Developing a Sole Occupational Therapy Position in a Rural Area

A 1988 Queensland Health Department survey of the demographic, training and workforce characteristics of registered occupational therapists (Queensland Department of Health, 1990) in Queensland, revealed that 31 percent of survey respondents were working outside the Brisbane metropolitan area. From an earlier demographic survey of the same population (Shah & Maas, 1980), it was clear that isolation from the profession, one's peers and continuing education opportunities were the perceived disadvantages of taking up a rural position. Based on personal experience, this paper provides an exposé of the planning, preparation, challenges and problems involved in accepting and developing a sole occupational therapy position in a rural area