupations. The result may be occupational therapy services that are not able to meet the needs of all communities in an equitable way.

In 21st century Australia, we have struggled to come to terms with our colonial past. Racism has been embedded in policies and practices for 200 years and has sought to

exclude non-white settlers and First Nations Peoples. Australia has historically imposed an expectation of ‘assimilation’ into white Anglo culture, combined with a denial of the racism that non-white communities have endured (Elias et al., 2021). It is no surprise that the occupational therapy profession in Australia has also been impacted by this colonial past and the issues of racism acknowledgement and denial of privilege.

But this is not what we set out to achieve as a collective profession. Occupational therapy is a profession that has inclusion and participation at its core. We have long advocated for the inclusion of people and communities who have traditionally been excluded. As a profession, there have been many initiatives that have worked towards anti-racism, for example, cultural responsiveness is written into the Occupational Therapy Competency Standards (AHPRA, 2018).

Despite this, occupational therapists work within health and community institutions where racism is pervasive and at times, invisible. Institutional racism occurs when organisations fail to reflect, question and challenge historical ways of delivering health services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities (Elias & Paradies, 2021). The result is health

institutions that preference the needs and rights of one group of service users over others, exacerbating health inequities for example between CALD and non-CALD people in Australia (Khatri & Assefa, 2022).

Racism has been estimated to cost the Australian economy $37.9 billion per year, just over 3% of Australia’s overall GDP (Elias & Paradies, 2016). These costs were determined by measuring the negative health outcomes associated with experiences of racial discrimination, which impact individuals, families, communities and government institutions.

Occupational therapists are at the forefront of providing critical health services to diverse communities. Recent systematic reviews have evidenced occupational therapy as an effective therapy, resulting in lower health costs and improved outcomes for people in hospitals (Lockwood & Porter, 2022) and in the community (Rahja et al., 2018).

However, the profession in Australia is made up of predominantly middle-class white women, who in the course of delivering high quality health care may be blinded to the institutional racism pervading the policies and practices of the health systems they work within. The first author of this article also identifies as a middle-class

Dr Caroline Mills and Professor Kevin Dunn, Western Sydney University

white woman and has experienced lifelong unearned privileges as a result of this.

A structural perception of racism has been found to be associated with “increased support for policy initiatives designed to combat the effects of societal racial inequity” (Rucker and Richeson, 2021, 19, 22). In other words, if people understand the foundational and structural nature of racism, they are more likely to support anti-racism remedy. This is why confronting the denial of racism and privilege is so important. Confronting and acknowledging this privilege can be uncomfortable. Lerner and Kim (2022) have suggested that confronting the reality of one’s own privilege and the associated discomfort, is the first important step on the road to anti-racism. Some scholars argue that if people are too uncomfortable by confronting their own privilege, they disengage from antiracism initiatives (Smith et al., 2022), which is counterproductive. In keeping with a tried and tested mantra in occupational therapy, perhaps we need to seek the ‘just right challenge’ in facilitating our predominantly white profession to acknowledge their own racial privilege and raise awareness in their workplaces in a way that challenges enough to inspire change, without inciting defensiveness. So, what can we do to move towards anti-racism in our everyday lives?

1. Practice reflexivity. This is a process of reflecting on your own power and privilege and how this impacts your practice. Nixon (2019) presents privilege and oppression as two sides of the same coin. With privilege on the top and oppression on the bottom. Whether you are at the ‘top’ of the coin (privilege) or

the ‘bottom’ of the coin (oppression), you did nothing to earn your place there. For those at the top, take the time to reflect on how this impacts your interactions with occupational therapy clients. Anti-racism is not just about learning, it is also about unlearning some of the things we have come to know and accept or things we were blind to that have exacerbated inequities. Sterman and Njelesani (2021) have urged occupational therapists to ask themselves, what is the dominant cultural narrative that is reflected in your occupational therapy practice and in the policies and systems which govern your practice? Do racist narratives infiltrate your workplace, for example a culture of blaming or shaming particular groups, or expectations of compliance? Is there a denial of the existence of racism in your workplace?

2. Challenge biases. Challenge the biases present in theoretical models of occupational therapy that are prominent in occupational therapy practice and education. Categories of self-care, productivity and leisure reflect predominantly white and middleclass values (Mahoney & Kiraly, 2019). Whose perspectives are represented when deciding which occupations and activities are most meaningful?

3. Engage in cultural humility. This is a process of recognising that cultural differences may manifest through interactions between therapists and their culturally diverse clients. When we meet someone in a therapeutic relationship, we do not always know everything, but

we can be open to listening and learning what their meaningful occupations are (Lerner & Kim, 2022). There may be a discomfort in not having the answers to give your client. Beagan (2015) described that cultural humility is not about having the right answer, but rather, asking the right questions (Beagan, 2015).

4. Recognise intersectionality. Recognise the multifaceted and intersecting identities of the people we support (Buchanan & Wicklund, 2020). Do not reduce a person to only their cultural diversity in practice. Recognise the impact of intersectional disadvantage where a person may be a member of multiple groups that experience disadvantage, exacerbating the inequities in accessing health care for example, people with disabilities or members of LGBTIQ+ communities.

5. Engage in bystander anti-racism. Occupational therapists may witness racism in their daily practice. This could be from colleagues, clients or carers and they may not know how to respond appropriately and safely. Bystander anti-racism involves calling out racism when you witness it in the moment.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.

