30 subjects (58% response rate) from 21 sites participated. Mean age 30.4, 29 females, one male and an average of 9-year clinical experience. OT service was usually provided within multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary teams by full-time employed staff and patients were overwhelmingly Australian Triage Scale level 4 or 5 and were over 65 years. Few standardized assessment or outcome measures were used. The OT role was consistently focussed on functional assessment and provision of interventions such as equipment prescription, patient education and referral to community and support services to ensure safe discharge or inform inpatient admission decisions.

Australian occupational therapists in emergency departments need specialised CPD opportunities. The information needs and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats provide a CPD topic planning guide.