Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
Volume 58, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 310-316

Development and evaluation of an occupational therapy program for refugee high school students (Article)

Copley J.* , Turpin M. , Gordon S. , Mclaren C.
  • a The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  • b The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  • c The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  • d The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Abstract

Background: Adolescents from refugee backgrounds experience challenges participating in their new school environments. This study aimed to describe and discuss the development of an occupational therapy program to facilitate school participation of high school students from refugee backgrounds. Methods: Three cycles of action research were used to develop a program over 18months in collaboration with two high schools. Data were collected from four occupational therapists, seven school staff members and two school principals using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and review of documents. Results: The program changed significantly over the three cycles from a focus on individual task mastery in the classroom environment to development of social competence through an activity-based group program. Conclusions: Building capacity for social competence helped create better alignment between the roles of occupational therapist and teacher within the school context and was perceived to contribute to refugee students' overall availability for learning in their new environments. Action research is useful in collaboratively developing programs in emerging areas of practice. © 2011 The Authors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal © 2011 Occupational Therapy Australia.

Author Keywords

capacity building Action research service development Adolescent Refugees

Index Keywords

education refugee Australia psychological aspect methodology human Refugees Schools qualitative research program development student School Health Services Humans school health service Adolescent school Article organization and management Occupational Therapy program evaluation health care quality Queensland participatory research Community-Based Participatory Research Students
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960561010&doi=10.1111%2fj.1440-1630.2011.00933.x&partnerID=40&md5=57c1063866dede4dd5375157df1e8d26
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00933.x
ISSN: 00450766
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English