Occupational Therapy Australia

📣 NDIA Annual Pricing Review Final Report: Have your say! 📣

In June 2024, the NDIA released its Annual Pricing Review Final Report, which kept OT therapy supports price limits at the same rate for the 5th year running. We know that this decision will be very disappointing for members who are already struggling to operate sustainably under the NDIS.

🗣 We are seeking members' feedback on the impact of the NDIA's decision, have your say and assist us with advocacy.

Let's work together to make a positive change!

To complete the OTA NDIS Provider Pulse Survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2D9VLBX.

The survey will close on Friday 2 August.

📣 Call for Expressions of Interest - Organising Committee OTAUS 2025 📣

OTA is seeking nominations/applications for key roles on the Organising Committee of the 31st National Conference and Exhibition, taking place from 25-27 June 2025 in Adelaide.

We are looking for passionate individuals to fill the following positions:
* National Members x 3
* Consumer Member x 1
* New Graduate Member x 1

For more details on roles, responsibilities, selection criteria, and how to apply, visit: https://www.otausevents.com.au/otaus2025/organising-committee

🗓️ Deadline for applications: Wednesday 31 July 2024.

Get involved and help shape this landmark event in occupational therapy!

📣 Early Career Community of Practice – Session 2 announced!

Our Early Community of Practice Program kicked off in May and we were delighted by the response. This program is designed exclusively for OTA members with 0-5 years of experience to help them connect with like-minded professionals, build meaningful relationships and gain valuable insights and support.

📅 Session 2 will be running on Monday 26 August at 6pm (AEST).

Session 2 will focus on Supervision and will be facilitated by early career OTs Jenna Considine and Matthew Harrison, featuring guest presenter Angie Contreras. Topics include maximising supervision, transitioning to a supervisor role, and navigating challenging situations. Plus, a Q&A session!

The session is FREE for early career community of practice members to attend and may count towards your AHPRA CPD hours.

Don’t worry if you missed the first session, you are still welcome to join the program and attend Session 2.

To join the community simply sign-up with your OTA-registered email address.

Register here: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/r/AF32963339707CF02540EF23F30FEDED

Join today and be part of something special!

Our partnerships enable us to develop and promote programs and services for OTs, supporting them to provide services to the community to enable people to live their best lives.

Want to know more about our partners?

Explore their products and services: https://otaus.com.au/practice-support/ota-partners

🌟 Check out our upcoming CPD offerings! 🌟

Don't miss out on the opportunity to invest in your professional growth. Browse our online CPD calendar and reserve your spot today: https://otaus.com.au/cpd

Last Call for Submissions to Connections Magazine!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to showcase your occupational therapy expertise in our Spring 2024 edition of Connections! Whether you're sharing your research findings, an innovative practice you've implemented, or a personal customer success story, we want to hear from you.

⏰ Monday 22 July is the final day to submit your articles!

Seize this chance to contribute to our vibrant community and share your insights with fellow OTA members.

For more information on editorial requirements and how to submit your article, please visit: https://otaus.com.au/blog/connections-magazine-share-your-story

🌿 Join Us for an Inspiring Session on Nature-Based Occupational Therapy! 🌿

Discover how connecting with nature enhances engagement, fosters participation, and facilitates the therapeutic process with occupational therapists Bronwyn Paynter, Madeline Avci, and Veronica Yeo.

Dive into the evidence showcasing how interactions with nature significantly bolster health, well-being and support people’s everyday occupations.

📅 Date: Thursday 8 August
🕛 Time: 12pm – 2pm (AEST)
🌐 Location: Online

This session will empower you to better understand and champion the natural world and our role within it as an essential environment to support well-being and promote purposeful occupation.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the transformative power of nature in occupational therapy! 🌱✨

Secure your spot now: https://otaus.com.au/cpds/Hot-Topic-Exploring-Nature-Based-Occupational-Therapy

🌟 Seeking new opportunities? Discover the latest OT job opportunities nationwide, access curated career tips, and subscribe to personalised job notifications.

Find out more at https://jobs.otaus.com.au/

🔎 Explore our upcoming Special Interest Group meetings for August!

Our member-only Special Interest Groups (SIGs) foster community, connection, and innovation, allowing you to connect with OTs from your practice area and beyond.

OTA members, if you’d like to join a SIG, please update your preferences under your member dashboard: https://otaus.com.au/PageContent/RestrictedAccess. You can view upcoming meetings at https://otaus.com.au/cpd.