Breaking the silence: Racism and anti-racism in occupational therapy

Continued from previous page

This anti-racism initiative shifts the focus of responding to racism away from victims and towards the community at large. Western Sydney University in NSW leads the Challenging Racism Project, which has developed tools to support the practice of bystander anti-racism. It is a low-cost, untapped resource that can have broad impacts by changing norms in a given setting (Czopp et al. 2006; Nelson et al. 2011). When bystanders witness racism, they can ask: Is this racist? When is it safe to intervene? What tools do I have? Scan the QR code (right, top) to find out more.

As we move forward as a successful profession, let us reflect and examine the systems we work within and how we can challenge biases and move toward equity.

Resources:

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ challengingracism/challenging_racism_project https://alltogethernow.org.au/ racism/a-solution-to-racism/ https://racismnoway.com.au/

References can be viewed by scanning the QR code

Mental Health Foundations by OTA

We’re pleased to share Mental Health Foundations by OTA , our new mental health eLearning modules. The modules have been developed by OTs for OTs to support the development of foundational skills in mental health practice.

Developed in response to feedback from members, OTA partnered with Deakin University to develop Mental Health Foundations. It has been designed to support development of the capabilities required for mental health endorsement.

The module team used multiple approaches to inform the development of the eLearning, including interviews with key stakeholders, co-production with a First Nations health network, development of case studies and literature reviews of the latest evidence in the field. All content is aligned to OTA’s Mental Health Capability Framework and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework. The team also made full use of the learning platform’s multimedia features to ensure the modules are engaging and implemented the principles of Universal Design for Learning.

These modules provide an opportunity for learners to deepen their knowledge and skills from a uniquely occupational perspective. All content is designed to reflect the unique expertise and contribution of the profession and is readily transferable into daily occupational therapy practice.

Module: Mental Health Assessment and Planning

All occupational therapists require the ability to use a range of different assessment tools and to use these as a foundation for the development of appropriate clinical formulation, diagnoses and planning of supports and therapeutic interventions.

What does the module cover?

• Functional Capacity Assessments (including Occupational Formulation)

• Mental State Examination and Risk Assessment

• Personal Safety Planning

• Environmental Assessments

• NDIS Assessment and Reporting

• Physical Health Assessment and Intervention

Module: Mental Health Systems, Diagnoses and Co-occurring Factors

This module will provide you with new knowledge in mental health systems, diagnoses and co-occurring factors from a uniquely occupational therapy perspective.

What does the module cover?

• Mental health frameworks, systems and relevant mental health legislation

• Common mental health diagnoses and treatment

• Occupational therapy models of practice and recovery-oriented practice

• Trauma-informed practice

• Child and Adolescent Developmental Stages and Attachment theory

• Substance use disorders, gambling, and other addictions

• Culturally aware practice

• LGBTIQA+ aware practice

Who are the modules designed for?

The modules are suitable for OTs who are early in their career in mental health practice, as well as experienced clinicians wanting to refresh and build their knowledge.

Accessing the modules

Mental Health Foundations by OTA is self-directed eLearning delivered online, through an interactive platform with downloadable resources. Once you purchase a module, you’ll have six months to complete it at your own pace.

Scan the QR codes to find out more and to register. OTA members can register for the modules at a special reduced rate.

Mental Health Assessment and Planning

Mental Health Systems, Mental Health Diagnoses and Co-occurring Factors

OTA’s statement on the Voice Referendum for Constitutional change

As a diverse and dedicated community of occupational therapists, we stand united in our passion for making a positive impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities across this great continent we call home.

Occupational Therapy Australia is a community built on shared values, compassion, and a deep commitment to promoting inclusion and occupational participation in society. Our journey is one of continuous learning, and we are steadfast in our dedication to fostering deep mutual respect and understanding of the diverse cultures that enrich our nation.

As we tread the path towards a just and equitable future, we embrace the responsibility to strengthen our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities, and peak bodies, recognising the importance of reconciliation in our actions and policies.

Together, we champion the principles of self-determination, occupational justice, and participatory democracy. We are proud to stand in solidarity with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, accepting the invitation offered through the Uluru Statement from the Heart and supporting the Voice Referendum for Constitutional change.

With your unwavering support and dedication, we look forward to shaping a brighter future for occupational therapy in Australia, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

OTA’s statement: Occupational Therapy Australia supports the Voice Referendum for Constitutional change.

Occupational Therapy Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands, and waterways where we conduct our business, where we meet and connect and where we live and work across this continent now also known as Australia. We pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present and emerging, for they are the custodians of knowledges, the traditions, the culture and generational foresight of our nations. We acknowledge that these lands have been inhabited by original custodians who have existed since time immemorial and continue to live in spiritual and sacred relationships with Country.

As occupational therapists living and practicing on unceded lands we have obligations. These include both moral and ethical obligations to act in ways consistent with our deeply held professional concern with the rights of all persons to inclusion and occupational participation in society. Accordingly, concerns with self-determination and the advancement of occupational justice – as the broader societal focus of occupational therapy – underpins our efforts in aligning in solidarity with Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Island peoples in achieving constitutional change through the Voice. Our standpoint is that the Voice represents the most powerful vehicle for the realisation of participatory democracy in Australia to date.

Occupational Therapy Australia’s journey is one of continuous learning and deeper connectedness to culture and Country. Our vision is to develop deep mutual respect and strengthened relationships between our Board, staff and members and First Peoples ways of knowing and doing so that we can contribute to a shared and reconciled journey towards a just and equitable future. OTA recognises the importance of intentionally establishing sovereign relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities and peak bodies and complements our ongoing commitment to reconciliation through our Reconciliation Action Plans.

