Connections - October 2019

The magazine of Occupational Therapy Australia, the peak body representing occupational therapy in Australia

Connecting with Ourselves

OCTOBER 2019 | VOL 16 ISSUE 5

Print Post Approved PP340742/00147 ISSN 1832-7605

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You Spoke, We Listened: 2019 Membership Survey Tales from the Top End: Self-care as a Remote OT Set Goals & Seek Feedback: Learnings for Leadership Success

C E L E B R AT E O T W E E K 2 1 – 2 7 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

CONTENTS

NEWS

FEATURES

President’s Report

4

CEO’s Report

5

A Demonstrated and Ongoing Commitment to Excellence

7

Options for Setting and Reflecting on Professional Goals and Aims

9

Fostering Professional Resilience 12 Upcoming OTA CPD and Events 2019

14

Your Journal and Journal Clubs: A Great Way to Connect for Evidence-Based Practice

31

WFOT Update

34

Tales from the Top End: Self-care as a Remote OT You Spoke, We Listened: 2019 Membership Survey Tales from the Top End: Self-care as a Remote OT

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

Contact us Occupational Therapy Australia ARBN 007510 287 ABN 65 470 069 906 6/340 Gore Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Phone: +61 3 9415 2900 or 1300 682 878 Email: info@otaus.com.au Web: www.otaus.com.au Correction On page 25 of the August 2019 edition, the winner of the Elaine B Wilson Award, Bryony van Hoffen, should have been credited as having graduated from Griffith University.

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Contributions and Advertising Would you like to contribute to Connections, or do you have a product that is attractive to occupational therapists and would like to advertise your product?

Editorial material including letters to the editor, upcoming events, research material, and important information for inclusion in Connections should be sent by email to marketing@otaus.com.au. The editor reserves the right to edit material for space and clarity and to withhold material from publication.

Deadlines for submissions December edition: 25 October Design Perry Watson Design

Set Goals & Seek Feedback: Learnings for Leadership Success

21

Reflections on Volunteering in Fiji

24

Introducing OTA’s Research Chats 27 Mental Health in the Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself so You Can Take Care of Your Clients

29

Disclaimer 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.

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 3

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

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his is my last contribution to Connections as President of Occupational Therapy Australia.

The theme of Connecting with Ourselves is a fitting way to conclude this part of my professional experience. It is an understatement to say I never expected this as a career milestone. I don’t share that as a humble brag, but rather as an introduction to my attitude to keeping a career vibrant.

On reflection, I encourage you to say yes to opportunities, to say yes to challenges and then deal with that sneaky imposter feeling afterwards. Read a lot, learn from others, try new things, listen (but also find and share your voice), participate, contribute and your career will reward you in bucket loads.

I acknowledge the seventeen outstanding occupational therapists I’ve had the privilege to work directly with on the OTA Board during my five-year tenure, listed here in alphabetical order: 1. Michelle Bissett 2. Peter Bothams 3. Priscilla Ennals 4. Chontel Gibson 5. Dannette Hocking 6. Chris Kennedy 7. Natasha Lannin 8. Val Lehman Monck 9. Lynette Mackenzie 10. Paul Marsh 11. Annie McCluskey 12. Carol McKinstry 13. Iona Novak 14. Nicole O’Reilly 15. Nicola Tuckwell 16. Kim Walder 17. Lee Zakrewski It is impossible to give justice to what I have learned from each of these astute, fervent, driven, wise and humble people. Suffice to say, each person on this list has left an

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indelible imprint on my view of life and my work, my understanding of occupational therapy, our strengths and Achilles heels, of our contribution and our challenges.

I would also like to acknowledge the foundational work of the ten occupational therapists who were on the first OTA boards from 2011, and while I did not directly work with them, upon whose work we still thrive. They are 1. Amanda Bladen 2. Thelma Burnett 3. Robyn Cottee 4. Jan Erven 5. Therese Fitzpatrick 6. Sue Gilbert Hunt 7. Peta Raison 8. Imelda Todd 9. Domenico Tripodi 10. Jenny Ziviani The new configuration of the OTA Board will lead us into our next strategic plan and ten-year anniversary, and I wish them the very best. Our 29th National Conference in Cairns 2021 will also coincide with that anniversary. It shows we can grow and change while also keeping the best of our traditions flourishing. Connecting with the history, talent, breadth and depth of our profession has been the absolute highlight of my years on the board.

OTA has a complex role as a peak body, as a membership organisation and as the face of our profession. Our vision is big, our resources require prudent management and meeting those opposing forces creates a constant balance of strategy versus risk.

We are a membership organisation and although the nature of that is probably undergoing disruption (a buzz word right now), connecting with members was a highlight of this role. Not every member has been happy, and I’ve had some

Angela Berndt, OTA President

robust conversations over the years. But again, through disagreement or valid complaints or via misunderstandings, I’ve come to understand what our profession is passionate about, what we do well and what we can do much better. I also have received many thank you notes, emails and compliments on the work of OTA and that has been a rewarding part of the role.

A Board is a collective in decision-making, leading and working alongside an amazing array of people. So, each connection with the president reflects the group.

During my time on the Board I have served alongside many OTA staff including two CEOs, Rachel and Samantha, and numerous leadership groups, committees and working parties (too many people to name I’m afraid!). My thanks go to ALL those who have leaned in and supported OTA to grow the association to the capacity it has now.

We have had some significant wins along the way, of which I am very proud. But there is so much more to do and one third of the profession can’t do it for all of us. I extend my very best to the staff and ongoing efforts of all. And one more time I ask you to convert your friends to membership!

So, thank you for trusting me to enact this role, for the fun moments, the tears, the laughs, the worry and the work. For the support, the feedback and for more learning I could have ever anticipated. All the best to everyone for the next period of Occupational Therapy Australia’s growth and sustainability.

Angela Berndt

CEO’S REPORT

CEO’S REPORT

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his edition of Connections coincides with my first year at Occupational Therapy Australia, and with this edition’s theme I thought to take the opportunity to not only reflect on my first 12 months, but to look forward to where we are—and where we want to be—heading.

I am privileged to move around the country and spend time listening to so many of you at our various events and functions.

It’s been an honour to hear about the history of our association (shared with pride and passion) and to learn what is concerning for you (and how our team can work towards strengthening, protecting and promoting the profession).

As I have moved around, I have also met with our Divisional Councils who represent you across each State and Territory. I continue to be inspired by the passion with which they raise local issues on your behalf, including important legislative and policy concerns. Throughout these travels I have spoken to many of you about the changing nature of the profession, the work you do, and the way in which your services are delivered to and received by consumers. We are constantly seeking feedback about how we can serve you better—both when we meet you in person and via our membership survey that was carried out earlier this year.

I have particularly noted how diverse, inclusive and adaptable the profession is. This adaptability is crucial not only to you as professionals, but to Occupational Therapy Australia as an organisation.

As all professions shape shift to meet the challenges of the 21st Century (and the increasing rate of technological and societal change), we must also adapt and change to meet your expectations of us in representing you. To this end, many of you may have noticed some

changes in the services we are offering, and how these are being delivered.

One of the most pressing changes that we have adopted to meet these challenges is to bolster our brilliant Professional Standards Team. Ably led by Anita Volkert, we have increased the number of occupational therapists who work within the association to ensure we continue to deliver best practice-guidelines, practice standards, position papers and advice to you as members. We continue to work to make our voices and views heard across a myriad of different forums.

There remains much work in progress, and we look forward to re-launching our MentorLink program and delivering a raft of new programs, information and advice to you in the coming months. We will be developing and delivering new CPD offerings that will keep you upskilled and up to date, available to be accessed when and where you need them to fit with your schedule and your development needs.

The hard (and often thankless) work of Michael Barrett and our Policy & Advocacy Team continues unabated. The enormous, valued input of our national reference groups provide considered advice and act as a sounding board regarding existing and potential policy failures as well as identifying opportunities for us to explore. The work of gaining influence and affecting change is often a long, slow burn as the wheels of government and bureaucracy shudder along.

This year has seen our advocacy efforts take a more public approach with the development of our OTs for Veterans (www.otsforveterans.com.au) campaign as well as embarking on a schedule of meetings with ministers, opposition and advisers in an effort to directly lobby for the best possible outcomes for our

Samantha Hunter, CEO

I HAVE PARTICULARLY NOTED HOW DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE AND ADAPTABLE THE PROFESSION IS. THIS ADAPTABILITY IS CRUCIAL NOT ONLY TO YOU AS PROFESSIONALS, BUT TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AUSTRALIA AS AN ORGANISATION.

members. This work would be infinitely more difficult if we weren’t supported by the advice of our Professional Standards Team and committed members who volunteer their time and expertise to sit on the reference groups and working groups. We continue to link with other allied health professions and are creating relationships with consumer groups who would benefit from a joint advocacy approach. As an active member of Allied Health Professionals Australia, we collaborate to raise a collective voice on issues of federal importance to our sector.

Our Membership & Marketing Team have become one! Under the leadership of Lauren Jensen, we have conducted a membership survey (more information on that on pages 16-17), and as you will see Continued next page

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 5

CEO’S REPORT

CEO’S REPORT Continued from previous page

WE ARE ALL WORKING TOWARDS HONOURING THE PAST WHILST LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS ASSOCIATION (YOUR ASSOCIATION) FIT TO SERVE YOU, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

we are already taking action from your feedback. Our new, long awaited website has been delivered and we have developed a new member enquiries workflow for both telephone and online contacts to ensure all of your feedback is promptly directed to the appropriate area of OTA and responded to as a matter of priority.

This is allowing us to capture better data about your needs so we can evaluate priority areas of importance to allocate our resources in line with your needs.

