Care of People with Dementia in their Environment (COPE) Program
This interactive training introduces attendees to the Care Of People with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) program and provides attendees with the skills and knowledge required to adopt and implement COPE in their workplace.
Program Overview
This highly interactive workshop is designed to enhance your dementia care practice with practical, evidence-based strategies that work, focusing on the COPE (Care of People with Dementia in their Environments) program, developed by Professor Laura Gitlin and her team in the U.S. and subsequently adapted for the Australian environment.
The COPE program is internationally recognised for its effectiveness in improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers. Built on decades of research, COPE provides occupational therapists with a structured, person-centred approach to managing the functional and behavioural challenges of dementia in home and community settings.
This training will provide you with the skills and confidence to integrate COPE into your clinical practice—enabling you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with dementia and those who care for them.
What You Will Learn
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The evidence base for occupational therapy interventions in dementia care: Understand why COPE works and how it fits within best-practice models of dementia care.
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Comprehensive assessment skills: Learn how to assess the person with dementia, their caregiver, and their environment holistically and effectively.
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Client-directed problem-solving strategies: Empower clients and carers by collaboratively identifying issues and developing tailored solutions.
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Practical strategies for enhancing function and managing behaviours: Use communication techniques, activity simplification, and environmental modifications to support daily living and reduce behavioural symptoms.
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Implementation planning and troubleshooting: Identify common barriers to implementing COPE and develop strategies to successfully adopt the program in your own workplace.
Why Attend?
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You will receive essential resources to support implementation
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Learn from our COPE Master Trainers who are experienced in delivering and supporting the COPE program and will guide you through its application with real-world insights.
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Enhance your professional practice by building your confidence and capability in dementia care, with tools you can apply immediately in community, aged care, or in-home settings.
Who should attend
Suitable for new graduate to experienced occupational therapists.
Please note: this course is not suitable for students
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
This is a 2-day interactive online workshop.
DATE:
Monday 2nd February and Tuesday 3rd February 2026
TIME:
9:00am - 5:00pm | ACT, VIC, TAS, NSW |
8:30am - 4:30pm | SA |
8:00am – 4:00pm | Qld |
7:30am – 3:30pm | NT |
6:00am – 2:00pm | WA |
Please log on 15 minutes prior to start time each day.
VENUE:
Online via Zoom. Login details will be sent to registered participants prior to the workshop.
CPD HOURS:
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 15 hours
A certificate of attendance will be issued upon completion of the full course. Please allow up to 48 hours for the certificate to appear in your CPD tracker.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please ensure that your mailing address is correct at time of completing your registration as workshop resources will be posted to you.
By registering for this workshop, you agree to allow Occupational Therapy Australia to share your full name and email address with the presenters for post event follow up.
If you have any concerns regarding the above, please email info@otaus.com.au
REGISTRATION FEES
EARLYBIRD – Register on or before 7 December 2025
OTA Member: $805
New Graduate Member: $725
Non-member: $1045
STANDARD – Register on or after 8 December 2025
OTA Member: $885
New Graduate Member: $795
Non-member: $1,150
Members must be logged in with username and password to register at the member rate.
Not a member, you can join here and enjoy many benefits.
RSVPS close 11th January 2025, 11:55pm AEDT
Note: All pricing is inclusive of GST
DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, and changes.
All resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here
CONTACT US
Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By
Professor Kate Laver
Kate is an occupational therapist with clinical experience working with older people in home and rehabilitation settings. She leads studies of applied research translation, including forming collaboratives and training health professionals to support them to deliver evidence-based programs. She was involved in coordinating the National Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia. Kate was one of the original COPE Master trainers in Australia, adapting the original program to the Australian context and developing COPE Australia training.
Dr Sally Day
Sally is an occupational therapist with clinical experience working in health and aged care in Australia and the UK. She is passionate about supporting people living with dementia and promoting the role that occupational therapists can play in providing comprehensive dementia specific assessment and intervention in the community. Sally was the project manager for the COPE Australia project and was one of the original COPE Master trainers in Australia, adapting the original program to the Australian context and developing COPE Australia training.