The University of South Australia community mourns the passing of Cecilie Bearup OAM, a visionary educator who founded the SA Occupational Therapy Association in 1963, established the state's first OT degree at the SA Institute of Technology (now UniSA) in 1971, and achieved state registration for OT in 1974.
Born in Melbourne, Cecilie studied and practised OT in England and the US before returning to Australia in 1960, becoming one of only seven OTs in Adelaide at the time.
Recognising the need to nurture the profession in SA, Cecilie turned teacher in 1971 and, over many decades, earned widespread respect as an inspirational educator with the very highest professional standards.
She remained engaged with OT throughout her life, receiving an OAM in 1985 for services to education and the community.
UniSA awards an annual prize in Cecilie's name, and her influence has had a profound positive impact on the University's OT students and the countless people they help daily through their profession. Her legacy lives on through that immense contribution.
