Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (2014) 61, 32
doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12078
Letter to the Editor
Gender, disaster, and occupational health
Dear Editor, Population growth, climate change and rapid urbanisation are set to increase the impact of disasters worldwide. With an estimated 47 million people being displaced in 2012 alone (UNHCR, 2012), it is imperative that our profession begin to address issues of occupational injustice that arise as a result of natural, technological and human-made disasters. Although few have studied the impact of disasters from an occupational perspective, it is evident that war, conflict, flood, fire and drought can cause significant and long-term occupational disruption. And yet, our profession is not contributing to disaster preparedness and response activities in ways that optimally enhance occupational opportunities within disaster-affected communities. To provide effective occupational therapy intervention, it is necessary for our profession to increase its knowledge and understanding of occupational issues that arise during, and after, catastrophic events. In particular, it is the author’s contention that our understanding of gender, disaster and occupational health must improve if we are to enhance equality in opportunity and resource allocation, as the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2006) contends. In Australia, inequalities for women are known to include disadvantages related to economic security, the burden of family care and susceptibility to domestic violence where men are more likely to experience physical injuries and death (Hazeleger, 2013). In disaster situations, these factors clearly impact on opportunities for participation. I therefore commend the editor and
© 2014 Occupational Therapy Australia
advisory board of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal for the decision to publish the special issue, ‘Responding to global disasters and occupational injustice: A focus on working with and for communities.’ I am certain that this issue will contribute much to the growing discourse on the impact of disasters on occupational health and wellbeing. I am also hopeful that it will increase the involvement of occupational therapy in disaster preparedness and response activities, now and into the future. Kylie A. Carra1,2 La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia and 2 Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia E-mail: [email protected] 1
References Hazeleger, T. (2013). Gender and disaster recovery: Strategies issues and action in Australia. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 28, 40–46. UNHCR (2012). UNHCR: Global trends, 2012: Displacement: The new 21st century challenge. Retrieved 30 July, 2013, from http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/home/opendocPDFViewer.html?docid=51bacb0f9&query= displaced%20people%202012 World Federation of Occupational Therapists. (2006). Position statement on human rights. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http://www.wfot.org/ResourceCentre.aspx
doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12078
Letter to the Editor
Gender, disaster, and occupational health
Dear Editor, Population growth, climate change and rapid urbanisation are set to increase the impact of disasters worldwide. With an estimated 47 million people being displaced in 2012 alone (UNHCR, 2012), it is imperative that our profession begin to address issues of occupational injustice that arise as a result of natural, technological and human-made disasters. Although few have studied the impact of disasters from an occupational perspective, it is evident that war, conflict, flood, fire and drought can cause significant and long-term occupational disruption. And yet, our profession is not contributing to disaster preparedness and response activities in ways that optimally enhance occupational opportunities within disaster-affected communities. To provide effective occupational therapy intervention, it is necessary for our profession to increase its knowledge and understanding of occupational issues that arise during, and after, catastrophic events. In particular, it is the author’s contention that our understanding of gender, disaster and occupational health must improve if we are to enhance equality in opportunity and resource allocation, as the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2006) contends. In Australia, inequalities for women are known to include disadvantages related to economic security, the burden of family care and susceptibility to domestic violence where men are more likely to experience physical injuries and death (Hazeleger, 2013). In disaster situations, these factors clearly impact on opportunities for participation. I therefore commend the editor and
© 2014 Occupational Therapy Australia
advisory board of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal for the decision to publish the special issue, ‘Responding to global disasters and occupational injustice: A focus on working with and for communities.’ I am certain that this issue will contribute much to the growing discourse on the impact of disasters on occupational health and wellbeing. I am also hopeful that it will increase the involvement of occupational therapy in disaster preparedness and response activities, now and into the future. Kylie A. Carra1,2 La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia and 2 Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia E-mail: [email protected] 1
References Hazeleger, T. (2013). Gender and disaster recovery: Strategies issues and action in Australia. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 28, 40–46. UNHCR (2012). UNHCR: Global trends, 2012: Displacement: The new 21st century challenge. Retrieved 30 July, 2013, from http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/home/opendocPDFViewer.html?docid=51bacb0f9&query= displaced%20people%202012 World Federation of Occupational Therapists. (2006). Position statement on human rights. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http://www.wfot.org/ResourceCentre.aspx
