What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy promotes health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.

What is the purpose of occupational therapy in the THS?

Occupational therapy focuses on:

• Maintaining independence, safety, and function in activities of daily living
• Improving and enhancing performance in everyday activities
• Preventing functional decline, loss of independence and improving safety completing activities of everyday life/daily living
• Facilitating independence and integration in the community such as providing expert opinion regarding care needs and community services requirements
• Reducing reliance on health care or social services systems such as reducing length of hospital stay
• Improving general health, well-being and quality of life
• Educating and training others about functional difficulties, intervention, and management

How do occupational therapists deliver services?

Occupational therapist deliver treatment and management plans through:

• Training in self-care, self-management, home management, and community reintegration
• Education and support of individuals, including family members, caregivers, and others
• Modification of environments (e.g., home, community) and adaptation of processes
• Assessment, customisation and oversight of equipment provision
• Therapeutic use of occupations, exercises, and activities
• Use of a range of specific therapeutic procedures to enhance performance such as techniques to enhance sensory, perceptual, and cognitive processing; and manual therapy techniques skills.