The past year has been a time to reflect on what we do and to revise and refine some of our member benefits (whilst enhancing others and exploring new ones). We are all working towards honouring the past whilst looking to the future in order to make this association (your association) fit to serve you, now and into the future.

Taking the time to analyse who we are and what we do as an organisation has been time well spent. It has enabled us as a team to question not only the how but the why of what we do daily to support you. We have implemented new technologies to enhance our business processes, to support best-practice 6 www.otaus.com.au

governance, to and communicate with you in a multitude of ways across a myriad of platforms. We have piloted and road-tested projects to launch in the coming year.

There remain a number of important projects that we will forge ahead on and dedicate our time and resources to.

Occupational Therapy Australia has been working on developing a Reconciliation Action Plan for many years. This is an important piece of work for us as an organisation and speaks to the values of our organisation and the profession more broadly. Earlier this year we sought the advice of, and worked with Reconciliation Australia to start to chart a road map of our journey of reconciliation, recognition and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All of our staff have been offered the opportunity to attend Cultural Responsiveness courses to increase our understanding, and we look forward to sharing the road map with you in the coming year.

We have heard how vitally important SIGs and RIGs are to keep you connected and engaged with each other. Enabling and

encouraging your ongoing involvement (i.e. associating) is at the core of our business as your association and we are exploring ways in which we can make this as interesting, easy and engaging as possible using the best technology available. I understand that many of you are eagerly awaiting action in this area and we are actively working with the National Forum members to develop a fair and equitable model for all members.

We are conducting a mapping exercise of over 40 special interest groups and we are hopeful of unveiling a new way of enabling this important benefit in early 2020.

As a membership association, we understand that our business is to support you, our members. We take pride in providing you with the service and advice you need in a format and timeframe that is useful to you. In the constantly and quickly evolving modern work environment, we all know that change is constant and can be unnerving.

There will continue to be change as we shape and shift to fit the future—we will soon have a new OTA Board and a new strategy, and we will continue to evolve and adapt. Know that this change comes with purpose, with focus and with vision. Know that I will be here, your OTA Team will be here, and your OTA Board will be here, beside you, supporting you every step of the way.

Sam Hunter

P O L I C Y, L O B B Y I N G & A D V O C A C Y U P D A T E

A DEMONSTRATED AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE Michael Barrett, OTA National Manager: Government and Stakeholder Relations

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ith the Coalition Government and Labor Opposition having moved on from the uncertainty—and surprise result—of the May 18 federal election, the business of government has begun to flow again.

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), for example, has resumed work, under the continued chairmanship of the Hon. Kevin Andrews MP. The committee announced an inquiry into NDIS Planning, with a closing date for submissions of 6 September. By the time you read this article, OTA will have made its submission, highlighting the fact that NDIS Plans, and in particular the relative inexperience of many NDIS Planners, is so often the root cause of the delays that so frustrate OTs and place the Participant at real risk.

The failure of Plans to anticipate and make allowance for changes in a Participant’s condition is an ongoing concern as it gives rise to the need for a long and frustrating review process. And members report that, having waited an unacceptable amount of time for a review of a client’s Plan, they are sometimes given just a day’s notice that the review is to occur.

We will inform the committee that OTA’s offer to help train Planners has been repeatedly rebuffed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), on the questionable grounds that occupational therapists are somehow “conflicted”. Being

trained in the management of disability, and eminently qualified to recognise the likely progression of disability, OTs are ideally suited to train and encourage newcomers to this often highly complex field. Given many Planners have absolutely no experience of disability or disability services, they would surely benefit from such assistance. Thanks to an insular, and at times mistrustful agency, however, occupational therapists willing to help train Planners are currently a wasted resource.

As we have pointed out to the NDIA, this training need not be elaborate or expensive; it could simply take the form of a series of webinars. Once a new CEO is in place at the NDIA, we will renew our offer to do whatever we can to enhance and expedite the NDIS Planning process.

The Department of Social Services has also announced a review of the NDIS, with submissions due by Continued next page

Key Federal Representatives Members might be interested to know who the new key players at the federal level are: Minister for Health

The Hon. Greg Hunt MP

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians

Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck

Minister for Families and Social Services

Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Hon. Stuart Robert MP

Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel

The Hon. Darren Chester MP

Shadow Minister for Health

The Hon. Chris Bowen MP

Shadow Minister for Ageing and Seniors

The Hon. Julie Collins MP

Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services

The Hon. Linda Burney MP

Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Hon. Bill Shorten MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel

The Hon. Shayne Neumann MP

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 7

P O L I C Y, L O B B Y I N G & A D V O C A C Y U P D A T E

A DEMONSTRATED AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE Continued from previous page

AS WE DRAFT OUR SUBMISSIONS TO GOVERNMENT, AS WE MEET WITH MINISTERS AND SHADOWS, AS WE MAKE OUR CASE TO BUREAUCRATS, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CLINICIANS FOR WHOM WE SPEAK HAVE A DEMONSTRATED AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

31 October. OTA’s submission will draw on recent input from members working in the scheme and on concerns raised in earlier submissions which, regrettably, are yet to be addressed.

In addition to these inquiries, two Royal Commissions are ongoing— one into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the other into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. So, the advocacy team at OTA, and the five National Reference Groups which inform and guide our work, have plenty to do at the moment.

In addition to the research and written work which submissions require, we have recently written to all new Ministers and Shadow Ministers with responsibility for areas in which OTs work. This correspondence has given rise to several standing invitations to meet, which is a gratifying outcome.

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The theme of this issue of Connections, Connecting with Ourselves, includes reference to the importance of professional development.

While PD is obviously crucial to your clinical competence, and to your registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, it also has reputational implications and, as such, is of profound significance to the profession’s lobbying efforts. Readers will recall we made a similar observation about the importance of research and clinical evidence in the previous issue of Connections.

As we draft our submissions to government, as we meet with Ministers and Shadows, as we make our case to bureaucrats, it is essential that the clinicians for whom we speak have a demonstrated and ongoing commitment to excellence. A rigorous and evolving PD program is proof of such commitment.

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P R O F E SS I O N A L P R A CT I C E & STA N D A R D S U P D AT E

OPTIONS FOR SETTING AND REFLECTING ON PROFESSIONAL GOALS AND AIMS Anita Volkert, OTA National Manager: Professional Practice and Development

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n the midst of everyday working life as an occupational therapist, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture of where you want to be in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or more in your career.

And with those of us of working age predicted to be in the workforce until our late 60s (at least), careers are a marathon, not a sprint! The benefit of these longer working lives is that it gives us time to explore opportunities, follow tangents and side paths, and experiment with our professional interests across our careers.

In this issue of Connections, themed and celebrating Connecting with Ourselves, I want to talk about a range of ways to set and reflect on professional goals and aims. You may also find this useful as we approach the AHPRA re-registration cycle.

If you have never set professional goals before, a good starting point is to develop a vision for your future career. You can do this through a piece of reflective writing, or by creating a more visual career narrative map.

Using the Kawa Model (Iwama, 2006) to generate a career narrative If you’ve used the Kawa Model (Iwama, 2006) in your practice or teaching/learning, you will know how powerful this Eastern inspired, visual representation of our occupational life journeys can be. In the model, life is conceived as like a river,

flowing from birth until death. There are changes in flow along the way.

Rocks and driftwood can obstruct flow, the river walls can silt up. Equally, there can also be times where flow is optimised.

As well as its use in practice, this model makes a great framework for documenting and reflecting on one’s own career narrative. To create your own career narrative, ask yourself: • What does my river (career) look like so far, and how do I want it to look in the future?

• How does my river (career) flow? Deep and wide, or narrow and restricted?

• What rocks (life/career circumstances) are impeding my flow?

• What is acting as driftwood in my career (could be an asset or a liability, depending on how I view it and use it)?

• What can I do to ensure the riverbed, walls and bottom (my career environment) are free, to encourage my flow into my future?

You may want to document your reflection through visual representation of your river. There are many examples available online, and you can really let your creative juices flow.

Consider the actions you might want to take as a result of your reflection.

These will become your professional

goals, and you can document them as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals, or use a Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) structure.

You may want to share your narrative with a supervisor, mentor or supportive peer/group of peers. In fact, completing a career narrative as an activity can be a great group supervision or peer activity!

Remember that Occupational Therapy Australia’s MentorLink program is available for members to access as a mentee or mentor.

Using the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s Competency Standards to set professional goals and aims

In its Careers Framework, the UK Royal of College of Occupational Therapists (2017) identified four pillars of an occupational therapy career: professional practice; facilitation of learning; leadership; and evidence/research development.

The recently released Competency Standards for Occupational Therapists (Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA), 2018) provide a similar four domain structure to consider competencies across the lifespan of an occupational therapist in Australia.

To use this method, consider the four domains set by the OTBA and try setting between one and three SMART goals related to each domain for your next two, five, or ten-year period. Include all four domains.

Continued next page

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 9

P R O F E SS I O N A L P R A CT I C E & STA N D A R D S U P D AT E

OPTIONS FOR SETTING AND REFLECTING ON PROFESSIONAL GOALS AND AIMS Continued from previous page

In the table below I have included just a few examples of the professional behaviours that are part of each of the four competencies, but others exist.

Be sure to personalise this to your own learning and development needs.

KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING

PROFESSIONALISM Practices in a culturally responsive and culturally safe manner, with particular respect to culturally diverse groups Addresses issues of occupational justice in practice

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROCESS AND PRACTICE

Identifies and applies best available evidence in professional practice and decision-making Maintains and improves currency of knowledge, skills and new evidence for practice by adhering to the requirements for CPD

COMPETENCY

Evalutes client and service outcomes to inform future practice Contributes to quality improvement and service development

COMMUNICATION

Uses effective communication skills to initiate and end relationships with clients and relevant others

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• Trying out different settings and contexts • Practice and repetition of skills • Using manuals and workbooks to guide and improve skills • Increasing skills related to professionalism

BEING – RESTORATION AND SPIRITUALITY • • • •

Increased autonomy Peer support Discussion and debriefing Developing and sharing strategies for emotional resilience • Reflecting on work

Identifies and articulates the rationale for practice to clients and relevant others

Examples of professional behaviours that are part the four competencies, adapted from Royal College of Occupational Therapists, 2017, p.4; OTBA, 2018

Occupational Therapy Australia’s CPD and Practice pages contain opportunities and resources which may assist you to meet your goals. For example, if goals were set around the two points under Professionalism above, CPD on cultural responsiveness and culture in OT theory and practice could help meet that goal; and the OTA Position Paper on Occupational Deprivation would make a good reading and reflection/discussion exercise on occupational justice issues in practice. Likewise, our Position Paper on Evidence Based Practice may assist in meeting a Knowledge and Learning goal.

DOING – ACTION AND ACTIVITY

Using the concept of DoingBeing-Becoming-Belonging

A third way of thinking about setting professional goals is through Wilcock’s (1999; 2007) Doing, Being, Becoming and Belonging concept. Whilst Wilcock did not develop this as a career framework, it has been applied in this way (Hitch et al, 2014a; Htich et al, 2014b; Ennals et al, 2016) to career transition in the literature.

If we consider an occupational therapy career as a journey of doing, being, becoming and belonging (although not necessarily linear), consider what specific tasks you might want to develop under each of the broader concepts (illustrated to the right):

BECOMING – GROWTH AND IDENTITY • Appreciating the diversity of practice • Critical thinking and reflection on work • Completing difficult/complex work

BELONGING – BEING CONNECTED • • • •

The social context of work Being part of a community Using networks Sharing a language

(Volkert, 2019)

P R O F E SS I O N A L P R A CT I C E & STA N D A R D S U P D AT E

Re-evaluating your narrative and goals

MAKE TIME TO RETURN TO YOUR NARRATIVE AND USE REFLECTION TO CONSIDER HOW YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE CHANGES YOU IDENTIFIED.

However, setting goals is only part of the picture. Make time to return to your narrative and use reflection to consider how you have implemented the changes you identified.

• What has happened to the direction your river is taking?

• Have you been able to shift or break up some rocks through following actions related to your goals?

Above all, enjoy, experiment and have fun in your career journey!

Iwama, M. K. (2006). The Kawa model: Culturally relevant occupational therapy. Elsevier health Sciences.

• Have you been able to make use of driftwood as an asset?

References

Royal College of Occupational Therapists. (2017).

The career development framework: Guiding principles for occupational therapy. London: Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

• Have you been able to address issues in the environment, freeing up space for your river to flow?

Recording another career narrative using the Kawa Model, doing a piece of reflective writing, and talking with your supervisor, mentor or peers will help you evaluate your progress and identify whether you need to reset your professional goals.

Ennals, P., Fortune, T., Williams, A., & D’Cruz, K. (2016). Shifting occupational identity: doing, being, becoming and belonging in the academy. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(3), 433-446.

Hitch, D., Pépin, G., & Stagnitti, K. (2014). In the footsteps of Wilcock, part one: The evolution of doing, being, becoming, and belonging. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28(3), 231-246.

Volkert, A. (2019). The development of professional identity and socialisation in occupational therapists. Unpublished thesis.

Wilcock, A. A. (1999). Reflections on doing, being and becoming. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 46(1), 1-11.

Hitch, D., Pépin, G., & Stagnitti, K. (2014). In the footsteps of Wilcock, part two: The interdependent nature of doing, being, becoming, and belonging.

Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28(3), 247-263.

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QUEENSLAND www.otaus2021.com.au #OTAUS2021

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CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 11

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FOSTERING PROFESSIONAL RESILIENCE Lindsay Vernon, OTA Professional Adviser: Learning and Development

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Photo: Pexels/Jopwell

e spend our working life supporting others and assisting them to maintain a balance in their roles and routines. In this issue of Connections, however, we are encouraging you to think about yourself and your needs.

From a CPD perspective, these needs might be in what you need or want to develop clinically, a set of management or leadership skills, or you may need to learn how to balance your time differently to enable you to complete all required tasks in a manner conducive to positive health.

Professional development helps us to expand our knowledge set in a variety of ways and is defined in the OTBA continuing professional development registration standard (advance copy 1/12/19 available online on the OTBA website) as: ‘Continuing professional development (CPD) is the means by which members of the profession maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities required throughout their professional lives’.

This definition opens up opportunities to explore what professional development is for each of us as individuals and, for the first part of my article this month, I want to explore professional development that develops the personal qualities required throughout our professional life.

I’ll start with professional resilience.

Professional resilience has many different definitions, some examples are: ‘The ability to grow and move forward in the face of misfortune’ ‘Overcoming stress or adversity’

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‘The capacity to move on in a positive way from negative traumatic or stressful experiences’ We know that some people have the capacity to do these things more easily than others, and we also know that resilience skills are skills we can learn—which is where our CPD options may come in helpful!

Work can have an impact on us in many ways. It can impact on our self-care occupations, social occupations, mental health and physical wellbeing. We can embed routines and practices into our daily life that support (professional) resilience, however before we move on to these activities we need to think about how we can recognise signs that tell us we’re not managing so well, signs that our resilience is being negatively impacted.

To do this we can use a simple scale of 0-10 where: • 0 is when we feel things are going well and that our work/ life balance is good.

Where we feel we have the energy and focus to do all the tasks we want to, and • 10 is where we are feeling that life is hard, taking a lot of emotional energy from us and when we are not able to put the time into all aspects of our life that we want to.

Next to each stage of this scale we can write down the signs we notice that have been impacting on our health (for example, waking up thinking about work, reduced mood, decreased concentration, short temper, comfort eating or reduced appetite). Developing our self-awareness in this area starts to help us build our professional resilience.

N AT I O N A L C P D U P D AT E

Once we know some of our signs, we can then think about situations where we have experienced them and track if we have similar feelings in similar situations.

This helps us to build a picture of things that we find harder to manage (including deadlines, certain personality traits in others and family/social stressors).

Now we have a picture of what reduced resilience looks like for us (and what contributes to this), we can think about how we can navigate around it or put strategies in place to deal with it differently. Some questions we might ask ourselves include: 1. Do we need to think about how we talk to our self (our internal dialogue) and how we see our skill set?

2. Do we need to adjust our emotional response to situations or develop our emotional intelligence?

3. Do we need to change (if possible) our roles and routines?

4. Do we need to seek supervision or mentoring to help us with these processes?

OTA runs a series of professional development courses aimed to assist OTs to support themselves (and, in turn, others). We run courses on: • Professional resilience • Self-leadership • Leadership for health professionals • Professional supervision Please keep an eye on the CPD pages of the website to find out more about these courses.

I also want to think about how CPD can support us in maintaining, improving and broadening the knowledge, expertise, competence and professional qualities required throughout our career.

CPD assists us to stay current in our practice and thus enables us to offer clients the best possible treatment

CPD ASSISTS US TO STAY CURRENT IN OUR PRACTICE AND THUS ENABLES US TO OFFER CLIENTS THE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT AVAILABLE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE MODEL.

available within the parameters of the evidence-based practice model.

at least ‘5 hrs of CPD in an interactive setting with other practitioners.’

This is where we get to choose CPD that meets our clinical practice needs, whether that’s in the form of a workshop, conference, in service, higher education or some self-directed learning via a literature review and reading/reflection on relevant articles.

The standard talks to:

Supporting ourselves through this kind of CPD is just as beneficial as the professional development that supports our personal growth. This professional development enables us to feel confident in our practice, in our clinical reasoning, in our contributions to multi-disciplinary teams and most importantly, with our clients.

All this is to be collated within a reflective portfolio that documents our assimilation of this knowledge.

As we know, AHPRA currently require occupational therapists to undertake 30 hours of CPD made up of practice within 3 different domains: 1. Formal learning activities 2. Informal learning activities 3. Engagement with the profession As of 1 December 2019, we will be required to undertake 20 hrs of CPD and the focus of the content has been shifted to our experience of the PD and how we integrate the chosen PD into our practise to enhance client experience and evidence-based practice. There will no longer be expectations of a division of the hours between 3 areas, however we are going to be asked to engage in

• Improving client outcomes • Informing good decision making • Keeping us up to date and within our scope of practice • Building on existing knowledge

This updated registration standard feels like it is connecting the clinician to their CPD and is reminding us to build on the skills we have, to connect with our personal qualities and to develop professional development portfolios that truly meet our needs. In essence, it is looking to best practice adult learning principles.

OTA provides a range of professional development that spans varied domains, not least those that focus on ourselves and our wellbeing. Please continue to find the most up to date information on OTA’s CPD program via the website.

Reference Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (2019) Advance copy: Registration standard: Continuing professional development – effective from 1 December 2019. Retrieved from https://www.occupationaltherapyboard. gov.au/About/Statistics.aspx

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 13

CPD CALENDAR

N AT I O N A L C P D U P D AT E

UPCOMING OTA XXX & EVENTS 2019 CPD October – December 2019 Occupational Therapy Australia is excited about the vast selection of CPD & Events available to occupational therapists. Here is a quick overview of what’s coming up.