🌟 Check out some of our upcoming In-person Workshops! 🌟

Don't miss out on the opportunity to invest in your professional growth. Browse our CPD calendar for more in-person and online workshops: https://otaus.com.au/cpd

🚀🎓 OT students, get a jump-start on your career!

OTA’s Student Career Webinar Series aims to support graduating OT students (i.e. fourth year undergraduate and second year masters OT students) to come together virtually from universities across the country to support their transition into practice.

If you can’t attend live at the scheduled time, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recorded event afterwards, so you won’t miss out on these valuable insights to help you establish your career as an OT.

Don’t worry if you missed Webinar 1, you can still register and attend Webinar 2 and we’ll send you a link to Webinar 1, too!

📅 Webinar 2: Choosing the right workplace
Tuesday 23 July from 12pm – 1.30pm AEST

Join OTA and these six fabulous presenters for this lunchtime session - let's embark on this journey together towards a successful transition into practice.

Register now – It’s FREE: https://otaus.com.au/member-resources/student-hub

We invite you to join the community!

You will feel supported throughout every stage of your OT career, with access to tailored benefits including learning and development resources and networking events.

Join OTA today! | otaus.com.au/membership/join-ota

📢 Call for Abstracts NOW OPEN: 31st National Conference & Exhibition 2025! 📢
Join us from 25-27 June 2025 at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the 31st National Conference & Exhibition 2025. This standout event is held every 2 years and has established itself as the must-attend event for OTs as it represents the pinnacle of Australian OT excellence.

🎓 Abstract Mentoring Program:
New to submitting presentations? Our mentoring program is perfect for those with limited to no experience in submitting a paper for a conference. We’ll help you organise your thoughts clearly and concisely before submitting to our review process. Simply email a draft of your submission to [email protected] by Friday 30 August. We’ll connect you with a mentor who can guide you through the process.

🎙 Presentation Types:
* Oral Presentations: Engage the audience for 15 minutes, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session.
* ePoster Displays: Showcase your work visually for the duration of the Forum.
* Impact Highlights – New to 2025!: Present your impact insights in a concise, 5-minute oral presentation.
* Occupation Stations: Dive into a 25-minute presentation focusing on the therapeutic use of an occupation/activity.
* Workshops: Present a structured, engaging session on a key topic for 60-90 minutes.
* Conversations that Matter: these sessions will take the format of either a Yarn or round table 45-minute discussion
* Scientific Research Panel: a panel of occupational therapists to speak from multiple perspectives on topical areas in scientific research.

For more information on submission guidelines, mentoring assistance, abstract examples, and key dates, please click here: https://www.otausevents.com.au/otaus2025/call-for-abstracts

Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your work and contribute to the future of occupational therapy. Submit your abstract today!

🚀 Elevate Your Practice's Visibility with Google Business Profile 🚀

Learn how to make this free digital tool work for your practice.
Join Allied Health Marketer Deb Ricketts (Versatile VA) for a powerful and practical masterclass designed specifically for OTs running their own practices. Discover how to leverage Google Business Profile, a free marketing tool, to attract more visitors to your website, practice location, and social platforms. Let your audience 'know, like, and trust' your brand!

This masterclass isn't just theoretical—it's a hands-on experience where you'll learn to make Google Business Profile your ultimate marketing ally. Dive into the mechanics of optimisation to ensure your presence shines brightly in the digital landscape.

📅 Date: Thursday 1 August
🕛 Time: 12pm – 1.30pm
📍 Location: Online

Don't miss this opportunity to boost your practice's online presence with expert guidance and practical tips. Secure your spot now: https://otaus.com.au/cpds/private_practice_masterclass_series_4

🌟✨ Join OTA's Board of Directors! ✨🌟

Board nominations are now open! We are seeking qualified individuals to join our dedicated team of Board Directors. This is your opportunity to contribute to evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and the future of occupational therapy in Australia.

We're looking for passionate, engaged, and strategic thinkers from our community who are ready to enhance their careers and make a positive impact in their profession. There are two vacancies available, and members will vote to fill these positions as per our constitution.

🔎 Read more about the position, eligibility and requirements here: https://otaus.com.au/about/board-nominations

Nominations close next week - 3pm (AEST) on Friday 19 July.

🌟Check out our upcoming Online CPD offerings! 🌟

Don't miss out on the opportunity to invest in your professional growth. Browse our online CPD calendar and reserve your spot today: https://otaus.com.au/cpd

Our Professional Practice Advisor in Aged Care, Christina Wyatt, attended the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) conference in Adelaide on 4 and 5 July. With a focus on living well, ageing well and dying well, attendees heard from a range of Australian and International speakers including Interim Inspector of First Nations Aged Care Andrea Kelly, Nat Cook, South Australian Minister for Human Services, Seniors and Ageing well and Hon Annika Wells, Federal Minister for Aged Care.

