Aboriginal and torres strait islander health curriculum framework : collaborative partnering with local indigenous services to develop culturally safe and occupationally focused curriculum

A key philosophical underpinning of occupational therapy is understanding the relationships between the person, environment and occupations. The existing literature illustrates that the conceptualisation of the factors and the relationship between these factors primarily reflects a western framework. However, more recently occupational therapy frameworks and models are diversifying and thus, expanding on the profession’s ways of being, knowing and doing. This presentation will draw on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s leadership, research and practices to highlight how the personal, environmental and occupational factors are expressed and experienced in communities. Furthermore, this presentation will focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s cultural connections and thus, extend the occupational therapy profession’s current understandings of the relationships that exist between these factors. Finally, this presentation will conclude with a set of key guiding principles to better understand occupations within the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.