OccupationalOccupational IdentityIdentityPhoto presentation of the occupations that Photo presentation of the occupations that

make up my occupational identitymake up my occupational identity

Jo Wright

Girl Guide MovementGirl Guide Movement During the 12 years that I During the 12 years that I

was involved in the Girl was involved in the Girl Guide movement, I Guide movement, I identified myself as a:identified myself as a:

Brownie Brownie Girl GuideGirl Guide RangerRanger Ranger in LeadershipRanger in Leadership Warranted Brownie Warranted Brownie

LeaderLeader

Occupations and involvement in Occupations and involvement in the girl guide movement provided the girl guide movement provided me with a sense of belonging, me with a sense of belonging, things to do, and goals to work things to do, and goals to work towards (become).towards (become).

Sewing/SewerSewing/Sewer

Sewing is a Sewing is a leisure occupation leisure occupation that I have that I have enjoyed since a enjoyed since a young ageyoung age

I gain satisfaction I gain satisfaction from creating from creating things by hand, things by hand, and am known as and am known as ‘a sewer’ amongst ‘a sewer’ amongst my friends and my friends and family.family.

Rock/wall climberRock/wall climber

Indoor and outdoor Indoor and outdoor rock climbing is an rock climbing is an occupation that I have occupation that I have participated in off and participated in off and on for the past 20 on for the past 20 yearsyears

As such, it is an As such, it is an occupation that I have occupation that I have used to identify used to identify myself throughout my myself throughout my lifelife

Kakapo Programme OfficerKakapo Programme Officer For four years I worked For four years I worked

as a Conservation as a Conservation Ranger for the Ranger for the Department of Department of Conservation on remote Conservation on remote offshore islands around offshore islands around New ZealandNew Zealand

Although this is a past Although this is a past occupation, it makes up a occupation, it makes up a significant part of my significant part of my identity and has identity and has influenced my current influenced my current choice of occupationschoice of occupations

FriendFriend

The occupational The occupational role of friend role of friend involves involves participating in participating in leisure occupations leisure occupations together such as:together such as:

Fancy dress partiesFancy dress parties Outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation SocialisingSocialising ShoppingShopping Talking on the Talking on the

phonephone

TravellerTraveller

‘‘I’m travelling’ was my first I’m travelling’ was my first response to the question response to the question ‘what do you do?’ when I ‘what do you do?’ when I was overseas.was overseas.

My work occupations at My work occupations at the time came secondary the time came secondary to travelling in regards to to travelling in regards to my occupational identitymy occupational identity

Family MemberFamily Member As a family member I As a family member I

am known as a:am known as a: SisterSister DaughterDaughter NieceNiece CousinCousin AuntyAunty

Many occupations are Many occupations are involved in my family involved in my family member occupational roles member occupational roles including:including:

HousekeepingHousekeeping ChildcareChildcare SocialisingSocialising Supportive occupationsSupportive occupations Attending family eventsAttending family events Shopping (food/presents)Shopping (food/presents) And many more……And many more……

Student/StudyingStudent/Studying

The occupational role of The occupational role of ‘student’ includes ‘student’ includes occupations such as:occupations such as: Attending classAttending class ReadingReading Assignment writingAssignment writing Socialising with classmatesSocialising with classmates Online lecturesOnline lectures Self-directed learning tasksSelf-directed learning tasks Practical Fieldwork Practical Fieldwork

experienceexperience

Staff memberStaff member I currently work at I currently work at

Whakatane Hospital (Bay Whakatane Hospital (Bay of Plenty District Health of Plenty District Health Board) as a casual Board) as a casual Administration Support Administration Support staff member.staff member.

This occupation links my previous This occupation links my previous employment occupational role and employment occupational role and my current student role, and my current student role, and allows me to maintain a sense of allows me to maintain a sense of belonging to the organisation and belonging to the organisation and its community, as well as provide its community, as well as provide an opportunity for paid occupation.an opportunity for paid occupation.

Future ID – Registered OTFuture ID – Registered OT

Through my study occupations, I am working towards becoming a Through my study occupations, I am working towards becoming a Registered Occupational TherapistRegistered Occupational Therapist

(Occupational Therapy Board of NZ, 2010)

ReferencesReferences

Occupational Therapy Board of NZ. (2010). Retrieved from: Occupational Therapy Board of NZ. (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.otboard.org.nz/Home.aspxhttp://www.otboard.org.nz/Home.aspx