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What is occupational therapy?
What do occupational therapists do?
How is occupational therapy provided?
What qualifications do occupational therapists have?
Where do occupational therapist work?
How can you ensure the quality of services from an occupational therapist?
How can I find an occupational therapist?
The following definitition of occupational therapy has been provided by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), 2004.
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 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 who experience barriers to participation. Occupational therapists believe that participation can be supported or restricted by physical, social, attitudinal and legislative environments. Therefore, occupational therapy practice may be directed to changing aspects of the environment to enhance participation.
Occupational therapy is practised in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, health centres, homes, workplaces, schools, reform institutions and housing for seniors. 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.
What do occupational therapists do?
Click on the links to the left for more information on the key activities of occupational therapists as they relate to children, adults with physical disabilities, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, aged care, and independent living skills.
How is occupational therapy provided?
Occupational therapists take an holistic approach to the needs of their clients which usually involves three stages of care.
The abilities of the client are assessed in the context of work, school, home, leisure, general lifestyle and family situation.
Having made an assessment, the occupational therapist then talks with the client, other professionals and family members who may be closely involved, in developing a treatment program.
Depending on the nature and length of the program, it may take place in a clinic, hospital ward, residential care center or at the client's home, school or workplace. The goal is to maximise the client's skills for living.
What qualifications do occupational therapists have?
Occupational therapists complete a four year university degree, which includes studies in:
Courses include formal study and considerable field work with clients. Postgraduate courses are also available at Masters and Doctorate levels.
Where do occupational therapists work?
Occupational therapists may be found working in a wide range of settings, including:
How can you ensure the quality of services from an occupational therapist?
To help identify occupational therapists whose skills and knowledge are current, Occupational Therapy Australia operates the Accredited Occupational Therapist Program (AccOT) which is open to all OTs, not just members of the professional association.
While all Australian occupational therapists may apply, only those therapists who meet the programs standards for professional development are accepted as an Accredited Occupational Therapist (AccOT).
Accredited Occupational Therapists are eligible to use the AccOT logo, and many include "AccOT" within their qualifications. For a full list of current AccOT's, click here.
How can I find an occupational therapist?
You may be referred to an occupational therapist by your doctor or specialist, or other health care professional. In most instances, you do not require a referral to see an occuaptional therapist. This may be different for services provided under Medicare or DVA and it is best to check with the occupational therapist at the time of making the appointment.
To find an occupational therapist in your local area, click here