This year Occupational Therapy Awareness Week runs from 23 October – 29 October 2023. The theme for this year is: Unity Through Community.
The goal of Occupational Therapy Awareness Week for 2023 is to celebrate occupational therapists, highlight the role they play within society and the allied health space, and embrace our occupational therapy community.
All over the world, occupational therapists play a critical role in helping people participate and engage with their community through many different means.
Whether delivered under the NDIS or privately, occupational therapy ensures an individual’s daily living environment is safe, supportive and functional, and that the equipment they access is performing adequately. Our team of dedicated occupational therapists work collaboratively to provide quality support to assist participants in achieving their NDIS goals.
With each participant, our occupational therapists conduct functional capacity assessments to identify the most suitable form or forms of therapeutic intervention for each client. This includes therapy and assisted living support aids. This approach ensures we find the right support and equipment for each participant.
There are a multitude of benefits that come from engaging in regular occupational therapy services such as access to home modifications and adaptive equipment, an increase in cognitive function, assistance with life transitions, assistance provided to caregivers and improved strength and endurance for functional tasks.
To celebrate Occupational Therapy Awareness Week, we would like to shine the light on one of our newest occupational therapists, Jaspar and the work that he does here at Therapy Care.
Jaspar has a Bachelor’s of Science majoring in Occupational Therapy and through his career, has obtained a wealth of knowledge and experience in both hospital and community clinics.
Growing up with siblings living with disability ignited Jaspar’s passion to find a career that allowed him to support people. But it wasn’t until Jaspar became a qualified occupational therapist that he realised just how much of a difference he can now make in people’s lives. Jaspar loves supporting people toward regaining or enhancing their daily living and work skills.
Jaspar is passionate about working in the disability sector as he believes that everyone, regardless of their abilities, deserves to feel confident and respected. He enjoys helping people realise they have an important place in our community and that their unique experiences and perspectives matter. Jaspar has always wanted to be part of the movement that encourages everyone to see the value and potential in each person, disability or not.
Jaspar has been working closely with one of our lovely participants, Cooper. We spoke to Cooper’s mother to learn more about Cooper’s experience at Therapy Care and what he enjoys about his occupational therapy sessions with Jaspar.
Occupational therapy assists with everyday activities other people take for granted. I know without the additional support Jaspar provides to Cooper he would still be the shy, quiet, non-engaging little boy he was prior to meeting Jaspar. By teaching him things like toileting, writing/fine motor skills, he also helps to build his confidence with navigating uneven surfaces.
What is your favourite thing about Therapy Care?
Therapy Care has listened to our concerns with Cooper and prepared a Therapy plan to combat all his challenges. Jaspar is so patient with Cooper and extremely kind to him even when he is having a bad day, that makes it a lot easier for Cooper to process what is required from him to complete the set tasks Jaspar has given him.
What is your favourite thing about playing with Jaspar?
Jaspar makes learning fun, and he knows how to get the best result out of a child who previously would not cope with strangers in his presence. Jaspar knows when he can push the limits with Cooper and when to pull back. This is a great quality for any therapist who can get these results after such a short period of time with any client, especially one as young and on the spectrum as Cooper is. I could not have found a better suited therapist for Cooper.
Therapy Care ensures our allied health services are tailored to each individual need in order to provide essential support and assistance to help you reach your NDIS goals. To find out more about our Allied Health services, feel free to contact our team via:
1800 861 898
info@therapycare.com.au