Occupational Therapy Australia stands with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members, stakeholders and allies, and accepts the invitation offered through the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We support the yes vote for Constitutional change to establish a First Nations Voice.

Professor Carol McKinstry President, Occupational Therapy Australia

‘Gaka Yapameyepuka’ (‘Come Together’) –Painted by Luke and Siena Tieri from Bayadherra

We’re pleased to unveil our Reconciliation Action Plan artwork as we successfully conclude our Reflect RAP journey and embark on the next phase of our Journey of Understanding. We have commissioned the painting from Yorta Yorta siblings Luke and Siena Tieri from Bayadherra.

The artwork depicts the collaboration and connection between OTA and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, encouraging cultural awareness and engagement to strengthen relationships and contribute to reconciliation.

The two large yarning circles depict OTA and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The four smaller yarning circles depict the stages of reconciliation and are connected by learning pathways. The large yarning circles are connected by two solid purple lines and two dashed yellow lines. The purple lines represent the completion of the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and the yellow lines represent the process of working towards the Innovate, Stretch and Elevate RAPs. This reconciliation journey is ongoing and strengthens cultural connections between OTA and traditional custodians.

The circular artwork design symbolises the impact and outreach of reconciliation within OTA across Country, and the holistic approach to patient healthcare and wellbeing. All six circles acknowledge the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, biological and social aspects of client wellbeing and also depict the six OTA values. The smaller circles around the outside of the artwork represent waterholes as a meeting place. This depicts OTA support networks and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Country contributing to access, equality and inclusion. These waterholes surround the central RAP process reflecting OTA’s commitment to reconciliation.

‘Gaka Yapameyepuka’ (‘Come Together’) – Painted by Luke and Siena Tieri from Bayadherra

30th National Conference and Exhibition wrap-up

OTA was excited to welcome 1,150 delegates to Cairns Convention Centre for our 30th National Conference & Exhibition (OTAUS2023) on 21 – 23 June. The conference represents the pinnacle of Australian OT excellence, showcasing opportunities, innovations and strategies informed through research and practice that can shape future practices, policies and educational approaches to facilitate the growth of occupational wellbeing worldwide.

Education Day

The week started on Tuesday 20 June with Education Day, with academics and educators gathering to discuss the opportunities and challenges of OT education in Australia and hear from an inspiring range of presenters.

Student and Early Career Networking Drinks

On Tuesday evening, we hosted the Student & Early Career Networking Drinks, which was a fantastic opportunity for students and new graduates to network with other young professionals and key

members attending the conference as they get started in their OT careers.

OTAUS2023 Day 1 (Wednesday)

OTAUS2023 took place in Gimuy/Cairns, the homelands of the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji and Yirriganydji peoples. The Minjil team opened OTAUS2023 with a Welcome to Country before presenting MC Caleb Rixon with the gift of welcome.

Caleb shared his journey with OT after surviving a major stroke at age 24 and got delegates excited for the day ahead.

CEO Samantha Hunter and President Professor Carol McKinstry welcomed delegates and shared an update on the profession and the association. Sam and Carol spoke about OTA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, our current Workforce Development Project and the importance of protecting and promoting the OT profession.

They also unveiled our commissioned Reconciliation Action Plan artwork, titled Gaka Yapameyepuka (Come Together), which was created by Yorta Yorta brother and sister

Luke and Siena Tieri. Turn to page 19 to learn more about the story behind the artwork.

Conference Convenor Professor Ted Brown spoke next, with an important reminder that you never stop learning new things on your OT journey, and adaptability and creativity are a key part of the profession.

Opening keynote speaker Turia Pitt addressed an audience to share her inspiring story and shine a light on the resourceful and innovative roles occupational therapists play in healthcare.

Welcome to Country from the Minjil team Education Day

Caleb Rixon

Following the opening session, a variety of concurrent sessions took place throughout the day on topics including mental health, stroke rehabilitation, paediatrics, supporting people with neurological conditions, and many more.

Around 200 ePosters on a wide range of topics were displayed at the conference, with many of them also presented as spotlight oral presentations. On Wednesday and Thursday, exhibitors hosted educational presentations to share new product developments and services and techniques for client assessments.

In the afternoon, Caleb Rixon facilitated the panel Breaking Boundaries: Lived Experience Stories Igniting the Debate. This inspiring and thought-provoking panel featured speakers Peter Tully, Melanie Heyworth, Saran Chamberlain and Thomas Banks.

A busy day was capped off with opportunity to network, meet new people and connect with friends and colleagues at the Welcome Reception at Hemingway’s Brewery overlooking the water.

OTAUS2023 Day 2 (Thursday)

MC Caleb Rixon launched the day with the opening plenary session, sharing more of his rehabilitation journey and the role OT played in it.

Professor Leeanne Carey presented her Sylvia Docker Lectureship keynote speech, ‘Ignite your passion, and connect, to make a difference’. Leeanne encouraged OTs to create their own opportunities, break out of old ways of thinking, and link with those who share your passion.

Turia Pitt

Professor Ted Brown

Professor Leeanne Carey

CEO Samantha Hunter

30th National Conference and Exhibition wrap-up

Continued from previous page

Next, President Carol McKinstry presented the association awards for the Sylvia Docker Lectureship, Fellows of the Research Academy and Research Awards. Check out page 28 for details of the recipients.

Following the opening session, a variety of concurrent sessions took place throughout the day on topics including assistive technology, supporting the OT workforce, Indigenous curriculum, disability & sexuality, and many more.