DATE

COURSE

TYPE

LOCATION

Stroke Recovery

ONLINE SERIES

Online

Introduction to Seating and Wheelchair Prescription

WORKSHOP

Brisbane, QLD

OCTOBER

30/10 – 27/11 Xxx NOVEMBER

4–5

X 6

xx

Practical Strategies for Sleep Intervention

HOT TOPIC

Perth, WA

7

xxx

Central Queensland RIG

INTEREST GROUP

QLD

8

Mental Health Interest Group

INTEREST GROUP

QLD

7–8

Environmental Modifications: The Basics

WORKSHOP

NSW

14

Culture in Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice: An Ongoing Conversation

WEBINAR

Online

15 – 16

WORKSHOP

Melbourne, VIC

20 – 21

Common Hand Conditions and Splinting xx Mental Health First Aid

WORKSHOP

Sydney, NSW

21

Principles of Occupational Therapy Practice in the Intensive Care Unit

WEBINAR

Online

22 – 23

Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP)

WORKSHOP

Townsville, QLD

25 – 26

Professional and Clinical Supervision

WORKSHOP

Melbourne, VIC

28 – 29

Foundation Skills: Introduction to Adult Physical Assessment and Management

WORKSHOP

Perth, WA

30

Evidence Based use of Functional Electrical Stimulation

WORKSHOP

Perth, WA

4

Driving Interest Group

INTEREST GROUP

SA

6

Home Modifications: Advanced

WORKSHOP

Brisbane, QLD

X

xxx

DECEMBER

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To register and for further information please visit: www.otaus.com.au/professionaldevelopment 14 www.otaus.com.au

F E AT U R E

2019 ELSPETH PEARSON AWARD WINNERS The Elspeth Pearson Award is granted annually and aims to support a final year student or recently graduated occupational therapist to fulfil a career development activity. Occupational Therapy Australia thanks the Pearson family for their ongoing generosity and support to the profession.

Anthea Jarvis For support to attend two international conferences/ symposia on Pain. Anthea is an occupational therapist working in aged care.

In 2019 the award was shared between 5 winners.

The association extends its sincere congratulations to Alison, Anthea, Claire, Mikaela and Samantha.

Well done!

Claire Dickson

Alison Hartigan

For support to attend a range of CPD events related to her work as an occupational therapist with children and young people, and to her prior work with Assistance Dogs Australia.

For support to undertake a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Studies. Alison is an occupational therapist currently working in an emerging role as a complex case manager with an organisation that supports veterans and their families.

Samantha Taylor

Mikaela Foy

For support to attend training in the Co-Op approach.

Samantha is a final year occupational therapist student, expecting to complete her studies in November 2019.

For support to attend learning and development events related to her interest in the emerging practice area of obesity and weight management. Mikaela is an occupational therapist working in a Grade 1 position in Victoria.

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019  15

F E AT U R E

YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED: 2019 Lauren Jensen, OTA Head of Marketing, Communications & Membership

E

arlier this year, as part of our ongoing objective to understand the needs of our members and to continually improve the benefits we offer, OTA asked members to participate in the 2019 Membership Survey. The responses from this survey will help to guide the future direction of the association and inform how we can provide better services and support to our members.

Thank you to the 1,275 members who responded, with representation from all financial membership types across the country. The survey highlighted the member benefits that are of crucial importance to our members, opportunities to improve our existing services and suggestions for new programs or services.

Who responded to the Affiliate 2019 Membership Survey

4%

By membership

New Graduate

What You Value as a Member

8%

Affiliate

4%

New Graduate

8%

Full-Time

55%

Part-Time

33%

Full-Time

55%

Part-Time

33%

Top 3 Reasons for Joining 1. Keep up-to-date with developments or issues affecting your profession/practice 2. Develop your professional knowledge and skills 3. Obtain a discount on CPD or Event Highest Rated Services This year, the top-ranked member benefits included: • Access to discounted insurance rates through Aon

By location

TAS WA

7% WA

VIC

• OTA conferences and symposiums

3%

• Access to the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal

TAS

3%

7%

26%

• WFOT resources

NSW

• OTA communications such as the newsletter and Connections

29%

VIC

NSW

26%

29%

ACT

3%

NT

ACT

2%

3%

NT

SA

9% 16 www.otaus.com.au

SA

9%

QLD

21% QLD

21%

2%

Most Accessed Benefits The most accessed member benefits included the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, OTA communications and CPD.

F E AT U R E

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY Where we can improve, and what we are doing about it Response Time Feedback from some members indicated that our response time to their queries was too long. Since the survey, we have increased the number of Member Services and Professional Practice Standards members of staff, enabling more people to be available to promptly respond to your queries.

Awareness and Understanding of our Advocacy and Lobbying Activities Some members indicated that they were not made aware of OTA’s Lobbying and Advocacy activities. Our advocacy team work hard behind the scenes to voice and advocate for the concerns of OTs and their clients. We realise that our members do not always see these efforts. We are now producing a monthly advocacy video update on key activities and outcomes. We have also restructured the Advocacy area of the OTA website to inform members of our key areas of focus and to better share regular outcomes.

Raising the Profile and Awareness of the Profession This year we’re using our OT Week theme #ThisIsOT as an opportunity to profile the profession and raise awareness about occupational therapy. As part of the #ThisIsOT theme, all financial OTA members will receive an educational OT poster that we encourage you to place in practices, in a GP’s waiting room or around the community. OTA will also be providing posters to clinics and universities to display in public areas.

Part of our website re-launch included a refreshed design and a new timeline for our e-newsletter (which was sent monthly).

OT Today has replaced e-Notices in a more snackable format, and is now distributed bi-monthly with more timely updates.

These are the first steps in what will be an ongoing plan to review and improve our services. While we have been able to implement some immediate actions, others will require a more in-depth review and action plan. Please stay tuned to Connections and OT Today for regular updates on how we are responding to your feedback.

The survey was just one opportunity for members to provide their feedback. We continue to welcome your thoughts and suggestions at any time by contacting us at haveyoursay@otaus.com.au Thank you for your commitment to OTA and to helping us strengthen our offerings to support you throughout your career.

Get around with Scooters Australia

We have introduced a new range of ‘OT Definition’ merchandise to share the message about our supportive, enriching profession and start conversations about occupational therapy. During October OTA will also be hosting a booth at the RACGP Conference to further educate GPs and health professionals about occupational therapy.

Communications and Publications A reoccurring theme in the survey was our outdated website and the inability to access appropriate resources and information from the association. In June 2019, we re-launched the OTA website (otaus.com.au), including a review of our documentation and streamlining our menu structure.

• Portable travel scooters, hill climbers and everyday scooters • Big savings on used and demos • Trade-ins accepted FREE home demo, call 1300 622 633 www.scootersAus.com.au

SCA33003

MentorLink The membership survey indicated frustration with the waiting period to access a mentor. The MentorLink program is currently undergoing a full review, including an increase in administrative support to provide timely responses and removing the 3-month waiting period.

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 17

Empowering people with a complete range of Home Care & Hospital Equipment

Bedding

Pressure Therapy

Seating & Day Chairs

Mobility & Wheelchair

Bathroom & Toileting

Daily Living Aids

Ward & Clinic

Manual Handling

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

NATIONAL CONTRACT PROVIDER

KCare has a combined experience of over 125 years in the medical manufacturing industry with OxfordEME established in 1935 & KCare in 1975.

Partnered with the Country Care Group, KCare manufactures and supplies for a number of state and national contracts such as DVA, NDIS, TAC, MASS and Feros.

AUSTRALIA WIDE

LOCAL MANUFACTURING

With 220 staff across Australia, KCare is dedicated to Products are manufactured and assembled here in Australia investing in the Australian manufacturing industry and has across our warehouses in Victoria, New South Wales, South national distribution and manufacturing sites across the country. Australia and Western Australia

CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS

INNOVATIVE HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

KCare’s skilled product team can offer customised solutions to cater for your specific needs and requirements

A step ahead from the industry, KCare listens closely to our clients and health professionals to produce innovative solutions for our products.

KCare Healthcare Solutions is a proud partner of the Country Care Group

1300 783 783 www.kcare.com.au Improving your life everyday™

F E AT U R E

TALES FROM THE TOP END: SELF-CARE AS A REMOTE OT Claudia Cross, OT, Community Allied Health Team

W

ith a 4WD packed full of toys, a toolkit, a bundle of assessment tools, splinting material and maybe a shower chair, it’s time to hit the long road ahead to the remote Indigenous communities of Katherine and the Top End. When a community is located on an island, or not accessible by road in the wet season, a plane is needed instead. A week away working in a remote Indigenous community is both incredible and overwhelming. There is much to adapt to; a change in pace, environment, culture, and of course, clinical need.

The Northern Territory, Department of Health, Community Allied Health Team is a multi-disciplinary allied health team which services individuals across the lifespan, often with complex clinical backgrounds. In most communities there is limited access to allied health staff so the list of clients to see each visit is substantial. A typical remote week consists of school visits, a visit to the aged care centre and the Family as First Teachers centre, the local clinic and many home visits. There is also usually an element of ‘bush mechanics’, where equipment items are repaired with the resources that can be located in the community. Cultural sensitivity is crucial, so teams need to make adjustments to the way they may usually work.

It is important to explore which family or community members to liaise with, that appropriate communication styles are used, that sensitive topics are discussed

with the right people and that the importance for clients to attend ceremony events is understood. It can be common for clients to visit family or attend ceremonies in other communities so it can at times be difficult to locate people. Work days are usually long—matching the client lists that grow after weeks between visits. Given the nature of the work and the need to visit many other service providers, it can be difficult to plan a schedule for the week so each day becomes a new surprise.

Visits occur roughly two to three times a month and last anywhere between a day to a week. There are also plenty of stories of team members being in community for longer or shorter than planned due to flight cancellations or weather conditions.

Whilst working as an occupational therapist it can be very easy to take on the worries, struggles and challenges of clients. Working in remote communities, the team found this especially to be the case due to the limited other allied health support, the increasing workload during the trip and the usual need to work across a large scope of practice. The team identified the importance of looking after their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in order to provide the best care for clients. To do this, principles such as self-care are encouraged. Whilst the team aims to follow these principles, it can be difficult at times to perfectly carry it out.

