Occupational therapy (OT) transforms lives by enabling individuals to engage in meaningful daily activities, supporting health, independence, and well-being. Few embody this mission as profoundly as Professor Daleen Casteleijn, who recently joined the Department of Occupational Therapy at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) as a professor. Her career spans clinical practice, research, teaching, and global mentorship. At every stage of her journey, Casteleijn has combined passion, innovation, and commitment to evidence-based practice, shaping the profession and those it serves.
Professor Casteleijn grew up in rural Mpumalanga, in Hazyview and Bushbuckridge, and attended Ben Vorster High School in Limpopo. “Like many young people finishing school, I was not entirely sure what career path to follow. Occupational therapy was a random choice, and I graduated in 1983 from the University of Pretoria. At the time, even after four years of study, I had very little understanding of the profession,” she recalls. Her early clinical experiences at Kalafong, Weskoppies, and Ga-Rankuwa (now Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital) ignited a fascination with mental health and the transformative power of occupational therapy.
Further studies, including an Honours degree at MEDUNSA (now known as SMU) and a PhD at WITS University in 2010, propelled her research career, particularly in outcome measurement and instrument development. “What began as an uncertain career choice has evolved into a passion for evidence-based occupational therapy and supporting the next generation of clinicians and researchers,” she reflects.
From clinician to academic leader, Professor Casteleijn’s career is marked by both depth and breadth. “My career began in clinical practice, particularly in mental health, where I witnessed first-hand the transformative power of occupational therapy,” she explains. Working closely with clients highlighted both the value of OT and the challenge of demonstrating its impact within complex healthcare systems.
Her PhD research focused on outcome measurement, a theme that has guided her work in teaching, supervision, and research collaboration. “I supervised many PhD students, most of whom developed instruments for South Africa and other African countries. They enriched my understanding of contextually relevant tools in different healthcare settings,” she says. Over the years, collaborations with colleagues in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia have further strengthened her commitment to translating research into practical clinical tools.
Professor Casteleijn is particularly drawn to occupational therapy for its holistic understanding of people. “Health is not only about symptoms or diagnoses but about participation in meaningful life roles,” she explains. She describes occupation through the concepts of doing, being, becoming, and belonging — the activities people engage in daily, their identity and sense of meaning, their growth over time, and their connection to others and society.
“What continues to inspire me is seeing how small changes in a person’s ability to engage in daily activities can profoundly influence wellbeing, independence, and purpose. Occupational therapy can be one of the most cost-effective contributions within the healthcare system,” she notes.
One of her most influential contributions to the field is the Activity Participation Outcome Measure (APOM), developed during her PhD and now used in South Africa and the United Kingdom. “The APOM was motivated by a need I observed in clinical practice. I am a strong believer in the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, and the APOM is based on its levels of creative ability,” she explains. Patented in 2015, the tool enables clinicians to measure meaningful change in activity participation, effectively bridging theory and practice.
Professor Casteleijn emphasises the significance of seeing a locally developed tool gain global relevance. “Seeing the APOM implemented in practice across different contexts demonstrates how locally developed research can contribute to global knowledge and practice.” Through online training programmes, the instrument has also reached clinicians in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
At SMU, Professor Casteleijn aims to strengthen research capacity, mentor young academics, and contribute to building an environment where teaching, research, and clinical practice support one another.
According to Acting Head of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Annah Lesunyane, the department is grateful and excited to welcome her expertise. “Prof Casteleijn brings a wealth of experience to the department. Her extensive background in research, teaching and clinical practice will greatly enrich our academic environment and contribute to strengthening research and postgraduate development within occupational therapy at SMU,” Lesunyane says. “In addition, Prof Casteleijn firmly believes that the true measure of impact lies not only in citations but in implementation, when research takes root in practice, changes services and improves lives.”
By Dimakatso Modise