Early career researchers gained valuable insights from experienced academics at our Early Career Researcher/ Academic Speed Q&A event, rotating tables every seven minutes to talk career paths and academic life.

On Thursday evening, Gala Dinner attendees enjoyed a three-course dinner on the City Terrace. It was a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, meet new peers and hit the dance floor!

OTAUS2023 Day 3 (Friday)

It was a privilege to hear from our final keynote speaker, Professor Faye McMillan AM, a Wiradjuri yinaa (woman) and strong advocate for improving Indigenous healthcare outcomes across professions. Faye shared her presentation ‘Through Whose Lens…? When our ship needs to leave the safe harbour’.

Erin Garner (General Manager, Occupational Therapy) and Alex Eather and Alissa Fotiades (General Managers, Government

& Stakeholder Relations) shared an update on OTA’s new directions in advocacy and professional practice. They spoke about OTA’s recent key achievements including our Mental Health Strategy, Member Forum with NDIA CEO and

144

101

ePOSTER DISPLAYS

83 EXTENDED ORAL PRESENTATIONS ORAL PRESENTATIONS 4 4 CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER OCCUPATION STATIONS

91 1

ePOSTER SPOTLIGHTS

9 WORKSHOPS

592 ABSTRACTS RECEIVED

Above left – Mary Evans presenting ‘Exploring rapport building techniques used by occupational therapists in mental health settings’ on the City Terrace during the concurrent sessions

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PANEL

Professor Faye McMillan

advocacy wins. They also provided an update on current and upcoming projects, such as our Workforce Development Project.

Following the opening session, a variety of concurrent sessions took place throughout the day on topics including autism, caring for older people, regional and remote practice, and more.

Delissa Walker Ngadijina, a First Nations master weaver based in Cairns, led a workshop on the techniques to create a traditional dilly bag. The workshop was a great opportunity to learn a new skill while connecting with other OTs.

Day 3 closed with the presentation of conference awards and prize winners, closing remarks, and a thought-provoking panel discussion on Climate Change and the Role of OT. The discussion was facilitated by Tenelle Hodson, with speakers Cait Sinclar and Yessie Mosby. Read more from Tenelle on the role of OT in environmental sustainability on page 10.

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L-R: Professor Carol McKinstry, Priscilla Ennals and Professor Ted Brown

30th National Conference and Exhibition wrap-up

Continued from previous page

OTA’s Booth

Thank you to everyone who stopped by OTA’s booth during the conference. It was fantastic to meet so many passionate OTs and to share with you the opportunities and projects ahead for OTA and our members. Thank you also to those who took the time to have a conversation with Marcus and Kate near booth 109. Your thoughts and feedback are greatly appreciated and will play an important part in designing the future of OTA together.

Thank you!

Thank you to all our presenters who shared fantastic insights and research, ensuring the National Conference continues to be the pinnacle of Australian OT excellence. Thank you to all the delegates for joining us to make OTAUS2023 a huge success.

We’d like to thank our incredible National Conference & Exhibition Committees. Thanks to the hard work and preparation

of our Organising and Scientific Program Committees, we were able to deliver a fantastic event showcasing insights, innovations and opportunities for the profession of occupational therapy.

Thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors. Your partnership enables us to develop and promote programs and services for OTs and supports us in hosting a successful and innovative conference.

SAVE THE DATE OTAUS2025

OTA is excited to share that OTAUS2025 will be held from 25 – 27 June 2025. Mark your calendars – we’re looking forward to welcoming you!

Scientific Committee

Organising Committee

OTA team

New Fellows inducted into the OTA Research Academy

The Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy was established to recognise scholars and enhance research capacity building in the profession. Admission as a Fellow is a prestigious honour recognising research and scholarship of the individual to be complex, context bound, social phenomena, which benefits the profession. The award of Fellow acknowledges significant contributions to the development of the body of knowledge for the profession.

At our 30th National Conference & Exhibition (OTAUS2023) in June, we welcomed four new Fellows to the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy.

Congratulations to Kate Laver, Rachael McDonald, Stacey George and Jacki Liddle. The Fellows were inducted by OTA President Professor Carol McKinstry.

Kate Laver

Professor Laver’s research develops, tests and implements interventions that aim to support older people to remain healthy, happy, and in their own homes for longer. She works in partnership with older

people to ensure age-friendly housing and implementing new technologies, such as telehealth, which promote good health and social connection and reduce the need for hospitalisation. Her impressive career includes MRFF, NHMRC and ARC funding; presentation at international conferences; design of new tools for patients; awards; training over 200 occupational therapists in implementation of COPE; and coordinating the development of the first clinical practice guidelines for dementia endorsed by the NHMRC in Australia.

2023 Sylvia Docker Lectureship

Congratulations to Professor Leeanne Carey, recipient of the 2023 Sylvia Docker Lectureship award. Leeanne delivered her lecture, Ignite Your Passion, and Connect, to Make a Difference, at OTAUS2023.

Leeanne is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University and Founding Head of the neurorehabilitation and recovery research laboratory, Florey Institute. Her stroke research program focuses on stroke recovery, brain function and plasticity, restorative rehabilitation

and knowledge translation. She has led several major cohort, intervention, and implementation clinical trials.

Professor Carey has developed a successful, neuroscience-based approach to help survivors of stroke regain a sense of touch, enabling them to use their hands more effectively to engage in daily activities. She is a Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy and the American Academy of Occupational Therapy.

