Australian professional identity in therapeutic recreation : exploring perspectives from the field

The purpose of this case study was to explore the emerging Australian professional identity in the field of Therapeutic Recreation (TR). Within Australia, the field most closely associated with TR is Diversional Therapy (DT). However, the context of DT and TR in Australia continues to evolve and there has been little TR-specific research conducted on professional identity. Therefore, this qualitative pilot study included the use of open-ended email questionnaires and two focus group interviews to examine the following overarching research question: How do recreation professionals in Australia working in the field of TR construct their professional identities on a daily basis? This research presentation will briefly examine the history of DT and TR in Australia, and highlight the main findings from this initial study, including the themes of distinctive and contested identities within a globalizing profession, the struggle for voice and visibility, and a unifying sense of purpose.