OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 8

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Rapid Growth Praised SUCCESS OF TRAINING SCHOOL PA AUCKLAND. Apl. 4. The rapid development of occupational therapy to the status _of standard hospital feature within 10 years was emphasised by Dr H. B. Buchanan, superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, when the New Zealand Occupational Therapy Association opened its first general convention in Auckland today. The conference, which will conclude on Thursday, is being attended by about 50 therapists from many parts of 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 wag 10 years since the whole process of occupational therapy had begun in New 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 work in hospitals and other institutions throughout the country. Therapists attending the convention today inspected the training school and saw a film of modern handicrafts.