Rachael McDonald

Professor McDonald is a clinical, research and teaching occupational therapist with an interest in enabling people with lifelong disabilities to participate in life situations. She is Director of the MedTechVic Hub, a multidisciplinary research hub creating innovative enabling technology, products and services to enhance lives for people with disability and their supporters. Professor McDonald’s research played a key role in establishing the NDIS, including involvement in early consultation meetings for OTA. She

Kate Laver

Rachael McDonald

has consistently demonstrated exceptional research outputs, making an enduring impact on the profession. Her sustained efforts over more than 30 years have yielded impressive results, inspired others and driven meaningful change in our field.

Jacki Liddle

Associate Professor Liddle is an OT and researcher with a focus on quality of life and participation, working with older people, people with neurological conditions, people living with dementia, and families. She is interested in researching areas of community mobility and participation, life transitions, and technology co-design. She began her research by wanting to improve outcomes for people who struggled with stopping driving, leading to development of driving cessation intervention and program of research, which has been adopted internationally. She researches with interdisciplinary teams including lived experience experts, clinicians, health, and technology researchers at the University of Queensland and The Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Stacey George

Professor George is one of the leading occupational therapy clinical researchers nationally. Her research expertise involves the development and translation of

evidence, leading to practical changes to improve participation for people with neurological conditions. Her PhD research led to development and validation of the Adelaide Driving Self-Efficacy Scale, which has been incorporated as an outcome measure in international research projects. Her work has been cited in international stroke guidelines and informed the National Assessing Fitness to Drive medical standards publication by Austroads and NDIS policies on funding vehicle modifications. Professor George has a reputation for authentic engagement for the integration of occupational therapy clinical services and research.

The new Fellows join the following Fellows who have been inducted since the inaugural round in 2017:

• Reinie Cordier

• Pamela Meredith

• Iona Novak

• Mandy Stanley

• Sally Bennett

• Helen Bourke-Taylor

• Jodie Copley

• Louise Gustafsson

• Christine Imms

• Karen Liu

• Ted Brown

• Anita C. Bundy

• Leeanne M. Carey

• Lindy Clemson

• Anne Cusick

• Jennifer Fleming

• Tammy Hoffman

• Natasha A. Lannin

• Lynette Mackenzie

• Annie McCluskey

• Sylvia Rogers AM

• Jenny Strong

• Carolyn Unsworth

• Gail E. Whiteford

• Jenny Ziviani

Stacey George

Jacki Liddle

2023 Research Awards recipients

OTA’s Research Awards acknowledge a member’s contribution towards the advancement of the research base of occupational therapy in four categories: Early Career Researcher, Mid-Career Researcher, Clinical Researcher and Research Team. We were pleased to announce the 2023 Research Awards recipients at OTAUS2023. Congratulations to Jessica Hill, KittyRose Foley, Carolyn Dun, and Lynette Mackenzie along with the University of Sydney occupational therapy, general practice and primary care research team.

Mid-Career Researcher: Kitty-Rose Foley

Dr Kitty-Rose Foley is a senior lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University. She completed a PhD at the Telethon Kids Institute in 2014, investigating post-school adult life for people with Down syndrome. A postdoctoral research fellowship at UNSW led to development of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood. At SCU, Dr Foley is committed to equipping the next generation of OTs with knowledge and enthusiasm about clinical practice and research, as well as continuing her research program focusing on improving health, participation and wellbeing of autistic adults and people with other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Clinical Researcher: Carolyn Dun

Carolyn Dun is the Chief Occupational Therapist and Drive Safe Program Lead at Northern Area Mental Health Service. She is a passionate clinical researcher eager to grow the evidence in group work, sensory modulation interventions, and safe driving to benefit consumers and their supporters. She has led research on driving in mental health to build understanding of how many consumers are driving and the reasons for referral, and outcomes of occupational therapy driver assessments. Carolyn has explored experiences of driver assessors within a public mental health service, clinician awareness of consumer’s driving status, and their confidence in providing education and assessing fitness to drive.

Early Career Researcher: Jessica Hill

Dr Hill is a paediatric OT and lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of Queensland. Following graduation in 2013, she gained additional training in animal assisted therapy in 2015, leading to her completing a PhD at the University of Queensland in 2021 where she researched the efficacy of canine-assisted occupational therapy with autistic children. Since completion of her PhD, Dr Hill has continued her research into the impact of humananimal interaction to human and animal health and wellbeing, with her work receiving national and international recognition.

Research Team: Professor Lynette Mackenzie and the University of Sydney occupational therapy, general practice and primary care research team

Professor Mackenzie leads research teams exploring allied health and OT clinical practice. Her goal is to extend and transform research in ageing, falls prevention, the long-term effects of cancer treatment, return to work following disability, and developing new models of service delivery in primary care by health professionals.

The OTs on this research team include Emeritus Professor Lindy Clemson, Associate Professor Margaret McGrath, Dr Meryl Lovarini, Dr Sanet duToit, Dr Muhammad Romli (Malaysia), Dr Anne McIntyre (UK),

Dr Mackenzi Pergolotti (US), Lei Wang (China), Joanne Lewis, Kelsey Marshall, Jodie Schroder, Michelle Singh, Cresta Markovic, Nicole Buckland, Husna Anuddin (Malaysia), Ann-Marie Beavis, Dianne Irving, Thomas Price, and Claire O’Connor.

2023 OTA Research Foundation Grant

The OTA Research Foundation (OTARF) Grant aims to stimulate new research knowledge and support the career development and capacity of researchers, particularly emerging researchers. Congratulations to Catherine (Cate) Hilly, recipient of the 2023 OTARF Grant.

