What is Occupational Therapy?

The following definition 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. Therefore, occupational therapy practice may be directed to changing aspects of the environment to enhance participation.

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.

How is Occupational Therapy provided at Bassendean Wellness Clinic?

Occupational therapists take a holistic approach to the needs of their clients which usually involves different stages of care. The abilities of the client are assessed in the context of work, school, home, leisure, general lifestyle and family situation.

Ms Erin Hunter, our senior Occupational Therapist, is a soft tissue specialist. She has been an active leader of the Occupational Therapist Soft Tissue Interest Group in WA. She works closely with other practitioners at the practice and is available on Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoons. Please see further information under her name at Who We Are.

What Qualifications do Occupational Therapists have?

Occupational therapists complete a four year university degree, which includes studies in:

  • Human Biology and Anatomy
  • Social and Behavioural Science
  • Occupational Science
  • Occupational Therapy, Theory and Practice
  • Communication and Management
  • Research

Courses include formal study and considerable field work with clients.