Our Journey to OOFRAS

It was not too long ago when Jess, Crissy and Sally were enthusiastic OT students.  We were embarking on our final semester of University before joining the "real world".  As a final assessment task, we were required to complete an action learning project.  Given the choice of topics for the project, we went with one that mentioned 'refugees' in the title.  This topic certainly appealed more than any of the "work rehab legislation" ones.

At first we thought, "what can OTs do with refugees?".  We soon came to the realise that our project would actually take this focus and look at exploring the role of OTs with refugees. A large part of the project involved liasing with a local multicultural government agency involved with supporting the resettlement of refugees in the local community.

With the help of Clarissa Wilson as our supervisor, we conducted an occupational needs analysis.  The process involved a broad literature search of relevant information, and conducting a focus group with refugee representatives to seek out the occupational issues faced by their communities. We presented the outcomes of the project to the multicultural agency in the form of a resource guide.

We all learnt a lot about the refugee experience through the focus group.  We came to understand many of the issues faced by refugees before and after resettlement.  Our minds were opened to the impact of resettlement on occupation and life roles.  We also realised that OTs were not doing much about the situation.

Our eagerness to develop the OT role with refugees did not fade after we finished the project.  Months later over dinner, we schemed about what more could be done.  We once again contacted Clarissa... and the WFOT and OOFRAS website journey began!  Our hope is that this site will inspire other OT's into action; however large or small that action may be.  Good luck and looking forward to hearing about your OT ventures!

"A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step"

The  OOFRAS Coordination Team