Cate is a PhD candidate at the Australian Catholic University, investigating the feasibility of the Cognitive

Orientation to daily Occupational Performance Approach (CO-OP) to improve occupational performance and participation for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and motor coordination difficulties, with Professor Elspeth Froude, Professor Peter Wilson, and Dr Barbara Lucas. Cate plans to dedicate her OTARF grant funding towards her doctoral research, and presentation of her findings at the next OTAUS conference.

2023 OT School of Victoria Clinical Award

The Occupational Therapy Trust Fund was established in 1974 and its trustees handed over mandate of the fund to OTA. The OT School of Victoria Grant is a national clinical award from this Trust, which aims to promote advancement in clinical practice by supporting OTA members to engage in clinical based projects or studies. Congratulations to Dr Tamara Tse, recipient of the 2023 award, who will fund her project ‘Measuring occupational therapy practice in acute and sub-acute inpatient healthcare settings’.

Dr Tse has a wealth of experience as an OT, having worked across acute care, sub-acute care, community rehabilitation, community health, management, academia and research areas. She is currently the Discipline Lead of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University. Her research revolves around understanding, measuring, and enhancing individuals’ engagement in meaningful activities. Through her valuable industry partnerships, Dr Tse actively collaborates on projects aimed at identifying, implementing and evaluating occupational therapy outcome measures.

2023 Elspeth Pearson Award

The Elspeth Pearson Award enables recipients to advance their clinical skills and expertise through professional development opportunities. This award has been made possible through the generosity of Elspeth Pearson’s family and the Elspeth Pearson Estate. It is awarded to recently qualified occupational therapists (qualified for up to three years) and final year occupational therapy students to broaden their education and experience within the profession.

Congratulations to 2023 winners Emiliana Guerra, Betty Lin and Ferris Wong.

Emiliana Guerra

Emiliana has been working in the public mental health sector, primarily in a community-based residential psychosocial rehabilitation setting. Emiliana plans to use the award funds to advance her clinical skills and expertise in mental health through a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health at La Trobe University.

Betty Lin

Betty has been working mostly in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation during her first two years of practice. Betty plans to use the award funds to attend a threeday Upper Limb Retraining workshop in New Zealand later this year.

Ferris Wong

Ferris has been working in paediatrics, addressing the unique needs of children with disabilities and developmental challenges. Ferris plans to use the award funds for courses related to Ayres Sensory Integration, which he believes will be beneficial to the population he is working with.

Where are all the male occupational therapists?

Dave Jereb, Shane McSweeney and Ted Brown

It is in our genetic makeup as occupational therapists to appreciate that diversity is everywhere. It is within the populations we live in and communities we work with. However, when we stop and think about diversity, does the occupational therapy workforce reflect our society? Is there adequate representation of the diverse cultures, life experiences, neurodiversity, sexuality and gender of our population?

In a perfect world our profession would be more representative of our population. Could better representation (in the occupational therapy discipline) influence improved outcomes and opportunities for our clients and families? One element currently lacking (acknowledging there are many other underrepresented groups in

occupational therapy) is the small number of men. Why do we have a history of low male participation in the occupational therapy workforce; what are the solutions to recruiting more men into the profession, and what could be the benefits if successful?

The gender landscape

Over the years we have seen a steady growth of the number of occupational therapists working in Australia, the profession now sits as one of the fastest growing in allied health. In 2012 there were 14,255 individuals, compared to March 2023, 29,473 individuals. Of interest is the male participation respectively of 1,165 (8.2%) to 3,060 (10.4%) (Occupational Therapy Board, 2023). A small increase, but if this was the growth of your pay over the last decade

you would find it a rather disappointing result. Contrast these numbers to the 2021 Australian Census data, which reveals that males constitute 49.3% of the population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022).

Furthermore, when considering the consumer population in paediatrics for example, the discrepancy becomes even more pronounced. In an average recent week at one of the author’s private paediatric clinics, 98 of 130 children receiving occupational therapy identified as male, accounting for approximately 75% of the client population.

So where are all the men? Limited research studies are available to answer this question, but we can acknowledge

that a gender gap exists in the occupational therapy profession globally. This could be attributed to societal norms, stereotypes, career progression opportunities, working conditions, perceived remuneration levels, and limited awareness of the profession among males, along with traditional gender roles and biases.

The importance of gender diversity

If we agree that supporting our clients and their families to feel comfortable with their therapist is important, then having a variety of options to support their care can only be beneficial to outcomes. Acknowledging that gender diversity (including people of non-binary genders) plays an important role in this process can happen by ensuring clients and their families have the choice (if desired) to work with therapists who share their gender identity. This choice allows for personalised and culturally responsive care, ideally leading to improved rapport, trust, participation and therapy outcomes. Additionally, a diverse occupational therapy workforce challenges traditional stereotypes and creates a more inclusive and representative healthcare environment.

Moving forward

Given the significant benefits diversity can bring to clients, it is crucial to explore strategies for attracting, retaining, and supporting male occupational therapists. By fostering a more gender-balanced and inclusive profession, we can enhance the quality of care and better meet the diverse needs of our clients, their families and the communities where they live. Diversity can only strengthen our incredible profession, but to make real change a multifaceted approach must be developed. As male occupational therapists reflecting on our journeys and how we got here, what could be changed? We have all heard “you can’t be what you can’t see”. We could start by educating the educators and making diversity in OT visible via school counsellors, throughout secondary schools and universities.

Once they have graduated and are practising, we can support male occupational therapists through regular networking events that provide opportunities for connection, conversation and support. The National Men in OT SIG has evolved as a place to create these connections and conversations.

