Shoalhaven Campus to host inaugural International Occupational Science Think Tank

Jul 18, 2006

The University of Wollongong’s Shoalhaven Campus at Nowra will host the world’s first International Occupational Science Think Tank from 19 to 22 July.

Occupational science is a new discipline which focuses on developing understandings of what people do – why, how, what it means and the many social, cultural and even political influences that shape it on a daily basis. In particular, occupational science is concerned with the relationship between what people do and levels of health and well being.

Dr Alison Wicks, the Director of the Australasian Occupational Science Centre (AOSC) at the Shoalhaven Campus, is the convener of the Think Tank.

Dr Wicks said the twin aims of the Think Tank are:

• To develop a prioritised occupational science research agenda in order to better inform health and social policy

• To establish international networks for future collaboration, enhancing the relevance and contribution of occupational science in communities around the globe

There will be 19 Think Tank participants coming from the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Sweden, Taiwan, Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

“This International Think Tank will help shape the future directions of occupational science and create an international voice for occupational scientists,” Dr Wicks said.

One of the Australian participants, Professor Gail Whiteford from Charles Sturt University, said that the growing discipline has the potential to influence health and social policy and has a great deal of relevance for communities “in the area of childhood obesity, for example, we need to look beyond nutrition alone to patterns of activity and participation and re-create neighbourhoods which facilitate exercise and parent/child interaction”.

For more information about occupational science refer to the Journal of Occupational Science website at: www.jos.edu.au

Media please note

Photo/filming opportunity: The Member for Gilmore, Mrs Joanna Gash, MP, will officially open the Think Tank at 9am on Thursday 20 July at the Ray Cleary Building, Shoalhaven Campus, Nowra. The Head of the Shoalhaven Campus, Ms Robbie Collins and the Deputy Mayor of Shoalhaven Council, Mr Peter Murphy, will also be in attendance. The opening will feature a ‘Welcome to Country’ by a local Indigenous representative.

For further information contact Dr Alison Wicks on (02) 4448 0841 or mobile 0242 731 158.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128