From baskets to baking.

Abstract

Whilst ‘occupation’ and the links between occupation and health have been central tenets of occupational therapy since its inception (Reilly 1961), the place and meaning of occupation within our therapeutic repertoire has evolved and changed as the profession has developed (Wilcock & Hocking, 2015). Utilising the principles of auto/biography and autoethnography (Adams, et al 2015), this poster will explore the nature of ‘occupation’ from a professional and personal perspective across a 40 year career pathway. In the mid-1970s occupational therapy was a medical model profession working from a reductionist and bottom-up perspective. Crafts, such as basketry, were the main focus of the first year of the Diploma of Occupational Therapy and ‘Refer to Occupational Therapy’ (Shopland, et al 1975) provided a blueprint for their application into practice. With the advent of graduate level education, the application and critical analysis of ‘occupation’ has replaced craft learning and as therapists we engage with service users to help them to develop and re-develop meaningful occupations. From a personal perspective, baking has been a meaningful and restorative occupation. Baking has provided a means of remaining connected with friends and colleagues during a period of illness; it has become a focus for fundraising activity and the opportunity for creativity, challenge and the development of new skills. It has been a conduit for doing, being and becoming (Wilcock & Hocking, 2015). By exploring ‘occupation’ within an historical, auto/biographical and autoethnographic context this poster will give participants the opportunity to reflect on the nature and location of ‘occupation’ for themselves both professionally as occupational therapists and personally as occupational beings. By reflecting on the history of our profession we can understand not only the past but can clearly articulate our place in the health and social care of the present and the future. Refs: Adams T E, Jones S H, Ellis C (2015) Autoethnography. Oxford: Oxford University Press Reilly M (1961) Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture. Occupational therapy can be one of the great ideas of 20th-century medicine. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 16: 1-9 Shopland A J, Hardial P M, Unwin A M, Vickers S M, Westmore V R, & Williams A J (1975) Refer to Occupational Therapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Wilcock A, & Hocking C (2015) An Occupational Perspective of Health (3rd edn). Thorofare NJ: Slack Incorporated Learning outcomes: Give participants the opportunity to reflect on their personal and professional interpretations of ‘occupation’ Give participants the opportunity to reflect on the evolving place of ‘occupation’ within our profession