October Interest Groups 2026

Ready to be inspired and energised with like-minded peers? Explore our October Interest Groups.

September Interest Groups 2026

Ready to be inspired and energised with like-minded peers? Explore our September Interest Groups.

Connections Spring 2026 - references

Policy and Advocacy update – 30 July 2026

Read about OTA policy and advocacy updates and developments this week, including OTA to represent the profession to Senate Inquiry on NDIS Amendment Bill, NSW Thriving Kids petition, and many more.

Policy and Advocacy update – 23 July 2026

Read about OTA policy and advocacy updates and developments this week, including the update on Commonwealth Prac Payment, NSW Thriving Kids petition, and many more.

Policy and Advocacy update – 16 July 2026

Read about OTA policy and advocacy updates and developments this week, including the initiative OTA doing for NSW Thriving Kids, NDIS Amendment Bill update, and many more.

Generative AI in OT practice Interest Group

This Interest Group is open to all OTA members working in or with an interest in the area of Generative AI.

Policy and Advocacy update – 9 July 2026

Read about OTA policy and advocacy updates and developments this week, including the changes in NDIS Amendment Bill, Thriving Kids advocacy update, and many more.

August Interest Groups 2026

Ready to be inspired and energised with like-minded peers? Explore our August Interest Groups.

Policy and Advocacy update – 2 July 2026

Read about OTA policy and advocacy updates and developments this week, including the NDIS Amendment Bill update, NDIA integrity checks on older claims, and many more.

Research Study: Developing the safe steps falls program

This study aims to support strategies in preventing falls for older adults with cognitive impairment.

Board Director Nominations 2026 now open

We are seeking suitably qualified and experienced individuals to contribute their governance skills and expertise as valued Board Directors. This year, there are two member elected Board Director roles available.

Connections Winter 2026 - references

OTA Annual General Meetings

Occupational Therapy Australia will hold its next Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the 2025/26 year on Tuesday 17 November 2026.

Pain - Learning Hub

Explore our available events on Pain Management, designed to expand your knowledge, build skills, and connect with peers through expert-led learning opportunities.

Connections submissions

Share your expertise with the OTA community. Submit your article to Connections magazine and connect with peers across the occupational therapy profession.

Capability Framework for occupational therapists supporting people with environmental and home modifications

This draft Capability Framework outlines the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for occupational therapists supporting with environmental and home modifications across various career stages and across all relevant Australian service settings.

Capability Framework for occupational therapists supporting people with assistive technology

This Capability Framework outlines the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for occupational therapists supporting people with Assistive Technology (AT) across various career stages and across all relevant Australian service settings.

Capability Framework for occupational therapists working with people with pain

Occupational Therapists are uniquely placed to support clients who are experiencing acute or persistent pain by applying a holistic approach to assessment and therapeutic interventions that are focused on enhancing engagement and participation in meaningful occupation. Occupational therapists play a key role in multidisciplinary teams working in pain management across a range of settings from inpatient and sub-acute settings to specialist pain clinics, community rehabilitation centres, return to work programs, aged care settings and private practice, bringing an understanding of the physical, psychological, environmental and societal factors that influence a person’s experience of pain.

VicRoads: Peer developed testing routes

A list of suggested driving test routes developed by occupational therapist driving assessors.

Monash: Early Vocational Rehabilitation Webinar (July 2024)

In July 2024, OTA hosted a Member Session: Towards Work – Early vocational rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury, multi-trauma orthopaedic injuries or spinal cord injury by Dr Pam Ross and Yash Bedekar.

DHAC: National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management

The Action Plan will provide a key step towards a national and holistic policy framework that will support consumers, health practitioners and the wider community to improve the quality of life for people living with pain, their families and carers and minimise its impact.

Position Statement: The Role of Allied Health Assistants in Supporting Occupational Therapy Practice (2015)

This position paper defines the roles, scope, and operational and professional responsibilities of Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) in the delivery of occupational therapy in hospital and the community. The paper provides a structure for occupational therapists to effectively supervise and delegate to AHAs, and will assist occupational therapists in understanding the clinical governance requirements in facilitating the AHA role within an occupational therapy service.

The role of Allied Health Assistants in Supporting Occupational Therapy Practice (October 2015)

For many years allied health (OT) assistants have been part of many public sector occupational therapy departments. With the increased opportunities for assistants arising from the NDIS and aged care reforms and with many workforce reviews in progress by Governments, Occupational Therapy Australia, like many of our other allied health association colleagues, have been developing position statements to guide practice in this area.

Interest Groups

OTA membership allows you to explore national and state-based interest groups, student and early career community of practice, or national reference groups that help inform our advocacy work.

Capability Frameworks

Occupational Therapy Australia’s capability frameworks propose what best practice looks like in a particular area across the career pathway. Each framework outlines a set of capabilities that occupational therapists may use in their area of practice at the foundational, intermediate or senior practitioner level.