To practice self-care, you must actively choose and purposefully make time for

Claudia Cross (third from right) with members of the Community Allied Health Team fashioning Indigenous fabrics

an activity that will nurture your mental, emotional and physical health. Practicing self-care re-energises the body and soul and improves overall wellbeing. Strategies that improve our wellbeing are unique and therefore it is important to find out what works best for you. Being able to maintain your individual wellbeing is also a crucial way to build resilience as it allows you to develop and restore your internal resources to cope in stressful situations, to assist in problem solving and to be able to manage the demands of the day.

There are a number of different ways to practise self-care, restore wellbeing and Continued next page CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 19

F E AT U R E

TALES FROM THE TOP END: SELF-CARE AS A REMOTE OT Continued from previous page

build resilience. Here are some examples of the ways the Community Allied Health Team care for their wellbeing: • Physical activity and exercise: Whilst working remotely it can be challenging to fit in physical activity and exercise into the day due to the longer working hours, the unknown area and even the reputation of some of the dogs in community! Some team members try to fit in walks or runs when safe and able, while others enjoy yoga in their rooms.

• Sleep: Team members describe needing lots of sleep during visits due to the long working hours and complex caseload.

• Practicing gratitude: Gratitude is a huge part of the vocabulary at work and has a huge impact on not only wellbeing, but also cultivating team cohesion and morale. We have an office gratitude board which displays both small and big actions that we are grateful for (for example, receiving a fully completed referral form, a joint Paediatrician visit or a team acknowledgement).

• Connecting with people who have similar experiences: There is a large sense of comradery in the team which has a huge impact on overall wellbeing.

Given that staff travel frequently

20 www.otaus.com.au

and on different schedules, it can be weeks before the whole team is in the office together. In order to maintain the sense of team and to be able to de-brief, reflect and share the similar experiences of community work, we have a closed online group that staff use for sharing and support. When staff travel together there are many opportunities for de-briefing and reflection in order to provide each other with emotional support when needed.

• Connecting with clients: The team value spending time immersed in the community to learn about the local culture and to strengthen relationships with clients. Spending time with clients in their environment and doing their daily activities is an enriching experience.

• Embracing nature: Working with Aboriginal culture has taught us about appreciating natural beauty. It has given everyone a deeper understanding of the powerful re-energising powers of nature and its positive impact on the soul. In the community we are fortunate to see many amazing parts of Australia and to be able to learn about it from the traditional owners.

• Staying connected with family and friends: Phone and internet reception

Gapuwiyak community during a visit from the Community Allied Health Team

is not always reliable in remote communities however it is important for staff to maintain connections and relationships with their friends and family at home. Friends and family are a great way to receive emotional support whilst working away.

• Take time out for yourself to relax and enjoy: Whilst working remotely, it is easy to stay up late finishing notes, writing reports or sending referrals, however the team tries to close the laptop at a reasonable time in order to spend time relaxing—whether it be reading, enjoying cups of tea with colleagues, or even facemasks! Having the opportunity to go to these beautiful places is incredible and very special and thus it’s important to soak up the experience whilst in the community.

It is crucial that all health professionals prioritise their wellbeing and make time for activities that will nurture their health and build resilience. Despite the unique considerations to maintain physical, mental and emotional wellbeing whilst working remotely, remote settings also present unique opportunities to connect with yourself through being away from the demands of normal life and through embracing nature and culture.

F E AT U R E

SET GOALS & SEEK FEEDBACK: LEARNINGS FOR LEADERSHIP SUCCESS Felicity Beaulieu, BSc (OT), Grad Cert HPE, DipBus, GAICD Chief Operating Officer Community, Bethanie Chair Occupational Therapy Australia (WA) Divisional Council

I

stand proud in the fact that I am an occupational therapist. Now is the time for occupational therapists to seize opportunities amid leadership teams across the nation. With industry rhetoric across many sectors leaning into meaningful engagement, person centred outcomes and customer centric service delivery, OT is uniquely poised to bring the theory and practice of our profession to the work at hand. As someone who has personally navigated the leadership journey over the past 28 years (whilst holding my role as an OT front and centre), I am particularly passionate about the great strength that occupational therapists bring to leadership teams.

My journey from new graduate sole practice rural OT in 1991 to Chief Operating Officer Community in 2019 (with a current executive portfolio spanning 4 business units, 27 sites, 3800 customers, 250 staff and 100 volunteers) has seen many twists and turns. Maintaining a conversation with myself, surrounding myself with the right people and seeking support when considering future choices has allowed me to navigate the terrain. As I look at the opportunities that exist for OT to make its mark on the changing face of leadership

and practice, it’s important that we all take time to consider our own development pathway and what we seek to contribute.

feeling, responding and performing, and then building those into our development plan for the future.

Maintaining a conversation with yourself

At each stage of our journey, we need to have a sense of the destination. When setting our development plan, we often focus on the required workplace outcomes.

There’s a risk that we can get the balance wrong here—focussing on professional goals separately from the rest of our life

A conversation with yourself is about creating space to listen to you—not just once or twice a year, but on a more regular basis. It’s about understanding how the events of the present impact how we are

Continued next page

Felicity Beaulieu networking with Australian Housing Institute members

CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 21

F E AT U R E

SET GOALS & SEEK FEEDBACK: LEARNINGS FOR LEADERSHIP SUCCESS Continued from previous page

tends not to work. If we are seeking to achieve particular professional milestones and personal outcomes, we need to consider them collectively. There is much talk of work-life balance, but achievement of this is more likely if you have taken the time to consider what is important in the whole picture. Otherwise, we end up trying to give 100% to everything, which often results in burnout and dissatisfaction.

Your professional and personal goals must be viewed in tandem and are constantly a work in progress. There is limited benefit in setting goals once a year, ticking them off and then madly scrambling to set more for the year ahead. As you achieve something, celebrate the achievement and then move onto the next focus area—it should already be on the radar through your ongoing conversations with yourself.

If you’re not satisfied and being energised by what you are doing, it’s time to consider change. Taking time out to reflect on the aspects of your role and profession that feed you is essential. For me, that has

BY REGULARLY SPENDING TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE YOU WITH FEEDBACK, AND BEING OPEN TO THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE CONTENT, YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH A RICHER UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF AND YOUR FUTURE POTENTIAL.

22 www.otaus.com.au

meant maintaining a small private practice, volunteering roles with Occupational Therapy Australia and more recently some volunteer time in Cambodia with an NGO built on sustainability, RAW Impact.

Surround yourself with the right people

Goals are rarely achieved alone. Diversity of governance is a concept that is not new, but that is gaining teeth within many industry compliance formats.

As an individual and as an occupational therapist, it is essential to consider the diversity of input that we have available to us. If we run a critical eye over our feedback sources, they tend to be somewhat limited.

Traditionally, we have looked to people with hierarchical responsibility to provide feedback about our professional performance. Although this is one view (and it is important to understand your boss!), it may not be the view that is best aligned to look at your long-term aspirations as a clinician or leader. In my own experience, there have been times where choosing to accept line manager feedback alone rather than seeking a broader view may have limited my learning opportunity and challenged aspirations for the future. Seek out those people with a differing opinion, those who are brave enough to tell you what you need to hear, and who see you as more than just where you are right now. Listen not only to the people ‘above’ you in the hierarchy, but those all around you. Some of the most useful feedback about your performance as a leader, is from those you lead.

Garnering feedback can be a discrete activity (such as a 360 review or a performance review feedback form) or it can be an ongoing opportunity.

Any feedback can be useful, but the feedback that is collated and considered on an ongoing basis is more likely to drive lasting change and growth. By regularly spending time with people who provide you with feedback, and being open to the conversations and the content, you will be left with a richer understanding of yourself and your future potential.

Mentoring or coaching with someone you connect with may be something you access as a part of your professional development, and you may need to be prepared to pay for it. I meet approximately every 8 weeks with an executive coach, and it is in those sessions that I can begin to see where the conversations I am having with myself are taking me, and how that fits with my professional journey. My coach challenges me to explore and face any blind spots that might limit my performance along the way, and provides suggestions of learning paths to build my skill repertoire.

Formal learning opportunities are one of the steps along the pathway of professional development, and are often sought out to help meet specific goals.

PD activities (such as those offered by OTA) provide an opportunity to learn in a format that has been well considered to maximise information uptake. Other opportunities may be less formal, yet still provide solid learning outcomes. You may walk away from others with regret that you participated. Ask questions about the way that you are about to spend your time and money—who is running the training, what are the learning outcomes, what learning approach will be utilised? And having asked those questions, if at the end of a learning opportunity you are not satisfied, in the age of consumer feedback take the opportunity to share your concerns.

F E AT U R E

Seeking support when opportunities present

My experience of occupational therapists over the past 31 years has been that we tend not to self-promote, and when opportunities present, we may not see ourselves as having the capability to succeed. Opportunities can be big or small. It’s not always the new role, but sometimes the new task that can be a part of our broader learning journey and confidence build for the future. When your professional goals have been identified, actively look for opportunities that will give you a chance to build the suite of skills to develop and demonstrate your abilities. You may need to garner support to do this. Talk to people about what you want to learn, and get their thoughts on options to do this.

When there is a bigger opportunity, such as a new role, seek support from people who understand what that future looks like and how you may need to position yourself for success. If it’s a management role, work with a manager colleague or mentor to understand what the role entails and what success would look like.

Be open to feedback on your application, preparation for interviews and debriefing afterwards to capture any learning.

As I said at the outset, I am a proud OT. Occupational therapy provides us with a unique perspective to bring to the leadership table, and a perspective that is more relevant now that ever.