The overwhelming focus on the conference was innovation with speakers talking about environmental design innovations, novel approaches to using digital technology to address social isolation and models of care that integrate virtual reality and artificial intelligence. The Department also announced the release of the new Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024-2029 aiming to better connect the aged care system, support improved clinical and care outcomes and enable older people to be better informed and in control of their care.

Swipe to see: 📸 Andrea Kelly 📸 OTA member Stacey George discussing the vital role of allied health in aged care 📸 MP Nat Cook

⚫🔴🟡 It’s NAIDOC Week 🔵⚪🟢

NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year's theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

Learn more about our association’s journey to Reconciliation at https://www.otaus.com.au/about/reconciliation

🌟 OTA is excited to announce our newest Special Interest Group – Trauma Informed Care

The Trauma Informed Care Interest Group is open to all OTA members interested in developing and advancing their understanding and practice of trauma informed care principles and approaches.

The primary objectives of this group are:
* To bring together OTs nationwide, across all settings, practice areas and stages of practice, for knowledge sharing and CPD development, peer support, and exploration of trauma informed care practices and principles.
* Provide opportunities for evidence-based training and practice resources that are consistent with occupational therapy competency standards, including hearing from guest speakers in this area of practice.
* To provide a trauma informed space honouring lived experience from within our profession, upholding cultural sensitivity, and supporting the wellbeing of OTs, their workforces and organisations, whilst advocating for the occupational therapy role in trauma informed care.

📅 Date: The first meeting of the group is on Monday 29 July (2 – 3 meetings per year)
⏱ Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm (AEST)
📍 Location: Online
💵 Cost: Free, member-only session

To join a SIG, members need to update their preferences under the member dashboard. For more information click here: https://otaus.com.au/cpds/Trauma-Informed-Care-SIG-July-Meeting

🚗🎙 Check out the most recent Drive-ABLE Podcast which was recorded live at the recent OT Exchange 2024 in Perth.

It brings you key highlights from the OT Exchange and also features an interview with our very own, Samantha Hunter, CEO of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA).

Ep 86: The 2024 Occupational Therapy Exchange in Perth, Australia Welcome to the Drive-Able Podcast! Today, we have a very special episode for you. It might be a little noisy in the background because we're coming to you li...

🗣 Have Your Say: OTA Policy and Advocacy Agenda Survey

At OTA, one of the ways we support you and your profession is through our policy and advocacy agenda. This is a critical part of our core business, and our activities in this space aim to influence policies and reforms for the benefit of you – our members.

Your feedback is crucial in helping OTA provide the most effective advocacy on behalf of your profession. So, we warmly invite you to have your say with our Policy and Advocacy Agenda Survey.

This survey aims to understand the issues that matter most to you and will help OTA to represent your interests to government and other key decision-makers across both state and federal systems in Australia.

Click here to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XR558Q6

For a snapshot of all our recent Policy and Advocacy activities, go to: https://otaus.com.au/tags/policy-and-advocacy-news

The survey closes on 3️1️ July.

🌟 Ready for a change? Discover the latest OT job opportunities nationwide, access curated career tips, and subscribe to personalised job notifications.

Find out more at https://jobs.otaus.com.au/

🚀🎓 OT students, get a jump-start on your career!
OTA’s Student Career Webinar Series aims to support graduating OT students (i.e. fourth year undergraduate and second year masters OTS students) to come together virtually from universities across the country to support their transition into practice.

📅Webinar 2: Choosing the right workplace
Tuesday 23 July from 12pm – 1.30pm AEST

📅Webinar 3: Tips for transitioning to practice
Tuesday 10 September from 12pm – 1.30pm AEST

Join us for these lunchtime sessions - grab your favourite meal, dial in, and let's embark on this journey together towards a successful transition into practice.
Register now – It’s FREE: https://otaus.com.au/member-resources/student-hub

Interested in submitting a story for Connections? Our quarterly magazine provides a platform for OTA members to share their occupational therapy insights. Perhaps you’re interested in sharing some insightful research you collaborated on, a consumer success story, or an advancement in practice.

The deadline for submissions for the Spring 2024 edition is Monday 22 July. For more information on editorial requirements and how to submit your article, please visit: https://otaus.com.au/blog/connections-magazine-share-your-story