CQU Occupational Therapy students showcase their skills and research

CQUniversity Occupational Therapy graduating students from Rockhampton and Bundaberg have put their advanced skills and knowledge to the test at their student-driven conference this week.

The theme of the dual conferences was "Improvise' Adapt and Overcome" and reflected the challenges the students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and also a wide range of research proposals aimed at enhancing the delivery of occupational therapy.

At Rockhampton' students Chloe Melville and Madison Tilley presented on Constraint Induced Movement Therapy and children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Kellie-Jo Tighe and Susan Brown presented their proposed study on whether Occupational Goal Intervention increases the number of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in adults with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia.

Also in Rockhampton' students Emily Flint and Rose Alexander looked at What the Ideal Intervention Period of KONTAKT to increase social skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Fellow Rockhampton students Monica Mattingley and Renae Frost discussed Mindfulness based cognitive therapy as an alternative intervention for perinatal depressive symptoms.

Students Kellie-Jo Tighe and Susan Brown presented "Proud Bidjara Man: Seeking occupational justice for Indigenous voice in university curriculum" which looked at introducing narratives from Indigenous consumers with lived experience to provide a more culturally aware curriculum.

Students Madison Tilley' Monica Mattingley and Renae Frost also presented on the Bloom Employment Pathway Program' a project aimed to establish a pathway to employment to increase inclusion for young people (15-24) with mental health challenges and reduce social isolation and occupational deprivation through the lens of the occupational justice.

Finally' Rockhampton students Rose Alexander' Emily Flint and Chloe Melville discussed a project aimed to enhance the transition to school for pre-prep children. Literature reveals that developmental concerns are apparent in one or more domains for 23 per cent of children starting school in Australia.

Meanwhile in Bundaberg' students presented on various topics including:

Emma Mallett' Keely Robinson and Kayla Rogers presented on canine-assisted intervention for autistic children to develop socialisation skills.

Jayde Canino' Sophie Crow and Allison Foster discussed whether symptomology of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder reduces in youth with the implementation of adapted occupational-based family therapy intervention.

Research into whether therapeutic occupation-based interventions increase functional engagement in the activities of daily living for people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the hands and/or wrist was presented by student Lara Bray and Jennifer Sokolinski.

Tracey Hoffmann' Lainey Thorpe and Luke Hartvigsen looked into how the how the PLISSIT model helps guide occupational therapists in addressing sexuality in people living with a disability.

Lara Bray' Jayde Canino' Sophie Crow and Jennifer Sokolinski also presented on promoting participation and engagement in a residential aged care facility using The Honeycomb Tool.

The groups also heard how CQU is working with The Community Lifestyle Support (CLS) on the lack of employment support and programs to support people with ASD or ID in gaining employment.

Finally' Bundaberg students Keely Robinson' Kayla Rogers' Emma Mallett and Lainey Thorpe presented in OT practice in the Department of Emergency Medicine within the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.

The Conference also heard from organisations and experts' including Coral Coast Physiotherapy and Allied Health Clinic and Entirely Health.

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