OTA Annual Divisional Meetings Wrap Up

Over the past month OTA invited members to attend the 2021 Annual Divisional Meetings. This series of meetings are official meetings of the Divisional Councils of the association and enable members to reflect on their membership journey, farewell retiring and meet new Division Council members. Divisional council meetings also provide an important opportunity to receive an address for OTA Leadership, reflect on the year’s achievements whilst gaining insight into areas of attention and impact for the association moving forward.

This year meetings were held virtually or hybrid. The varied meeting format increased the opportunity for engagement with local members drawn from a variety of practice settings and geographic locations.

Invited speakers added value to the meetings by sharing their knowledge and understanding, whilst offering new perspectives with thought provoking presentations. The questions raised and member discussions around in particular workforce, scope of practice and student supervision showed the relevance of the topics as a starting point for further discussions.

The diversity of topics is evidenced below;

An occupational therapy lens: Engaging schools to support students with refugee experiences
Change the Record: youth justice system reform and the raise the age campaign
Aged care practice and supervision needs for new graduates
Learning thresholds in the first 4 years of practice
Developing rehabilitation capability of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in the NT
Working Intensely within the Forensic Disability Unit, NT Health Department
A drop in the ocean: Perspectives, recollections and lessons learned from the Artania COVID-19 journey
Hotels for Hero’s program: Reflections and learnings on impacts of COVID-19 on frontline workers.

The divisions engaged with over 170 members across the meetings, whilst the councils collectively farewelled 15 retiring and welcomed 12 new members. Further detail on the 2021/22 councils can be found here.

OTA is delighted members took the opportunity to engage with the association and their peers both in person and virtually as well as to reflect and consider the contribution and influence they are and can continue to have on their professional community. We thank Carol McKinstry, OTA Board President and Samantha Hunter, OTA CEO for their contributions and presence at the meetings.

A number of positions within Divisional Councils remain open. For members who are interested in more detail please contact your respective Divisional Manager.

Members Engaging with OTA Divisions

WA ADM 2021	ACT ADM 2021
NSW ADM 2021	NT Darwin ADM 2021