Rapid Development Of Occupational Therapy In N.Z.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23221, 5 April 1950, Page 4

Rapid Development Of Occupational Therapy In N.Z.

AUCKLAND. April 5,

The rapid development of occupational therapy to the status of a standard hospital feature within 10 years was emphasised by Dr. H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, when the New Zealand Occupational Therapy Association opened its first general convention in Auckland yesterday.’

The conference, which Is to conclude on Thursday, is being attended bv about 50 therapists from many parts oi' the Dominion.

Dr. Buchanan who was welcomed by the president of the association, Miss H Barton, of Dunedin, said it was hard to' realise that it was only 10 years since the whole process of occupational therapy had begun in Now Zealand. When in England in 1938-39 he had realised from what he had seen that occupational therapy had to be introduced in mental hospitals and following his return arrangements were made for trained therapists to be sent to the Dominion.

The work was extended from mental hospitals to military hospitals during the war and a training school for therapists was established at the Auckland Mental Hospital. Between 30 and 40 women had since passed through the school to take up the work in hospitals and other institutions throughout the country.

Therapists attending the convention yesterday inspected the training school and saw a film of modern handicrafts.