Considering the role that we want to play (and the support that we need on that journey) gives us a better chance of success in balancing the demands of these changing industry environments.

Felicity Beaulieu building with Marcel, RAW Impact Volunteers CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 23

F E AT U R E

REFLECTIONS ON VOLUNTEERING IN FIJI Joanne Robertson & Sara Young, Volunteer OTs with the Australian Volunteers Program

I

n June 2017, ‘the article “Volunteering in Fiji” was published in Connections, exploring the experience of volunteer occupational therapist, Joanne Robertson.

Joanne travelled to Fiji after completing a Masters of Advanced Occupational Therapy and was looking for a new challenge. A role advertised by the Australian Volunteers Program provided the opportunity to use her skills to make a difference overseas.

Using my project management skills, I spent the first three months conducting a needs analysis on how an OT program could enhance the six-bed mental health ward. With the objective to lower service-user’s experiences of agitation, frustration, and boredom, I then spent three months working in collaboration with service-users and staff to plan a sustainable approach that worked in the small space, and was self-funded.

In 2018, the same role was again offered by the Australian Volunteers Program. After three years working as a mental health occupational therapist in Melbourne, Sara Young was similarly looking for a change of scenery and took the opportunity to move to Fiji to continue the assignment.

In February 2017, the Life Enhance Activities Program (LEAP) was launched, offering a daily group program for service-users of the ward. A weekly schedule included education on managing stress, expressive painting, physical movement, vocational exploration, and access to reading material.

Throughout the 12 months I worked alongside Staff Nurse Ashneel Naidu who by the time of my departure in August 2017 was independently running the program.

This article shares both Joanne and Sara’s stories of skilled volunteering in a developing country, offering reflections on their personal and professional growth gained through the experience.

What personal and professional strengths did you draw upon during your volunteering experiences in Fiji?

Joanne In August 2016 I travelled to Fiji and worked as an OT in the Stress Management Ward of the Labasa, Hospital. Labasa is in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, the largest rural town on the island.

24 www.otaus.com.au

Sara Prior to leaving for Fiji, I learnt that my assignment would follow on from Joanne’s, and we were able to formally connect through Occupational Therapy Australia’s Mentorlink program—a valuable professional development opportunity for us both.

When I arrived in Fiji in March 2018, the LEAP program was going strong thanks to the dedication of the ward staff. Yet it was evident early on that there were still many barriers to people accessing mental health services in Fiji, including stigma

from lack of education about mental illness and a lack of service availability.

Additionally, I struggled with the physical space of the inpatient unit, which was poorly designed and under-resourced.

Drawing on my experience in sensory modulation, we set out to understand the challenges from staff and service-users’ perspectives. To help frame the questions, I used “The Residential Environment Impact Scale” (REIS) (Parkinson, Fisher & Fisher, 2011), adapted to suit an inpatient setting. This approach uncovered issues ranging from sensory deprivation (lack of natural lighting and fresh air), poor maintenance (broken tiles, fans and light bulbs), lack of privacy and gender sensitivity (one shared bathroom for males and females, no private rooms).

Working collaboratively, we developed recommendations, detailing necessary environmental changes, as well as ‘Safewards’ (Safewards, 2019) training that could help manage the current space. Taking advantage of planned upgrades to the wider hospital, the REIS recommendations were used to advocate for the inclusion of the unit’s renovation, resulting in the successful approval of plans for a completely new, purposebuilt mental health inpatient facility.

How did you look after yourself to enable personal growth and connection, and your occupational therapy skill sets?

F E AT U R E

Sara Young (middle) with colleagues Latileta, Dr Fatima, Shoma and Nicholas (left to right), showcasing posters made by service-users from the Stress Management Ward for World Mental Health Day.

Joanne I left for Fiji practising as a mental health OT using a Recovery framework (Le Boutillier, et al., 2011). I came home understanding what that truly meant.

opportunity to create, with a strong focus on service-users’ recovery. I returned home knowing how I wanted to practice as an OT. My next challenge was how to work that into the Australian environment.

In Fiji I had the opportunity to work at a slower pace, to work in collaboration with service-users and to show compassion leading to many positive outcomes for service-users and staff. I drew on my core OT skills, holding strong that serviceusers needed to be engaged in an activity, to be orientated to their space, and to feel a sense of meaning and purpose in the activities we offered. We embedded ownership through collaboration and service-users thrived, staff started to see the value in recovery, and I refined my skills in being resourceful, adaptable and flexible in an unpredictable environment.

Sara Shaking my usual desire to hit the ground running, I found that working slowly was the best way forward, easing into the new environment, learning the culture and adapting to a pace more relaxed than I knew. It was also important to help foster relationships with my colleagues, which came to be the most important aspect of volunteering. I needed my colleagues to be engaged and motivated in order to implement new ideas, but I also needed their support and strength to keep me going on the days that were tough. In this way, I was able to work more effectively with the team and expand the LEAP program to include sensory-based therapies, and at the staff’s request, more psycho-education groups.

Outside of the ward I developed strategies of self-care which included making time for down time. It was during this down time that I learnt of my need to create. I started considering a future that enabled me the

The Fijian way of life taught me many valuable lessons (both personal and professional) in finding a healthy work-life balance and building a strong community around oneself. The experience of volunteering in a foreign country, where familiar supports and comforts are glaringly absent, opened me up to being vulnerable in a way that allowed me to gain a better cultural understanding, self-awareness, reflective practice skills and coping strategies, that will ultimately shape my future practice as an OT.

How has your Fijian experience influenced your personal and professional goals, and how have you embedded your new knowledge into your lives today?

Joanne While in Fiji I had fewer responsibilities which allowed me to prioritise important occupations, giving me time to reflect and (later) the space to put my ideas of Continued next page CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 25

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REFLECTIONS ON VOLUNTEERING IN FIJI Continued from previous page

a private practice in writing. Once I was settled back in Australia I started revisiting those ideas, using the skills and determination gained in Fiji to move towards the vision I had created for myself.

Today, Collaborative Occupational Therapy (my private practice) offers therapeutic inter-generational groups to decrease social isolation and aid well-being. With a strong focus on recovery, groups foster a sense of belonging and building self-belief, and are open to everyone over 15 years. An inter-generational approach allows participants to learn from different generations, feel a sense of contribution, build friendships, and accomplish achievements with meaning and purpose, all in a safe and inclusive environment. With over 30 participants in groups focusing on creativity and cooking, Collaborative Occupational Therapy is growing fast and will soon branch out to other occupations and offer services throughout South Australia.

Joanne can be contacted at contact@joanne-robertson.com or 0423 782 320 if you would like to hear more about inter-generational groups or her volunteer experience.

Sara In Fiji, OT is not yet a recognised profession. Despite this, I found that the value of OT was still understood in a very practical, tangible way. Having previously worked in a generic role as a case manager, becoming a volunteer helped me to reconnect with the fundamental principles of OT and the power of the profession in mental health settings. I also developed a greater understanding of the strong and influential role OTs have as advocates for evidence-based practice and continual service improvement.

Having only just recently returned to Australia, I am still exploring where this experience will take me—I hope to embed my new-found passion for mental health advocacy more into my future practice.

If you would like to hear more about Sara’s experience, she can be contacted at sayoung16@gmail.com References Le Boutillier, C., Leamy, M., Davidson, L., Williams, J., & Slade M. (2001).

What Does Recovery Mean in Practice? A Qualitative Analysis of International Recovery-Oriented Practice Guidance. Psychiatric Services, 62 (12), 1470-1476. doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.001312011 Parkinson, S., Fisher, G., & Fisher, J. (2011). The Residential Environment Impact Survey- Short Form, version 2.2. Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago Safewards. (2019). Safewards Model and Interventions.

Retrieved from http://www.safewards.net/

26 www.otaus.com.au

Joanne Robertson (front, second from left) and colleagues Shoma (front right), Nazreen (back left) and Ashneel (back, second from right) with service-users after a busy day selling tea and coffee to hospital staff as part of the vocational group.

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F E AT U R E

INTRODUCING OTA’S RESEARCH CHATS Carol Jewel, OTA Professional Standards and Practice Advisor

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TA’s 28th National Conference in July 2019 provided sound evidence of the enormous vibrancy and diversity of research across the occupational therapy profession.

There were excellent examples of ground breaking, innovative and occupationally focussed research as well as innovative consumer co-design research. Indeed, growing acceptance of the use of contemporary research methods affords enormous opportunity for occupational therapy researchers going forward. This is our time to take the research mantle and to run with it.

If you are considering getting involved in research and want to hear about the experience and insights of other occupational therapists involved in research, then we invite you to explore our new Research Chat series (www.otaus. com.au/cpd-and-events/pd-resourceslibrary). Research Chats are a series of video interviews (around 10 minutes in length) with occupational therapists who have recently undertaken a research study.

Research Chats provides an informal platform: • For occupational therapy researchers to share their research experiences and learnings with others interested in embarking in research • To showcase and illustrate a diverse range of research ideas and methods

• Create connections between occupational therapy researchers and occupational therapists wanting to embark in research • To inspire you to think about engaging in quality improvement and/or research in your practice If you are curious about what research involves or you are entertaining the idea of doing research yourself, then please take a few moments to hear from our diverse range of researchers about their experiences.

RESEARCH CHATS PROVIDES AN INFORMAL PLATFORM ... TO SHOWCASE AND ILLUSTRATE A DIVERSE RANGE OF RESEARCH IDEAS AND METHODS

why she saw research into fatigue related cancer as so important in her field, and what inspired her to develop her expertise in implementation research.

Dr Elizabeth Pearson

Dr Elizabeth Pearson has substantial experience as an occupational therapy leader in the cancer field and is a wellrespected clinician researcher in cancer care. Her seminal research explored best management of cancer related fatigue and she is currently working on the implementation of Canadian Clinical Practice guidelines for screening, assessing and managing cancer related fatigue.

