Virtual Issues

Virtual issue: Occupational Therapy Australia Mental Health Forum 2024

November 2024
We are excited to present a compilation of articles that address topics related to occupational therapy education and practice in mental health. Articles published across the last five years are included for you to discover or read again.

OT Exchange Special Issue: Occupational Therapists Working with Children, Young People, and Families

June 2024
The Occupational Therapy Australia capability framework for occupational therapists working with children, young people and families (paediatrics) was launched at the OT Exchange held in Perth, Australia (13-14 June, 2024). In this virtual issue you can read previously published articles that focus on working with children, young people, and families.

OT Exchange Special Issue: Occupational Therapists Working with Older People (Aged Care)

June 2024
Occupational Therapy Australia launched their capability framework for occupational therapists working with older people at the OT Exchange in Perth Australia from 13 – 14 June, 2024. In recognition of this, we have curated a virtual issue of previously published articles, including an editorial and Sylvia Docker lecture, about working with older adults and in the aged care context.

Virtual Issue: Unity through Community

October 2023
In this virtual issue we celebrate the global occupational therapy community and the Theme of Occupational Therapy Week in 2023 – Unity through Community. We have collated a selection of previously published articles to spotlight the work and contributions of occupational therapy to promote participation and community engagement of individuals and address occupational issues of groups and communities.

Virtual Issue: Learn, Practise, and Enrich at #OTX2022

June 2022
OT EXCHANGE is a biannual initiative of Occupational Therapy Australia aimed at fostering relationships, spreading important ideas, and igniting discussions with practitioners, students, managers, educators and academics. #OTX2022 features presentations about the aged care and disability sectors, occupational rehabilitation, paediatrics, and knowledge translation. This virtual issue of Australian Occupational Therapy Journal showcases previously published articles that align with these areas of practice. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to Learn, Practise, and Enrich with #OTX2022 and the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 

Virtual Issue: Supporting participation, inclusion, and independence

October 2021
Welcome to this virtual issue to celebrate Occupational Therapy Week (25 -31 October, 2021) and World Occupational Therapy Day on October 27. According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2021), there are over 580k occupational therapists worldwide and we have much to celebrate as a profession that actively supports people to “Belong. Be you”. The Occupational Therapy Australia theme for this week is “Supporting participation, inclusion, and independence” and in this virtual issue we demonstrate the diverse ways that occupational therapists partner with individuals, groups, and communities to support their participation, inclusion, and independence. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the global occupational therapy community a very happy World Occupational Therapy Day. The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal looks forward to continuing to partner with you in developing and showcasing this great profession.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2021). WFOT Homepage. Retrieved 2 October, 2021 from https://wfot.org/

Virtual Issue: Connect to Create Change

November 2020
Welcome to the Mental Health Virtual Issue to commemorate the Occupational Therapy Australia Virtual OT Mental Health Forum on November 16, 2020. Support for mental health has been an important focus for 2020 with Australians experiencing increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression due to the devastating bushfires at the beginning of the year and then with the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to impact how we live our lives. People living with the effects of a pre-existing mental health condition have been particularly at risk and the occupational therapists working in mental health are essential for supporting recovery and well-being for all.  In this virtual issue, we showcase recent publications in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal that explore and evaluate occupational therapy practice and education. Consistent with the forum theme, we hope that this virtual issue supports you to Connect to Create Change.

Virtual Issue: Learn, Practise, Enrich at OT Exchange 2020

September 2020
Inside this virtual issue you will find a selection of previously published papers relevant to the Virtual OT Exchange conference themes (Learn, Practise, Enrich) and practice areas. The OT Exchange introduces an alternate continuing professional development event for the occupational therapy community and consistent with that ethos, we will use the @AusOTJournal X handle prior to and during the event to share short abstracts or implication for practice tips from each paper within this issue. AOTJ is interested in developing new ways for the occupational therapy community to interact with the research published within the journal and the OT Exchange provides us with an opportunity to trial this first initiative – your feedback is always welcome.