Occupational therapy is a fulfilling and meaningful ‘occupation’ for those of us who have chosen this career path. It is remarkable to the authors that this profession has not attracted male therapists

in greater numbers. The gender gap (that includes all gender identities) in occupational therapy is a pressing concern that warrants our collective attention. In order to thrive, professions should be representative of the communities they live and work in. Despite the growth of the profession, the underrepresentation of male therapists persists. Through inclusive and targeted promotional materials, educational outreach, and support systems, we are hopeful we will attract and support more male occupational therapists. It is a collective professional responsibility to help foster positive change and diversity within our profession, including gender diversity, fortifying our field and improving the quality of care for all.

Authors

The authors are experienced occupational therapists with a combined clinical, educational and research experience of over 70 years across a variety of clinical and educational settings. They have a strong commitment to advancing the profession and promoting inclusivity and diversity for all. As founding members of the OTA National Men in Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group, the authors invite those interested to attend a meeting. Scan the QR code below (left) for more details.

Six must-have workplace policies for your practice

Practice owners who employ staff should have clear HR protocols that apply to your business or working arrangement.

HR protocols are made up of various workplace policies, procedures, checklists and information documents that guide various aspects of your practice, including outlining clear expectations and providing a consistent approach to managing workplace issues.

Policies and procedures are developed to ensure compliance with various legislation and to mitigate risks to your business or staff.

Below are the six key workplace policies private practice owners or sole traders must have in their HR protocols. Employees or independent contractors should expect to be able to access and understand these policies.

1. Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Policy, highlighting any potential workplace risks or hazards

2. Anti-Discrimination Policy, promoting equal employment opportunity

3. Privacy Policy, regarding the protection or disclosure of an employee’s personal details

4. Leave Policy, outlining the guidelines and requirements for accessing leave entitlements

5. Complaints & Grievances Policy, with options for conflict resolution and employee assistance

6. Performance Management Policy, outlining the process for performance management, counselling and discipline of employees

The above-mentioned policies are an umbrella for several other essential policies, including:

WHS

• Appropriate Workplace Conduct or Code of Conduct, discussing respect and responsibility

• Bullying & Harassment Policy, including sexual harassment and family & domestic violence

• Mentally Healthy Workplace Policy, promoting employee wellbeing and providing support

• Pandemic Policy, preventing and responding to an outbreak, including infection control

• Building Evacuation Policy, including your safety procedure for an emergency evacuation

• Mandatory Reporting, notifying the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction of certain health and safety incidents

Anti-Discrimination

• Disability Access and Inclusion Policy, promoting equal opportunity for people with disabilities

• Diversity Policy, promoting gender parity and cultural diversity

Please note that some policies such as Family & Domestic Violence and Appropriate Use of IT & Social Media could fall under both WHS and Anti-Discrimination policies.

Practice owners and sole traders should regularly review their HR protocols to ensure compliance with current employment legislation. They also need to reflect your unique workplace culture. For example, some practices may choose to specifically include policies around LGBTI Inclusion, Vaccination, Working from Home, Sustainability, Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs and/or Use of Company Property.

To ensure procedural compliance, practice managers should implement checklists. Examples of checklist topics include recruitment, probation, onboarding,

Anna Pannuzzo

termination, pandemic prevention and response, psychosocial risk prevention and response, and industry-specific checklists e.g., Aged Care Quality & Safety Standards.

Don’t assume that your managers and staff already know the policies and procedures.

If you employ staff, it is important to provide them with a copy of your HR protocols, such as an employee handbook. Information sheets and additional resources in the employee handbook may include Equal Employment Opportunity, Employee Assistance Program, Hygiene & Infection Control, and WHS for Remote Employees, to name a few.

When reviewing and updating HR protocols, practice managers should ensure all employees understand the changes. Running a refresher training or info session is the best way to ensure staff are well informed.

HR protocols should always be kept up to date with current regulations and tailored to the unique circumstances of your practice. If you need help, you can contact an HR consultancy that works closely with the allied health sector such as WorkPlacePLUS.

Anna Pannuzzo is the Director of WorkPlacePLUS.

As the preferred national HR/IR provider for Occupational Therapy Australia, WorkPlacePLUS provides support to OTA members on employment matters affecting your practice, including developing workplace policies, employment contracts and independent contractor agreements. For more information, contact Anna Pannuzzo on (03) 9492 0958 or visit www.WorkPlacePLUS.com.au

Understanding Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance is designed to help cover you and your business in the event a client alleges that you have been professionally negligent or that you have breached a duty owed to them while providing your professional services and they take legal action against you. Understanding the basics of PI Insurance may assist you with meeting your obligations under the policy.

PI Insurance is usually a claims-made policy. A claims-made policy responds to claims that are made against you during the policy period that is in force, regardless of when the incident that gave rise to the claim took place, subject to the retroactive date. It is very important that you notify your insurer or broker of any circumstances or incidents that may give rise to a claim, or any claim itself as soon as possible after they occur. For example, if a client complains to you about the advice you provided, your insurer should be notified at that time, rather than wait until a formal claim is made. If your client does decide to take legal action against you at a later date, you may not be covered if the insurer wasn’t notified previously.

This is why you require a current policy when it comes to PI exposures. If you forget to renew and your policy lapses and then a claim is made against you, there may not be an insurance policy to cover the claim, even if you did have a PI policy in place when the services were provided.

Understanding your obligations under a PI Insurance policy is important because the responsibility of those obligations sits with you. If you don’t understand your obligations, you may miss something that could ultimately impact indemnity under your policy.

