Celebrating Occupational Therapy Week & "UNITY THROUGH COMMUNITY"

We’re celebrating Occupational Therapy Week 2023 at Active Mobility! Hear from one of our experienced OTs and what “unity through community” means to them.

From the 23rd to the 29th of October 2023, Active Mobility celebrates Occupational Therapy (OT) Week, where we talk about all things OT and appreciate all the amazing work our OTs do. OTs play a pivotal role in helping people improve their independence and mobility, ultimately allowing them to participate more freely in the community.

This year, the theme of OT Week is “unity through community” and how OTs contribute to a more inclusive, diverse community. 

With this in mind, we touched base with one of our in-house Occupational Therapists to discover what “unity through community” means to them and covered common FAQs related to Occupational Therapy!

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

An Occupational Therapist is a healthcare professional who helps individuals of all ages to participate in the activities and tasks they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. 

Their primary goal is to enable people to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent —or live better with— injury, illness, or disability.

Occupational Therapists work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, mental health facilities, private practices, and clients' homes. They collaborate with other professionals, like physical therapists, speech therapists, doctors, and nurses, to provide holistic care to their clients.

At Active Mobility, we have Occupational Therapists in-house to assist with mobility, daily living, and rehabilitation equipment prescription, ensuring our customers get the best solutions for their unique needs. 

Working alongside your support network (including existing healthcare providers), we aim to offer end-to-end service and holistic care that truly makes a difference.

How is Occupational Therapy different from Physical Therapy (PT)? 

Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (PT) are both rehabilitative professions, but they cater to different aspects of an individual's well-being. 

OT primarily focuses on helping individuals engage in meaningful daily activities, from basic tasks like dressing and cooking to more complex ones like working or pursuing hobbies. 

OTs consider the entire spectrum of an individual's needs, encompassing physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial elements — they often employ everyday activities as therapeutic interventions, teaching adaptive techniques or recommending tools to aid daily life.

On the other hand, PT is centred on enhancing an individual's physical movement and function. PTs aim to improve mobility, strength, balance, and coordination, often addressing specific physical impairments or injuries. Their methods typically involve exercises, manual therapy, and other techniques to alleviate pain and restore physical function. 

While both OTs and PTs operate in various settings, from hospitals to homes, their distinct focuses ensure that they address the holistic needs of their patients, from daily life activities to physical mobility.

What OT Week means to our Occupational Therapists

In celebration of OT Week, we asked one of our in-house Occupational Therapists, Daniel, a few questions about his role and what makes him passionate about helping our customers find the right equipment for their needs. 

His answers highlight the commitment of our OTs to restore mobility, comfort and independence to as many Australians as possible — a mission we take seriously here at Active Mobility!

Q: What is your role at Active Mobility?

Daniel: “My role at Active Mobility is to be an Occupational Therapist who is involved in the area of equipment prescription and seating specialisation. 

I also provide education on manual handling and seating prescriptions and work with our team to introduce new equipment to our therapists and participants at Active Mobility.”

Q: What does “unity through community” mean to you?

Daniel: “To me, unity through community is about building a strong foundation by embracing diversity, fostering inclusion, promoting support and care, and encouraging active participation. 

It recognises the power of collaboration and the potential for transformative change when individuals join forces towards a common purpose. You can’t spell community without unity.”

Q: What do you wish more people knew about Occupational Therapy?

Daniel: “I wish people knew about the wider scope that Occupational Therapy can assist. Many people associate OT with physical rehabilitation, but it actually covers a wide range of conditions, including neurological disorders, intellectual disabilities, mental health, chronic pain, and more. 

OT can benefit anyone who has difficulty engaging in meaningful activities due to various challenges, and the ultimate goal is to improve overall quality of life.”
 

Q: What are some stand-out wins you have achieved for your clients?

Daniel: “Some stand-out wins for me include giving clients the ability to mobilise again both around their homes and in their community and increasing their independence.”

Our OTs are committed to providing holistic care for our customers

We’re proud to work with a team of professional, experienced OTs who offer exceptional care for our customers. Next time you’re in need of mobility, daily living, or rehabilitation equipment, be sure to book a showroom appointment at Active Mobility and tell us more about your needs. 

Our OTs are on hand to provide holistic care and collaborate with your healthcare team, ensuring you receive the best possible solutions for your condition.