In this research chat, Elizabeth talks about how she became interested in research,

Dr Danielle Hitch

Dr Danielle Hitch is a highly regarded occupational therapy academic and researcher. Her extensive clinical experience in mental health and her passion for the value and meaning of occupational therapy practice in mental health has underpinned all of her research interests. Her research has Continued next page CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 27

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INTRODUCING OTA’S RESEARCH CHATS Continued from previous page

centred around the value of occupation in promoting mental health and wellbeing.

She has had a pivotal role in introducing consumer co-design methodology in her work and in translating research into practice to improve consumer outcomes and their experience of care.

In this research chat, Danielle talks about how she became involved in research, what inspired her to focus on her area of research, and what inspired her to incorporate consumer co-design methodology in her research. She also talks about what influenced her to make a transition from a clinician to clinical researcher and academic.

In this research chat, Jacki talks about what inspired her to take up research in her field of practice, what has underpinned her clinical curiosity, how she has developed her understanding of complex issues through her research and how she has engaged multidisciplinary players in her research. She also talks about inspires her fervent research activity.

Dr Kate Laver and Miia Rahja

Dr Jacki Liddle

Dr Jacki Liddle is a well-recognised research fellow and occupational therapist who has led mixed methods research to explore quality of life, participation and life transitions. She uses innovative technology, along with qualitative and quantitative research methods to investigate the needs and experiences of people living with neurological conditions (dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke), older people and their caregivers. She is currently part of a multi-disciplinary team co-designing technology with people living with dementia and their care partners to support communication.

28 www.otaus.com.au

Dr Kate Laver has substantial experience as a clinician, clinical researcher and academic. Her main interests lie in testing rehabilitation interventions in the fields of dementia and stroke. She currently leads projects which test the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions or technological application in rehabilitation and is well known for her expertise in knowledge translation activities.

Miia Rahja is a PhD candidate with the department of rehabilitation, aged and extended care. Her PhD applies a health economic perspective to intervention improvements through occupational therapy to support the well-being of people with dementia.

This includes an investigation of the role of occupational therapists supporting people with dementia, and the cost

Member Benefit: Accessing Research Chats To access the series of Research Chats videos, members can visit our PD Resources Library page: www.otaus.com.au/cpd-andevents/pd-resources-library

and outcomes of different evidencebased dementia care programs.

In this research chat Miia talks to Kate about her evidence based occupational therapy case note audit. Miia talks about her findings and the main practice implications for occupational therapists working with people with dementia in the community. Miia also talks about how she became involved in research, and the rewards and challenges of being a researcher.

If you would like to share your research experience with others through a Research Chat or if you have ideas on other topics or ideas you would like to see covered in our research chat series, please contact Occupational Therapy Australia at info@otaus.com.au

F E AT U R E

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLIENTS Cathy Tratsellas, Employee Expert at Employee Matters

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ne in five Australian workers suffer from a mental health illness and are regularly at work, which leaves less time for them to receive adequate medical treatment.

Not only do these illnesses impact those afflicted, but they also put significant stress on our communities and our workplaces.

However, there are approaches you can take to manage this and protect yourself (and those you come into contact with), in the course of your work.

What are the stats around mental illness in Australia?

With 20%-25% of the population suffering from mental illness at any one time (as reported by Mental Health First Aid Australia), the odds are you, or someone you know, is undergoing a mental health issue.

One of our biggest challenges is that only 65% of people suffering a Mental Health condition seek medical assistance.

Embarrassment, or thinking that it’s just a stage you are going through, are just a couple of the barriers to seeking help.

Almost half the total population (45.5%) experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. One in five, or 20% of the Australian population aged 16-85 years, have experienced mental disorders in the previous 12 months. One in 16 (6.2%) had affective (mood) disorders;

one in seven (14.4%) had anxiety disorders; and one in 20 (5.1%) had substance use disorders. It is expected that it’s going to get worse.

How can the workplace have a negative impact on your mental health?

There are many instances, for example, where you have little control over your job. Times when the expectations are very high but this does not balance with the reward component, where there has been an extended period where you have felt concern about your job security, or where a workplace has high levels of conflict.

Suicidologist Dr Thomas Joiner describes a lack of connection, (or a lack of belonging), as one of the three forces at play in someone at risk of suicide.

Why not begin a dialogue today with your manager and co-workers about how to create opportunities to connect? Start small with morning teas or celebrations for birthdays and achievements, and begin to foster these healthy support networks,

Let’s look at the possible early signs of an individual suffering a mental health illness.

We divide this into two groups, behavioural signs and physical signs.

Examples of behavioural signs are, not getting things done (especially if in the past you have not found this an issue), erratic

behaviour, withdrawing from others, an inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, loss of confidence, excessive fear or worry, and increased errors or accidents.

Physical signs might be that you are tired all the time or there might be sudden weight loss or gain, persistent muscle aches and pains, moving more slowly, appearing agitated, changes in sleep patterns, dishevelled appearance, and gastrointestinal problems.

It’s fair to say that these signs could also be indicative of a number of health conditions or even stress (which can also lead to mental health issues if the stress is chronic), which is why identifying the cause of these signs is particularly challenging.

One of the other challenges is that people—all of us—would much prefer to talk about a person’s recent cancer diagnosis than talk about mental health concerns.

What can you do to maximise your mental health?

Start by looking at your job design in order to reduce known risk factors for mental ill-health. Over recent decades, a range of work-based mental health risk factors have been identified from welldesigned observation studies, including excessive job demands, limited job control, an imbalance between effort and reward, workplace trauma, bullying, role conflict and perceived injustice within an organisation. You can begin by having Continued next page CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 29

F E AT U R E

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF TO SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLIENTS Continued from previous page

a conversation with your employer about flexible working conditions and having more of a say in how your work is performed.

Then look at improving your mental health by enhancing your individual coping skills and personal resilience.

This can be attempted via direct resilience training or lifestyle modification programmes or other forms of coaching: • CBT or Cognitive Behaviour Therapybased stress management programs • Mindfulness or CBT-based resilience training for high-risk occupants • Workplace physical activity programs Thirdly, seek help early for mental health symptoms. Some options that are available, both within and outside, the workplace, include: • Wellbeing checks/health screening • Peer support schemes

How do I approach a colleague who I believe might be ill?

If you sense that a colleague might be unwell, consider the range of approaches below as outlined by Mental Health First Aid Australia in the Mental Health First Aid Course: APPROACH the person about your concerns. If the person is in crisis, this is your first priority. Their signs may be immediately apparent, or they may emerge during your conversation with the person.

LISTEN and communicate, non-judgmentally.

Engage the person to discuss how they are feeling. Ask how long they have been feeling this way. Set aside any judgements and listen empathetically before offering help. Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal listening skills.

GIVE support and information.

Provide emotional support, hope for recovery and practical help. Also provide information and resources on mental illnesses.

ENCOURAGE appropriate PROFESSIONAL help. Various professional options include: medication, counselling or psychological therapy, help with vocational and educational goals, help with income and accommodation.

ENCOURAGE OTHER SUPPORTS, including family, friends, community, and others who have experienced mental illness.

• Workplace counselling/EAP • Avoid emotional debriefing following a traumatic event • Mental health education: Mental Health First Aid training

What if your peer doesn’t want help?

• Try and find out why?

• Offer reliable information which may help them to see that seeking help is a good idea • Continue to encourage them to seek or accept professional help • Do not threaten, lecture, nag or use guilt to change their mind • Let them know you are prepared to talk when they are ready • If their symptoms become severe, you may need to seek assistance against their wishes

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are 30 www.otaus.com.au

designed to promote and facilitate early help-seeking, by building competencies in individuals, who may come into close contact with those showing early signs of a mental health problem or crisis, such as co-workers or clients.

MHFA courses are based on evidence of what is best-practice mental health first aid, to support someone who has a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental health crisis. This evidence has been developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne.

It has been shown that MHFA training is associated with: • Improved knowledge of mental illness, treatments and appropriate first aid strategies • Confidence in providing first aid to a person experiencing a mental health problem

• Decreases in stigmatising attitudes • Increases in the amount and type of support Completing an MHFA course helps to develop the skills to support a co-worker, client, friend or family member. This can also contribute to building a more supportive and open workplace culture.

Contacts

Lifeline 24-hour counselling: 13 11 14 Suicide call back services: 1300 659 467 Mental Health First Aid: mhfa@mhfa.com.au or +61 3 9079 0200 If you would like assistance in managing mental health in the workplace, contact Employee Matters on 02 8021 4206 or visit: www.employeemattters.com.au

A O TJ R E P O R T

YOUR JOURNAL AND JOURNAL CLUBS: A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE Anne Cusick, Editor in Chief Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Rosalind A Bye, Chair of Australian New Zealand Council of Occupational Therapy Educators We all know that evidence-based approaches involve each of us engaging in practice reasoning and making practice decisions that take into account the best available evidence.

Our Australian colleagues Hoffman, Bennett and Del-Mar remind us in their book Evidence based practice across the health professions (Third Edition, 2017, Elsevier), that this evidence comes from four sources: clinical (practice) expertise; patient (client/ family/ stakeholder) values, preferences and circumstances; information from the practice context; and research evidence. The ‘sweet spot’ in practice reasoning comes when information from all four sources integrates to reach an optimal decision.

When teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) to occupational therapy students, we tend to focus on the tools, techniques and tips needed for the research evidence component of the EBP process. Briefly, this process is to: ask questions; find research evidence; examine the quality and relevance of that evidence; and apply that research evidence into the unique practice-reasoning situation.

