Top award for occupational therapy leader

A University of Queensland academic will be honoured during Occupational Therapy Awareness Week (October 24-30) for major contributions to the occupational therapy profession in Queensland.

Head of the University's Occupational Therapy Department Professor Jenny Strong will receive the Mary Rankine Wilson Memorial Award for 1999 at the Occupational Therapy Australia (Queensland branch) 50th anniversary dinner on October 22.

"Mary was my mentor so I'm particularly honoured to be receiving this award," Professor Strong said.

The award recognises one of the founders of the occupational therapy profession in Queensland, the late Mary Rankine Wilson, a former director of occupational therapy services at the Repatriation General Hospital, Greenslopes.

In 1986 the professional association established the Mary Rankine Wilson Prize at UQ for the occupational therapy student with the highest grade point average in the four years of the OT course. After Miss Rankine Wilson's death in 1993, OT Australia Qld Inc established the Mary Rankine Wilson Memorial Award in her honour, which is made to an occupational therapist who has made a significant contribution to the profession. Another UQ Occupational Therapy Department member Associate Professor Jenny Ziviani is a previous award recipient.

Professor Strong, a UQ occupational therapy graduate (1980) has held many association executive positions, including State president, and since 1990 her major contributions have been in developing research, teaching and education in occupational therapy.

Professor Strong's research has focused on the clinical area of chronic pain. She has been an active researcher in both the assessment and management of chronic pain conditions. In 1996 she authored the first pain management book for occupational therapists called Chronic Pain; an occupational therapist's perspective. Professor Strong is currently editing the final chapters of a text book for occupational therapists and physiotherapists on pain management, due for release in 2000.

Since 1997 she has headed the Occupational Therapy Department at the University, and has been instrumental in developing a suite of postgraduate coursework offerings including courses at graduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and coursework masters level.

"Planning for a coursework doctoral program is also underway," she said. "These courses have been well received by Queensland and international candidates. We're really excited about a graduate entry program in occupational therapy beginning in January 2000, which will run in parallel with the four-year undergraduate program. The course will help meet the demand for occupational therapy graduates in the community."

Last year under her stewardship the Department established a Driver Assessment, Training and Rehabilitation Research Centre to conduct research and provide driver assessment training courses for Queensland occupational therapists.

Media contact: Professor Jenny Strong, telephone 07 3365 2652.