Exploring the professional wellbeing of Grade 2 occupational therapists employed in public health inpatient settings in Victoria, Australia: A mixed-methods study.

This article examines the professional wellbeing of Grade 2 occupational therapists working in inpatient, bed-based physical health public hospital settings in Victoria, Australia, focusing on their professional identity, job satisfaction, turnover intention, work engagement, and burnout. Using a mixed-methods approach with 32 survey respondents and eight interviewees, the study found that professional identity positively correlated with job satisfaction and negatively with burnout, particularly disengagement and exhaustion. Despite challenges such as understaffing, high workload, limited promotional opportunities, and pressures to prioritize patient discharge, turnover intention among participants was low, attributed in part to collegial support, clinical engagement, and intrinsic motivation to help patients. The findings highlight the impact of organizational factors on occupational therapists' wellbeing and recommend enhanced professional development, clearer role recognition within multidisciplinary teams, and improved staffing to support retention and professional identity.