We want students to be EBP-ready for their simulation and placement practice learning. In time, we anticipate that their readiness for EBP, and the EBP toolbox they build, will be routinely applied

IT’S TIME TO BRING JOURNAL CLUBS BACK INTO YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE, RE-ENGAGE IN REFLECTIVE SCHOLARSHIP TO INFORM PRACTICE, AND RECONNECT WITH COLLEAGUES OVER DISCUSSIONS REGARDING INNOVATIONS AND NEW IDEAS!

in day-to-day practice reasoning. We expect, in fact our professional standards require, occupational therapists to use an evidence-based approach all the time.

Finding that ‘sweet spot’ in a clinical or practice decision can at times be challenging. The type and quality of information from each of the four sources can vary so much. Not only that, there is just so much information available! In everyday practice when hundreds of practice decisions might be needed from a therapist in a day, week or month, how can integration of all four sources of information—including research information—into evidencebased decisions be streamlined?

There are many strategies but one that is routinely successful, easily implemented and has been used in health for over 100 years is a journal club.

Journal clubs may seem superficially simple, but a well-run journal club can

embody many complex psychosocial processes essential to deep learning: sharing information about practice and research knowledge/ skills/ attitudes; reflection and feedback on practice habits/gaps/schema and creativity; role-modelling and role experimentation; story-telling and narrative construction; peer socialisation and priority setting, time management, self-care and quality improvement. A well-run journal club is hard to beat as a low-stress, lowcost, slow-drip, culture-changing strategy for evidence-based practice.

It would be hard to find an OTA member who has not led or been in a journal club. At the same time, it is easy to find occupational therapists who ‘used to’ belong to a journal club but either they changed roles and left their journal club connections behind, or the journal club faded due to competing work Continued next page CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 31

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YOUR JOURNAL AND JOURNAL CLUBS: A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE Continued from previous page

demands. With this issue’s theme of Connecting with Ourselves, we argue that it’s time to bring journal clubs back into your professional life, re-engage in reflective scholarship to inform practice, and reconnect with colleagues over discussions regarding innovations and new ideas! This old-but-new strategy is a sure-fire way to underpin and energise an evidence-based approach to practice reasoning and share in continuing professional growth with colleagues.

Clubs can be professional, interprofessional or multidisciplinary—it depends on the journal club’s purpose. For occupational therapists, particularly those working as the only occupational therapist in a team or service, or for new graduates, a profession-specific journal club can be a good anchor point for transformative learning, professional role socialisation, and competency development.

Decide on the purpose of the journal club, even a profession-specific occupational therapy club needs an aim and scope relevant to current and future members.

The aim will remind members why the club exists and the scope will set out what is and is not on the agenda. Stick to the aim and scope and don’t be afraid to debate it when slippage occurs. These conversations help refine member identity, and deepen the understanding of a professional and personal standpoint on EBP. Decide on a meeting structure and mode. For most of their history, journal clubs have been face-to-face meetings where the ancillary socialisation was as important as the evidence reviewed.

32 www.otaus.com.au

Both remain important but the mode of meeting has loosened up. There are guidelines and articles available now on how to host or participate in traditional face-to-face clubs, online meeting room clubs, Twitter clubs and so on.

Regardless of the mode, don’t forget to have equal emphasis on the ‘journal’ and the ‘club’ aspect of this strategy— it is after all a social process where belonging, contributing and receiving are important dimensions for success. The connections gained via the club format ensure engagement of members and mean that the club is bigger than any one individual member, ensuring it remains sustainable when members leave and join.

Decide on your journal articles.

Unsurprisingly, we are going to suggest that you should use the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal as your preferred starting point. OTA members have access to all current and archived volumes. Non-members miss this and many other services that support their continuing professional development but perhaps this is the opportunity-cost they have chosen by not subscribing to their official professional peak body.

For them, pre-print versions of some Australian Occupational Therapy Journal articles are available from authors on research networking sites such as ResearchGate (a private company with free access) or on university websites.

Remember that copying and sharing journal published downloaded articles for anything other than your personal use may be a breach of copyright.

Be discerning and critical to ensure that what you are reading constitutes quality evidence and is relevant to contemporary practice. If you are using the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal as your primary source for journal club material, you can be assured that it has already been screened for relevance to occupational therapy, appraised for quality, and identified as worthy for dissemination to the OTA membership and wider international audience.

You can also use the same appraisal tools recommended to authors and reviewers to assess the methodological quality of the research (see the list and links in ‘Author Guidelines’). In addition, you can triangulate what you read with the real world practice context and practice expertise from your own professional context (as most of the articles are written

by Australian occupational therapists).

Keeping a journal club energised, efficient and open to members coming and going requires careful thought. We recommend three approaches for the club to start well, to keep it sustainable and to cope with people coming and going: • Keep it simple. Use your professional society journal, the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. In an occupational therapy journal club this helps in so many ways. Even if you have no service approach or caseload in common with other club participants, you will always have something to discuss if the paper comes from the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal because this is your journal

A O TJ R E P O R T

supported by your membership funds and managed by your society. This gives everyone a stake in every article!

• Use a cycle. Create a sense of a beginning, middle and end to a journal club program every year. The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has six issues a year, so why not hold a journal club once every two months to coincide with an issue. Alternatively, if you want monthly meetings, hold one meeting on a current issue article and the next month focus on a back issue. Link your club cycle into the annual cycle of professional registration, association membership renewal, conference and symposia events and of course OT Week. Consider holding an ‘open door’ journal club in OT Week for colleagues and consumers to attend.

• Celebrate club members. Occupational therapists may work in teams or as a solo therapist, but the responsibility of autonomous decisions can weigh heavy on us all from time to time. Don’t forget the word ‘club’ in your journal club— social recognition, connection and community is essential.

It can start by calling people by name and remembering their names, to other symbols of collegiality and respect that are meaningful and appropriate to the group. Keep it business-like but don’t forget the business is about people and connecting with your peers to further yourself and your profession. Using the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal as your article source makes this easier. Most OTA members personally know, have been taught by, worked with, observed from afar or heard about many of the authors in each issue. These authors have shared their work in our journal and would be thrilled to know that others are talking about, debating and integrating their research findings into everyday practice via a journal club.

• We also recommend that the journal club be a space where members can share with others the kind of OT they aspire to be, and the ideas that shape their vocation as an occupational therapist, by sharing their favourite OT articles from the past or present. There are some articles that can hold a special place for individual occupational therapists as the ideas contained in the pages resonate so powerfully with the therapist’s self and professional identity, and renew their sense of belonging to the larger profession. Sharing such favourites may inspire others along their professional path or provide a grounding for those looking to build strong professional foundations.

For those of us who have been members of a journal club, the connections we made through reading, reflecting, and discussing ideas with peers made a difference to our sense

of belonging to the profession. This can be just as powerful for new graduate therapists who are searching for their place in the profession and for more experienced therapists who are examining their careers and determining their future goals.

Journal clubs remind us that being an occupational therapist is about making a difference to the lives of others, and that we are not alone in this quest. Being evidence-based practitioners means that we must maintain a future-focus in everything we do; a focus on improvement, a focus on new evidence, and a focus on making the necessary professional connections that ensure our work life remains supported and collegial. Journal clubs tick a lot of boxes when it comes to supporting professional goals and continuing professional development. We suggest you browse the latest edition of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, start your journal club and make new connections. What are you waiting for?

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CONNECTIONS OCTOBER 2019 33

WFOT REPORT

WFOT UPDATE Adam Lo, WFOT 1st Alternative Delegate New WFOT Resources

• Global indicators of assistive technology use amongst occupational therapists- Report of WFOT’s Global Surveys – Poster (August, 2019)

To access resources, information and promotional materials (such as logos, posters and a social media pack with artwork), visit: www.wfot.org/worldoccupational-therapy-day. Some of the resources are even available in several other languages, such as French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.

• Global indicators of assistive technology use amongst occupational therapists- Report of WFOT’s Global Surveys (August, 2019)

This is a great day to feel proud of our profession and how we contribute directly and significantly to enhancing the worldbeing of humanity around the globe.

• WFOT Development Paper – Results from the Assistive Technology Surveys 2017 (August, 2019)

Occupational Therapy Conferences around the World

WFOT has recently released several useful resources on occupational therapy and assistive technology, including:

• Occupational Therapy and Assistive Technology – Position Statement (March, 2019) You can access the resources online here: www.wfot.org/resources

World Occupational Therapy Day 2019

World Occupational Therapy Day will take place on 27 October in 2019.

The theme for 2019 is “Improving World Health and Wellbeing”.

Opportunities for professional development and a chance to network with other occupational therapists from other parts of the world are wonderful experiences.

Here is a selection of upcoming events that might be of interest to you: TOTA 2019 Annual Meeting and International Conference 2019 The Taiwan Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) is hosting the TOTA 2019 Annual Meeting and International Conference at the National Taiwan University at Taipei, Taiwan from 2 -3 November 2019.

The theme of the conference will be “From Occupation to Health – Bridging Research and Practice.”

Please go to www.ot-roc. org.tw/news/unit/128 for more information.

34 www.otaus.com.au

2nd Conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of Morocco The 2nd Conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of Morocco will be held on 4 January 2020, at the Tangier Campus of the University of New England in Morocco. The theme is ‘Advancing Health Care and Education Through Participation in Everyday Occupations’. Please visit this Facebook page for updates: www.facebook.com/ occupationaltherapyassociationmorocco 2nd COTEC – ENOTHE Congress 2020 The 2nd Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries and European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (COTECENOTHE) joint conference will be held in Prague, Czech Republic from 23-26 September 2020.

The conference theme ‘Occupational Therapy Europe – building resilience in individuals, communities and countries’ reflects the increasing prevalence of resilience in many aspects of society.

Please go to www.cotec-enothe2020.com for more information.

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