Ann Wilcock

Occupationaljustice and Client-Centred Practice: A Dialogue in Progress

Background. This paper describes an ongoing, international dialogue about the relationship between occupation, justice, and client-centred practice, prompted by the question: How do occupational therapists work for justice? Methods. The authors critically reflect on their own dialogue and culturally situated interests, dialogues with workshop participants, and a literature review. Results. Four cases of occupational injustice are proposed: occupational alienation, occupational deprivation, occupational marginalization, and occupational imbalance. The naming of these occupational injustices suggests four occupational rights: to experience meaning and enrichment in ones occupations; to participate in a range of occupations for health and social inclusion; to make choices and share decision-making power in daily life; and to receive equal privileges for diverse participation in occupations. Practice Implications. Since silence implies compliance with the status quo, the authors encourage occupational therapists to develop their own dialogue about occupational injustices in order to address them openly with others. Dialogue about occupational justice is timely as occupational therapists around the world articulate what distinguishes this numerically small, rather invisible profession and its contributions to individuals, populations, and societies.

A theory of the human need for occupation

Abstract This paper discusses occupation as a central aspect of the human experience. It argues that occupation fulfils basic human needs essential for survival, provides the mechanism for people to exercise and develop innate capacities of a biological, social and cultural nature, to adapt to environmental changes, and to flourish as individuals. However the basic occupational needs of people have been obscured by the current complexity of occupational technology and economy, and the social strictures, divisions, and values which have been established progressively throughout time.

Occupation for Health

A Keynote lecture, given on 24 June 1998 at the 22nd Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, held at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

Occupation and Health: Are They One and the Same?

Abstract Addressing the question of what evidence there is for taking an occupational perspective of health, Wilcock argues that occupational science holds potential to improve the human condition and the environment by bringing together the diverse evidence being generated in many fields that address aspects of occupation and health. This possibility arises from the fields holistic nature, which encompasses the purpose and outcomes of humans’ occupational nature, its interrelationship with health, and the outcomes of contemporary lifestyles. In supporting this vision, Wilcock cites evidence from history, health research, the directives of the World Health Organization, and occupational science itself.

Cultural Relativism: Occupation and Independence Reconsidered

In this article, findings from a qualitative study of a cohort of occupational therapy students in Auckland, New Zealand are presented. The study focussed on the experiences of students as they learned to work with people from different social and cultural backgrounds over a 3-year period. As well as identifying curriculum and teaching/learning processes that enhance intercultural competence development, the data that emerged from the study also highlight important issues about how occupation and independence are conceptualised across cultures. A review of the trans-disciplinary and occupational therapy literature dealing with theoretical, conceptual and educational issues relating to cross-cultural practice is followed by a presentation of narrative extracts that address the key concepts of occupation and independence. These are then discussed with reference to relevant occupational therapy literature. In conclusion, implications for future research and practice are explored focussing on a need for occupation and independence to be reconsidered as culturally relative constructions.

Occupational Science: The Key to Broadening Horizons

In this paper, I will consider occupational science as a key to broadening horizons in occupational therapy. I start by clarifying and defining what occupational science is, and discuss the benefits that rigorous study of humans as occupational beings may bring to occupational therapy. I suggest that adopting occupational science will assist occupational therapists to think in occupational rather than medical terms. This alone would extend the professions domain of concern considerably, because it becomes clear that it is not only the people with disorder of body or mind who are occupationally handicapped. Humans have ‘occupational needs’ which are related to maintaining health, and many health outcomes, either good or bad, can be traced back to basic occupational determinants that people have created over time. Our twentieth century founders recognised that we needed such a science and, even earlier, social philosophers wrote of its importance. If occupational therapists work as agents of change according to a sound knowledge base built upon the unique aspect of life and health which is their domain, they will be able to respond and develop according to rapidly changing economies and values. This keynote address was given on 4 July 2001 at the 25th Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, held at the University of Wales, Swansea.

Occupational Science: Bridging Occupation and Health:

Background. The paper is based on a keynote address delivered at the 2004 CAOT Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Occupational therapists are widely associated with a medical model of health care in which recognition of how engagement in occupation contributes to health status is poorly understood. Occupational science as the study of people as occupational beings has the potential to increase such understanding. Purpose. This paper considers some aspects of the relationship between health and the occupations of older people to highlight avenues for change and the research required to support them. Method. The paper is structured around a simple verse of dialogue between a healthy old man and an occupational therapist. Explanation of the dialogue draws upon historical and current literature as well as occupational science research to provide a rationale for future practice based on broader concepts of occupation for health. Results and Practice Suggestions. The dialogue promotes the need for discussion about health and about the health notion of Active Ageing. It highlights professional language as one impediment to change and suggests that research concerning occupation as it relates to population health is a primary requirement for the future of occupational therapy.

The occupational brain: A theory of human nature

Abstract This paper, which was presented at the18th Federal and inaugral Pacific Rim Conference in Hobart, Tasmania July 1995, proposes a theory of human nature based on the idea that humans are occupational beings and that indeed the human brain can be described as an occupational brain. Based on the idea that the brain is primarily concerned with healthy survival, it argues that there is a three way link between survival, health and occupation, in that occupation provides the mechanism for people to fulfil basic human needs essential for survival, to adapt to environmental changes, and to develop and exercise genetic capacities according to social and cultural values in order to maintain health.

Keynote Paper: Biological and Sociocultural Aspects of Occupation, Health and Health Promotion

This paper was presented at the interdisciplinary conference on ‘Health Promotion: An investment for the Future’, organised by the College of Occupational Therapists, London, on 12 May 1993. It draws heavily on material previously published in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, & Rehabilitation 1992; 2(3): 15–20, and in The Journal of Occupational Science: Australia 1993; 1(1): 17–24, from both of whom permission has been received to publish here.

Making Sense of What People Do: Historical Perspectives

Abstract History, viewed afresh from an occupational science perspective, yields unexpected sources of thought and data for social planners to make sense of what people do now and in the future. This keynote address introduces and considers stories from history, primarily of the Western world, that tell of different ways people have made sense of the things they do over time, particularly in terms of their mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. History offers evidence for understanding how people have undertaken the mundane occupations of daily life in ways that vary because of different personal needs or social circumstances. Reported here are historical vignettes that illustrate how people, throughout the ages, have made sense of what they have done for healthy survival, human superiority, spiritual salvation, socially healthy environs, and meaningful employment.