AWARDS & PRIZES

MARIE DU TOIT FOUNDATION & AWARD

The Marie du Toit Award for the best undergraduate research project in occupational therapy is an annual award presented by the Vona & Marie du Toit Foundation.

The Foundation and the Marie du Toit award were established more than 30 years ago, in memory of Marie, a young, enthusiastic OT, whose untimely death in 1972 left a large gap in the South African OT world. Her parents, Vona and Stephen du Toit and a handful of OT colleagues established the award. The award was intended to encourage newly qualified OTs to contribute to the body of knowledge of the profession by studying the effect and outcomes of their OT interventions.

It is difficult to believe that during the1970's; the status of formal research in OT in South Africa was in its infancy. Furthermore, the undergraduate OT curricula did not include formal research methods. Therefore, the award focussed on already qualified OTs who could show tenacity of purpose, to plan, execute and write up a research project developed from practise. Not many applications for the award were received in those days because young OTs struggled to focus on doing research while working in a full time job; and many felt unqualified to tackle research. We pay tribute to three OTs who persevered and dedicated himself or herself to such an important part of being a professional. Rita Cawood, Erika Jooste and Marie Grobler received the awards in 1976, 1978 and 1981, respectively.

As no suitable applications for the award were received by The Foundation, for the 15 years between 1981 and 1995, the Foundation invited the eight OT training centres to submit their best undergraduate research project every year to compete for the Marie du Toit award. We congratulate the winners for this year.

Winners of the Marie du Toit Award for the best undergraduate research project in a year

Date	University	Students	Title
2008	WITS	Daphna Blieden Lori Efune Nicola Grabman Michal Tauby	Pilot study to understand the management & Leadership skills of OTs in Provincial Government Hospitals in Gauteng
2007	Wits	Cathy Rice Victoria Beckett	A pilot study to establish the outcomes of Flexor Tendon injuries in Specialised and Non-Specialised units in treating hand injuries
2006	UCT	Tessa Edelman, Vanessa Gouws, Catherine Howe, Tarrynn Kulber, Jesse Kumm, Lara Schoenfeld	A description of the livelihood strategies of a group of isisXhosa women with psychiatric disability living in the context of chronic poverty in Khayalitsha, Cape Town.
2005	Wits	Carike van Heerden, Nicolette de Kock, Kim Larsen, Marijke Knopjes	The Relationship between Institutionalisation and Visual Motor Integration.
2004	UCT	Keryn Brauteseth, Lauren Bluck, Karen Prakke, Jenna Schou	An investigation into the experience of fieldwork supervision: Perspectives of senior student supervisors and junior student supervisees
2003	UCT	Carmelita Barron, Wendy Bates, Megan Harrison, Jean Mockford, Lindel Weibesiek	The experience of engaging in the occupation of horse riding for adults with physical disabilities
2002	Durban Westville	L. Chetty P. Gobind S. Ramnarain	An Authorship survey of the South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. Phase three of the journal evaluation.
2001	UCT	Helen Bross Claire Lewis Claire Taylor	Exploring the circumstances in which playfulness is triggered for a group of disabled pre scholars living in an informal settlement.
1999	UCT	Margaux Furneaux Sacha Percy Chene Roberts Lee Seider	The influence on the experience of work of employees with mental illness in the open labour market: A Collective Case Study.
1998	Western Cape	R. Abrahams K. Creighton N. Naidoo A. Parker S. Pillay	A life skills programme with adolescents in an underprivileged area in the Western Cape.
1997	Durban westville	Seema Bhagwandas Keshika Naidoo Haseena Paruk	A critical evaluation of the splinting course offered by the Occupational Therapy Department at University of Durban Westville.
1996	Wits	Andrea Quadling	An investigation into a link between sensory modulation disorder and substance abuse.
1995	Wits	Robyn Binkin	The value of Community Rehabilitation workers in the Rural Community.