People

This page will be evolving list of people involved.

Presenters

Vikki, UK, “exploring the occupational needs of asylum seekers in our region”

Aakifah, NSW, Australia – life skills program

Jeanette, QLD – sustaining engagement & self care

Jeanette has three decades of experience as an Occupational Therapist, with a reputation as an educator with heart, a therapist who cares more than people expect, and as someone who treats all people with a consistent respect. She has at her disposal, a unique combination of skills and insights to share. People appreciate the calming influence they experience in her company, and the self confidence she inspires.

Opportunities to collaborate with people during life transitions led Jeanette to explore different pathways for personal, spiritual, and cultural change. She now focuses her work on the need she perceives for people of all walks of life to become more self responsible and resilient. They can then respond, with compassion and sustainable energy, to the evolution of 21st century communities.Linda,

QLD, Australia – anthropology and settlement

Bronwyn, Australia – field work focus

Helen, UK – research about meaning of occupations & refugees

Abiola, Ireland – interviews with asylum seeker

One of the three LINKS for Holland

Ellen Fruijtier, HOLLAND

I have always been interested in the unique situation of asylum seekers. When I started to study law before, I realized there where lots of restrictions in policies that had impact on the living conditions of asylum seekers. Then, when I started studying occupational therapy in Amsterdam I became more able to relate the effect of circumstances created by law (among others) on peoples daily occupations. This lead to several projects with asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. More of Ellen’s profile here.

Alison Wicks

Alison Wicks

Dr Alison Wicks, AUSTRALIA

Alison is the founding director of the Australiasian Occupational Science Centre (AOSC), and occupational science education and research centre at Shoalhaven campus.

Her current work involves translating evidence from occupational science into community-based programs that promote participation in community activities to enhance the health and wellbeing for older people.

In her role as President of the International Society of Occupational Scientists she is also active in mainstreaming occupational science through interdisciplinary collaboration. More of Alison’s profile here

Yda J Smith from University of Utah

Yda J Smith, USA

Yda invests much of her energy and interest in developing community-based occupational therapy with local refugee communities. She now runs the Immigration & Resettlement Community Fieldwork Program where Level I and Level II students from the University of Utah, as well as students from other schools in the U.S., provide life skills training and community support to local immigrant and refugee populations. More of Yda’s profile here

Facilitator

Clarissa was cuddling a rabbit for this pic!

Clarissa Adriel, AUSTRALIA

Happy to be sharing this journey into nerd-world with OTs because it lends itself to good company, a touch of hair-raising adventure, and the serendipity of networks new and old!

I hope being brave enough to facilitate this is thanks to all the OTs who inspire me, and on the technical front – thumbs up for Sarah Stewart’s Online Facilitation course with Otago University and heart-felt thanks to my IT-support better half!