CONSTRUCT 1: OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE

The major construct around which the Occupational Performance Model (Australia) is conceptualised is occupational performance. The central proposition in this model is that all goaloriented behaviour related to daily living is occupational in nature. Performance, as defined in this model, extends the usual notions of performance from that of motor action only to include antecedent and subsequent physical, mental and emotional processes relevant to the task performed. Performance is the ability to perceive, desire, recall, plan and carry out occupations in response to demands of the internal and/or external environments. These occupations are characterised by purposeful changes in behaviour that can be physical, cognitive or psychosocial. Occupation refers to the purposeful and meaningful engagement in roles, routines, tasks and subtasks for the purpose of self-maintenance, productivity, leisure (Reed, 1984, p.492) and rest (Llorens, 1991, p. 46; Meyer, 1922/1977, p.641).

Occupational Performance is the ability to perceive, desire, recall, plan and carry out roles, routines, tasks and subtasks for the purpose of self-maintenance, productivity, leisure and rest in response to demands of the internal and/or external environment.