The cogs are turning… call by APA for physiotherapists to join prenatal care teams in Australia! #comeonOT

One of my supervisors sent me link to a press release recently, which was about one of the most exciting things I’ve read this year: “APA calls for physiotherapists to be included in the care teams for pregnant women in Australia” – Click to read media release online here. Incredible! What fantastic news for both physio’s and women. This public advocacy represents is a huge shift and step forward for women’s functional and holistic health needs being recognised and respected during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum recovery and adjustment phases. French physiotherapists have long worked in women’s health, and outcomes for French women’s pelvic function seem to reflect the measure of success with this role. So if we know it works, why is taking so long for other countries to include physiotherapists in maternal health care teams in other parts of the world?

On the coattails of RCOT announcing their plan in April this year to invest in perinatal OT’s working in mental health, it really does feel like the cogs of the medicalised perinatal health care models are turning. I dream of a day when the headline I read of a press release is, “OTA calls for occupational therapists to join perinatal health care teams to support women in Australia”. I can’t wait for it. Although a catchier title would be appreciated.

The theme for the upcoming Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Congress in Sydney next year is “Bridging Gaps in Perinatal Care“. I’m hoping to be able to present the case study findings there (abstract has been submitted, fingers and toes are crossed!), and absolutely am intrigued to be there and learn about how health services are adapting to bridge the perceived gaps in perinatal care. With research developments such as the 4th Trimester Project being increasingly well recognised, organisations such as 2020Mom building, and terms like “matriescence” making a gradual re-emergence, who knows what to expect at this multidisciplinary Congress?! These are certainly exciting times for perinatal health care developments, and I can’t wait to learn about what else is happening…

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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)