The following guide provides an overview and introduction to PI insurance: Run-Off Cover

Run-Off cover provides insurance cover for your past professional services after you have permanently ceased work, retired or left your profession. This is particularly important for policies that operate on a “claims made” basis, as claims or complaints can be received years after the professional services are provided. If you have a claims-made policy and retire or leave the profession without arranging run-off cover then it’s likely you will not be covered for claims made against you which relate to your previous work – even if you had a policy in place at the time the relevant service was provided.

Unlimited Retroactive Date

Because your current claims-made PI policy is the policy that can respond to an insured incident, the retroactive date is important.

If your policy has an unlimited retroactive date, it means your policy can provide cover for a claim, regardless of when the alleged wrongful act, error or omission was committed, including if the relevant professional services were conducted before the commencement of the current policy.

Notifying of Incidents that could result in a claim

PI Insurance policies require you to notify your broker of incidents that may lead to a claim as soon as possible in case the incident results in legal action at a later date. An example of incidents that may lead to a claim could be someone threating to make a complaint or threatening legal action or realising there has been a breach of confidentiality.

In some instances, claims can be notified years later. If you don’t advise of a known incident before the policy expires, and if legal action is taken at a later time, it is possible that the claim could be denied by the Insurer because you may have failed to meet your obligations under the insurance policy.

Limit of Indemnity (Sum Insured)

This may also be referred to as the Sum Insured. It shows the level of cover provided by a policy, subject to its terms and conditions, including any applicable exclusions. Your policy may have a limit of liability, sub-limits, and an aggregate limit. The limit of liability is typically the amount you are covered for any ONE claim, although sub-limits may apply to certain liabilities. The aggregate limit is the maximum amount the policy will cover if there are multiple (unrelated) claims, in any one period of insurance.

Certificate of Currency

This is a document that confirms the details of an insurance policy. It may include details of the policy type, sums

insured, professional services or business description, the policy period, and importantly, the entity or insured name.

Contractual Liability

Insurance policies often apply exclusions for liability that you agree to accept by signing a contact if that liability did not already apply at law. This is sometimes called an assumed liability, as you are assuming responsibility for the risk when this would not have been the case in the absence of the contractual agreement. Often, assumed liability arises by agreeing to an indemnity clause in a contract. Therefore, it is always recommended that legal advice be obtained before signing a contract.

Taking the time to understand your obligations under your PI Insurance policy 1635

and being sure you have the level of protection you’re comfortable with should form part of your risk management strategy. Speaking to a broker who understands the risks of your industry in detail can also be a valuable exercise in making sure you’ve ticked all the boxes regarding your PI cover.

Aon is the preferred insurance broker to Occupational Therapy Australia, and they have worked with us and insurers to create insurance cover tailored for the risks commonly found in occupational therapy. Visit www.otaus. com.au/practice-support/ota-partners/ insurance-by-aon to find out about the Aon benefits available to OTA members.

© 2023 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. Please contact Aon if you have any queries.

OT students focus on employee safety and wellbeing

Many occupational therapy students complete placements in hospital or community settings, but four occupational therapy students from Southern Cross University have undertaken unique ten-week placement with Norco dairy cooperative on the NSW North Coast.

Fourth-year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students, Traevis Goode, Chloe Hoad, Lachlan Andrews and Jerome Tadros, applied their OT skills and knowledge in the business environment to focus on occupational rehabilitation.

The students collaborated with the Norco team at sites in Raleigh and Lismore to develop workplace education, assessment and resources aimed at preventing workplace injuries and enhancing employee wellbeing.

At Norco Raleigh, a milk production site, Traevis and Chloe focused on injury prevention by observing workers performing their tasks and considering ways to make it safer, such as through altered technique, the provision of aids/ equipment or revised processes.

“Our primary responsibility was to conduct thorough task analyses, observations of the work processes, assessing potential risks associated with each worker’s tasks, and review relevant literature to gain insights into the identified risks and explore effective preventive measures,” said Traevis.

Traevis and Chloe compiled the information and their findings into a comprehensive report on injury risk factors specifically related to the cold room environment.

“The detailed report is intended to provide Raleigh Norco with valuable insights and

Jerome completing a two-person lift with a Norco employee

recommendations regarding potential risks and preventive measures associated with working in the cold room,” Chloe said.

For the Agri-store at Norco Lismore, Lachlan and Jerome concentrated on employee wellbeing, creating the first of three proposed modules: sleep hygiene.

“The module is designed to be interactive and informative, providing practical strategies and tips for improving sleep hygiene. It is open to all employees, regardless of their shift patterns, and the topics covered include sleep architecture, sleep disorders, sleep debt, and circadian rhythms,” said Lachlan.

The seminar will also address common sleep hygiene practices such as establishing a regular sleep-wake schedule, creating a sleep-conducive environment, avoiding sleep disruptors such as caffeine, and managing stress and anxiety.

“We were thrilled to be involved in designing these seminars to enable Norco to create a culture that fosters the wellbeing of employees, improves job performance, and contributes to the overall success of the organisation,” said Jerome.

Peter Irving, the University’s Clinical Placement Supervisor, is an experienced OT who has worked for more than 20 years assisting injured workers back to work and providing occupational rehabilitation services.

“I’ve been in the industry for more than two decades, yet I gained new insights from the four Southern Cross students,” Mr Irving said. “With the proficiency of graduates, the students did everything from assessing new ways for workers to do common tasks more safely to designing programs to promote health and wellbeing.”

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