Wow. Talk about feeling rusty! It’s been 6 months since I last worked on my research, and it feels like a lifetime! I’ve just started going back through the interviews and transcriptions, and am again dazzled by the incredible OT’s and women who have been so generous to share their expertise, experiences, thoughts and perspectives with me.
I’m sure so many OT’s will be intrigued to learn about the scope of practice these incredible pioneers have evolved into, to meet the service gaps in maternal health systems. Courageous, inspiring and impressive are the words which spring to mind. I can’t wait to get this research out there!
Author: Dr Hannah Slootjes (PhD)
I'm an occupational therapist, women's health researcher, academic, writer, mum, and passionate life learner. In 2022, I completed PhD exploring how OTs globally do, could or should work to promote health and maintain wellbeing for mothers during and after pregnancy, and matrescence. Titled, 'The Role of Occupational Therapists in Perinatal Health' my thesis introduced the Person-centered Occupational Model of Matrescence (POMM) to understand women's wellbeing from a human-centered approach, and the Functional Co-occupation Spectrum (FCS) for working with mother-infant dyads.
I am currently teaching occupational therapy and public health students at La Trobe University, and writing a textbook about working with women during perinatal stages and matrescence based on my thesis (aiming for publication in 2024). I still love clinical practice, and work in women's health locally in Bendigo.
After taking a year-long sabbatical to recover and re-energise after completing my PhD, I'm rolling up my sleeves and gearing up for the next life chapter! I'm still writing and teaching, and will be increasing practice-based supports for OTs from this website from May 2023. I am so looking forward to reconnecting with OTs practicing and researching in this space, and cannot wait to be part of the next phase of practice-based professional development!
View all posts by Dr Hannah Slootjes (PhD)
Research & evidence-based practice for OTs in perinatal health, motherhood, and matrescence 