Occupational Therapy in Australia Professional and Practice Issues

This ground-breaking text provides a comprehensive guide to occupational therapy in Australia, from its role in the healthcare system to the scope and nature of its practice. The authors begin with an overview of the history of occupational therapy in Australia, the ethical and legal aspects of its practice and its role in population health and health promotion. The values and philosophy of occupational therapy are considered next, together with the roles and responsibilities of practitioners and specific practice features, including client-centred practice, evidence-based practice, research in occupational therapy and clinical reasoning. Key issues, including occupational analysis, the development of occupations across the lifespan, occupational therapy assessment, Indigenous issues, practice in rural and remote areas and advocacy, leadership and entrepreneurship, are also examined in detail.

The first text specifically written for Australian entry-to-practice students by Australian authors, this book is destined to become an essential reference for both students and professionals in the field.

'Truly a valuable resource for all Australian occupational therapy students and practitioners.'

Professor Jenny Ziviani, Children's Allied Health Research, The University of Queensland

'This is a text that will have many editions and document the evolution of the profession for decades to come.'

Professor Carolyn M. Baum, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis

Contributing authors

List of figures and tables

Foreword by Professor Jenny Ziviani

Foreword by Professor Carolyn M. Baum

PART 1: The Australian Context

1. An introduction to occupational therapy in an Australian context

2. An overview of the Australian health care system

3. History of Australian occupational therapy

4. The role of occupational therapy professional associations and regulatory bodies in Australia

5. The scope of practice of occupational therapists in Australia: Roles, responsibilities and relationships

6. Values and philosophy of occupational therapy

7. Ethical and legal responsibilities of occupational therapy practice

8. Occupational therapy in population health and health promotion

PART 2: Professional Issues

9. Working with clients: Client-centred practice

10. Occupational science in Australia

11. The education of occupational therapists in Australia: Academic and practice education

12. Evidence-based practice in occupational therapy

13. Research in occupational therapy

14. Clinical reasoning in occupational therapy practice

15. Occupational therapy practice models and frames of reference

PART 3: Practice Issues

16. The occupational therapy practice process

17. Core business: Activity, task and occupational analysis

18. Occupational performance and core occupations: Self-care, productivity, leisure, play, education, sleep and social participation

19. The development of occupations across the lifespan

20. Occupational therapy practice contexts

21. Emerging professional practice areas

22. Occupational therapy assessment

23. The role of occupational therapy in primary health care in Australia

24. Occupational therapy practice in regional, rural and remote Australia

25. Indigenous health: Occupational therapy's role

26. Population-centred occupational therapy practice and project management in Australian settings

27. Advocacy, promotion, leadership and entrepreneurship in the occupational therapy profession in Australia

28. Looking forward: Occupational therapy in Australia's future

Index

Dr Ted Brown is Associate Professor and Undergraduate Course Convener, Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University.

Dr Helen Bourke-Taylor is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University.

Dr Stephen Isbel is Associate Professor and Course Convener, Occupational Therapy, University of Canberra.

Dr Reinie Cordier, is Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University.