What is Occupational Therapy?
What is an Occupational Therapist?
What is Occupational Therapy?
Where do Occupational Therapists work in Western Australia?
Where can I find an Occupational Therapist?
How much do Occupational Therapy services cost?
How are Occupational Therapists trained in Western Australia?
What standards or laws govern Occupational Therapy practice in Western Australia?
What areas of specialty do Occupational Therapists in Western Australia work? What is an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational Therapists are health professionals who assist people to overcome difficulties or limitations in their daily life. These difficulties may be caused through accident or injury, through disease or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of ageing. These problems can be physical, cognitive, perceptual or psychological in nature.
Occupational Therapists work with people from all walks of life. People of all ages. People with or without disability. People of all cultures and backgrounds. Occupational Therapists work together with people and their life situations to make decisions that are both personally meaningful and therapeutic.
The Occupational Therapist's goal is to assist each individual to reduce the difficulty they experience, to move from dependence to independence, and maximise their safety, personal productivity, well-being and quality of life. Top of Page What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational Therapy is a health profession concerned with promoting the health and well-being of individuals through occupation. The term occupation refers to activities of everyday life including work, play/leisure and self-care. The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable individuals to participate in occupation by enhancing their abilities or modifying the environment to better support participation. Occupational Therapists believe that participation can be supported or restricted by social, physical and legislative factors. Therefore, Occupational Therapy practice is often directed to changing aspects of the environment to enhance participation in occupation for either individuals or groups of people.
Clients of Occupational Therapists are actively involved in the therapeutic process. Therefore the outcomes of Occupational Therapy are diverse, client-driven and measured by participation and or client satisfaction with participation in activities of everyday life.
Below is a compliation of definitions and descriptions that capture the essence of Occupational Therapy. "Occupational Therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational Therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the environment to better support participation. Occupational Therapists have a broad education that equips them with the skills and knowledge to work collaboratively with individuals or groups of people who have an impairment of body structure or function due to a health condition, and those who experience barriers to participation. Occupational Therapists believe that participation can be supported or restricted by physical, social, attitudinal or legislative environments. Therefore, Occupational Therapy practice may be directed to changing aspects of the environment to enhance participation. Occupational Therapy is practiced in a wide range of settings (... and) clients are actively involved in the therapeutic process, and outcomes of Occupational Therapy are diverse, client-driven and measured in terms of participation or satisfaction derived from participation." (WFOT, 2004).
Occupational Therapy is the "therapeutic use of self-care, work and play (leisure) activities to increase independent function, enhance development and prevent disability. May include adaptation of task or environment to achieve maximum independence and quality of life." (Hopkins & Smith, 1993).
"Occupational Therapy is an allied health profession associated with assisting individuals of all ages to achieve their chosen occupational roles in the community in the areas of self-care, mobility, work and leisure. To overcome deficits related to physical, intellectual and psychosocial function." (Curtin University of Technology, School of Occupational Therapy, Staff Member, 2000).
Occupational Therapy involves "improving the lives of those who may otherwise have barriers to leading a fulfilling lifestyle." (2nd Year Occupational Therapy Student, 2000). Top of Page Where do Occupational Therapists work in Western Australia?
Occupational Therapists work with all age groups and in a wide range of physical and psychosocial settings. Occupational Therapists can be found working in a variety of different locations and situations, including: - Public & Private Hospitals
- Mental Health Wards, Centres, Clinics and Hostels
- Private Practice
- Retirement & Nursing Homes
- Schools
- Industry
- Government Departments
- Vocational Rehabilition Centres
- Medical Rehabilitation Centres
- Community Health Centres
- Home Care Services
- Tertiary Education Centres
- Independent Living Centres
- Associations (eg. Association for the Blind, Arthritis Foundation)
Top of Page Where can I find an Occupational Therapist?
A person may be referred to an Occupational Therapist by many means. The most common referrals are from a doctor (GP or specialist), or other health professional, friend, relative, or direct contact from a client. Occupational Therapists are often employed in the public sector, and individuals may receive Occupational Therapy services through hospitals, community centres, clinics and the like. There are also many Occupational Therapists working in Private Practice in Western Australia. For contact details and areas of specialty of Occupational Therapists in Private Practice, please refer to the Find An OT section of this website. Top of Page How much do Occupational Therapy services cost?
Fees for Occupational Therapy vary according to the type of setting and nature of intervention. Fees may be subsidised by government centres or covered by health insurance, motor vehicle or workers' compensation insurance. (Please note: in the public health system there is often no fee charged directly to the recipient of Occupational Therapy services). Top of Page How are Occupational Therapists trained in Western Australia?
Practicing Occupational Therapists in Western Australia are required to be registered with the Occupational Therapists' Registration Board of Western Australia.
Occupational Therapists must have completed a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Occupational Therapy at a certified training institution.
Occupational Therapists are trained in many disciplines, some of which include: - Human Biology
- Social & Behavioural Science
- Occupational Science
- Occupational Therapy Theory & Practice
- Communication
- Management
- Research
University degree courses in Occupational Therapy vary in structure nationally and internationally. Training includes both theoretical study and considerable fieldwork or practical experience with clients under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist. Occupational Therapy courses are very popular and there is considerable competition for places. Postgraduate courses are also available at Masters and Doctorate levels, for people who have completed an undergraduate degree.
Currently in Western Australia a four year Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy is offered at Curtin University of Technology (Bentley, WA: www.ot.curtin.edu.au) and Edith Cowan University (Joondalup, WA: www.sebhs.ecu.edu.au/occ_therapy). Please contact the Occupational Therapy Schools at each university to find out about any course information (undergraduate or postgraduate). Top of Page What standards govern Occupational Therapy practice in Western Australia?
The practice of Occupational Therapists in Western Australia is regulated or guided by the following: - Occupational Therapists in Western Australia are required to be registered with the Occupational Therapists' Registration Board of Western Australia (www.otbwa.com.au). "The Board is a statutory authority responsible for administering the Occupational Therapists' Registration Act 1980. The Act is currently under review and amending legislation is anticipated in the near future. The primary functions of the Board are: registration of Occupational Therapists; investigation of complaints received from members of the public against registered Occupational Therapists; investigation of complaints received against non-registered persons practicing Occupational Therapy; and regulation of advertising by Occupational Therapists, including use of qualifications, titles and practice names. The Act provides the Board with the power to warn, fine or de-register Occupational Therapists. The Board is required to inform the Office of Health Review of all complaints received against Occupational Therapists" (from www.otbwa.com.au, 2008).
- Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (available for download from the Downloads section of this website). "The ethos of the occupational therapy profession and its practice requires its members to discharge their duties and responsibilities, at all times, in a manner which professionally, ethically, and morally compromises no individual with whom they have professional conduct, irrespective of that person's position, situation or condition in society."
- Occupational Therapy Standards of Conduct and Practice (available for download from the Downloads section of this website)
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT: www.wfot.org)
- In addition to the above requirements, Occupational Therapists are often governed by standards or requirements of their individual workplace/s (eg. government, schools)
Top of Page What areas of specialty do Occupational Therapists in Western Australia work? - Access
- Aged Care
- Arthritis
- Burns
- Disability
- Driver Training
- Equipment & Aids
- Ergonomics
- Hand & Upper Limb Therapy
- Health Promotion & Wellness
- Injury Prevention & Management
- Lymphodema Management (including Compression Garments)
- Medico-Legal Assessment
- Mental Health & Counselling
- Neurology
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Pain Management
- Palliative Care
- Rehabilitation
- Research
- Soft Tissue Therapy
- Vocational Rehabilitation
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