Upon completion of this chapter, the reader will be able to describe the structure of this book and the intended purpose and audience, explain the rationale behind an Australian specific occupational therapy textbook, and provide an overview of the relevant Australian population trends related to occupational therapy, according to recent statistical and governmental data.

The chapter will present contemporary workforce trends in occupational therapy and discuss the occupational therapy profession and how this textbook is situated within the Australian context of an evolving, evidence-based responsive profession.