Occupational Science Value Propositions in the Field of Public Policy

Public policy impacts on the occupational life spectrum of individuals and communities are ubiquitous. This paper explores the nexus between policy science and occupational science. Public policy is defined and the relevance to occupational life and occupational salience is explored. Two occupational science meta-value propositions are put forward to support interdisciplinary dialogue within policy science that can be used to respond to societal transformations and the development of public policy. Economic downturns and globalization are two scenarios used to provide examples of the intersections of occupational science and policy science. These scenarios are used to expand on the value and potential of occupational science to inform public policy through the application of policy levers. This paper opens the door for occupational scientists and public policy scientists to begin to engage in dialogue on the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches that can support the holistic consideration of knowledge needed to address the occupational complexity of lives and communities when occupation is disrupted.