Sharron King

Academic practice in transition: hidden stories of academic identities

Academic work is becoming increasingly restrictive and controlled as tertiary institutions move towards a more corporate managerialistic mode of operating. This paper uses a narrative lens to explore the ways in which academic staff make sense of this new environment. In particular, it compares academic staffs stories of their worklife with the official organisation – representative stories promulgated by the university. The study examines the ways academic staff make sense of their workplace when the corporate stories no longer reflect their views of work, institution or personal values. Data gathered during a world café event depicts two constructions of academic identity and compares these private stories with the public stories provided by the university. The paper concludes by addressing some of the concerns inherent in the loss of plurality that occurs when tertiary institutions move towards an homogenised environment.

Exploring professionalism: the professional values of Australian occupational therapists.

BACKGROUND/AIM There has been limited research into the values of the Australian occupational therapy profession and as such, the values have not been made explicit. Explicit values provide insight into what professionalism means to a profession. They can be used by practitioners for self-reflection purposes, shaping the future practice of individuals. Clear values can also enable the recognition and management of value conflicts between health professions. This study aimed to make a preliminary identification of the values of the profession, by exploring the professional values of 15 Australian occupational therapists. METHODS A naturalistic approach and constructivist paradigm guided this study. Purposive sampling was employed to identify Australian occupational therapists who could contribute rich information to the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews that were recorded and analysed using an inductive data analysis method. RESULTS The professional values identified encompassed three main areas: the client and the client-therapist partnership; occupational therapy knowledge, skills and practice; and selfless values. The emerging values guided everyday practice, professional relationships and the responsibilities of being a professional. CONCLUSION This study provides insight into the professional values of Australian occupational therapists and contributes to research orientated towards identifying the values of the profession. The results also contribute to the understanding of what professionalism means to the Australian occupational therapy profession.

The experiences of participants in an innovative online resource designed to increase regular walking among rural cancer survivors: a qualitative pilot feasibility study.

PurposePhysical activity has been associated with improved outcomes for cancer survivors. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rates after diagnosis of cancer. The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to gain insight into the experiences of rural cancer survivors engaging in an online resource designed to increase regular walking.MethodsA 6-week online lifestyle intervention was implemented among eight cancer survivors living in three rural regions of South Australia. Participants used a pedometer to monitor daily steps taken, reported daily steps using a specially designed website and were provided with daily step goals based on their affective state. Participants took part in semi-structured face-to-face interviews to gauge their impressions of the program. Data were analysed using qualitative description and content analysis to derive major themes from the interviews.ResultsThe program motivated participants to increase their walking and resulted in improvements in several self-reported physical and quality of life outcomes. The resource was clear and easy to navigate. The three-tiered step goal system reduced feelings of guilt if participants were unable to reach a goal. The step log and graph allowed participants to self-monitor their progress. The forum fostered social support; however, more interaction with intervention personnel was suggested.ConclusionsThis online pedometer-based walking intervention is feasible and effectively increases motivation for walking and enhances health-related quality of life in South Australian rural cancer survivors. A randomized controlled trial of this intervention is warranted.

Exploring how Australian occupational therapists and physiotherapists understand each other’s professional values: implications for interprofessional education and practice

Abstract This article provides insight into the values Australian occupational therapists and physiotherapists consider essential for their practice and the values that they perceive as important for each other. Findings from a study that employed the Delphi technique to identify the values occupational therapists and physiotherapists consider essential for their practice were compared with interview results that provide insight into how these professionals perceive one another’s values. The results from this comparison indicate that occupational therapy and physiotherapy participants have limited knowledge of each other’s values. This is evidenced by participants only identifying a minority of the values considered essential within the other profession and not identifying many of the values that guide daily practice within the other profession. The results hold implications for interprofessional education and practice, where knowledge of the values of other professions in the team is essential. To enable interprofessional collaboration, professions need to make their values explicit and provide their students, practitioners and educators with opportunities to learn about their own values and the values of other professions.

Guessing Where the Goal Posts Are: Managing Health and Well-Being during the Transition to University Studies.

It is widely acknowledged that social conditions are directly associated with health and well-being. Significantly little is known about the impact of changing social conditions, including the transition to higher education, on young peoples health and well-being. This qualitative research investigated perceptions and factors that influence health and well-being for first year university students. Governmental practices adopted in managing health and well-being during transition to a university context, were also investigated. Empirical data were collected, in 2010, via an online student questionnaire. Participants were completing their first year of study in a School of Health Sciences at an Australian university. They were asked to respond to a series of closed questions to collect demographic data and open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of health and well-being as well as factors that impact on them personally as they transition into university studies. Findings indicate that there are significant factors that impact on student well-being during this transition. These include: geographical relocation, engagement with university learning, sense of community as well as managing time and competing demands. Findings also indicate that whilst young people accept an individualised responsibility managing health and well-being, the social conditions of transition to university render this complex and problematic.

Being First in Family: Motivations and Metaphors.

ABSTRACT First in Family (FiF) is an under-recognised equity grouping which may encompass low-SES, mature-aged, regional and remote, and Indigenous students. FiF tertiary students are more likely to be in a position of educational disadvantage over students who have other family members available to share the experience of university life and discuss aspirations. Building on previous research, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 FiF university students from a range of disciplines across three South Australian institutions. We analysed the interview data based on themes derived through readings of FiF literature, adding new ones as they emerged as part of the process of analysis. In this paper, we specifically focus on the interview responses which included metaphors or analogies. Metaphors provide a conceptual framework for thinking about a particular problem and drawing comparisons between unlike situations. Our experience as educators told us that students often subtly and unintentionally utilise metaphors when articulating lived experiences. We both specifically asked the FiF students to identify a metaphor that reflected their experience of being at university and also considered their use of metaphors in response to other questions. In exploring these metaphors, we have gained insight into students’ day-to-day experience of attending university and have gained information about their motivations and their struggles. When considered by university staff and policy-makers, this information could be used to guide the development of strategies that may help future FiF students.