To celebrate World Occupational Therapy (OT) day, we asked our occupational therapists to describe what OT means to them.
Marie: Occupational therapy is all about meaningful occupations. It's a great privilege working with so many amazing children and their families and playing a small part in their lives towards independence and self-determination.
Ally: Occupational therapy means enabling and empowering people to live an authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling life through the art and science of everyday activity.
Briohny: OT to me means working with children, adults and families on the activities and tasks that they really want to learn and develop, to support them to be able to reach their potential and live the best life for them.
Tarryn: Being an OT allows me to practice art alongside science. I continually learn about human diversity and culture through our client-centred approach. I love being part of a profession that advocates for an inclusive society for all, so that everyone has the opportunity to shape their own health and wellbeing through the power of meaningful occupation.
Gayle: Having had the significant privilege of working for many years as an OT, with many beautiful souls and key caregivers, across sectors and continents, I can honestly say that the diversity within the profession has always brought interest, passion, and a profound sense of joy to each working day. There is a niche for every OT and this profession brings so much choice. I have learnt so much from so many clients but overall being part of that journey of fostering access to whatever occupation is meaningful to the person has always struck me as one of the main drivers of what being an OT means to me.
To find out more about OT services at CliniKids, click here.
Top photo: Ally, Marie and Briohny at our Subiaco clinic.
Bottom photo: Gayle and Tarryn, who are OTs at CliniKids Joondalup.
First published Wednesday 26 October 2022.