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Update from the President

5.11.2009

Dear Members.
 
Welcome to the second installment of ‘Letter from the President’, a regular report featuring a summary of the major issues surrounding the association. In this issue I will outline some of the discussions from our National Council Face to Face Meeting on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, 2009.
 
Strategic Planning Day:
On Saturday 3 October the National Council assembled for our annual strategic planning review. This year a facilitator helped to assist with strategic direction. This not only assisted in maintaining a good focus on the day but also allowed some professional development for the council. This assists with a greater understanding and best practice for setting and prioritizing our strategic goals.
 
These outcomes will now be set into our strategic plan for the next 3 years with a business plan to be prepared to put flesh around the goals to see how they are achieved.
 
The new updated strategic plan and business plan will be updated on the web when it has been passed as correct by the council. 
 
 
Thank you to the OT AUSTRALIA office staff who came and joined the group to help maintain the office focus for our values and vision. They were very positive and gave some good feedback to help set the strategic direction.
 
Nationally Elected councilors:
Our 3 nationally elected Councilors, Gail Kingston (has achieved 2 terms on council) Laurie Farrow and Carolyn Webster (have achieved 1 term each). A term is 3 years and you are able to serve 3 consecutive terms if you are successful in your re-election.
 
The election of the National Councilors will need to commence in December 2009 as stipulated in our constitution, we will keep members up to date in our Connections magazine.
 
 
Framework of Excellence:
The National Framework of Professional Excellence is the skeleton in which each and every member of OT AUSTRALIA can make a contribution to our profession and is also the way that OT AUSTRALIA delivers the many services and benefits to our members. Our reference groups, currently there are 3 reference groups: Standards, Credentialling and Professional Development are part of the framework.
 
It was sanctioned unanimously that we need to have a Representation and Lobbying reference group and that it is more important than ever that this should happen.
A group has been formed and will be added to the framework with Carolyn Webster as the chair of this group. Initially it is the task of the group to come back with the terms of reference.
 
If you would like to know further about the National Framework of Professional Excellence please click here.
 
 
Registration:
Occupational Therapy will be going to national registration as of the 1st July 2012. This will mean changes for both the states that currently have registration and those that will become registered through this National initiative. We were fortunate at the Councill Face to Face to get some insight into how registration works currently from the councilors in the states that have registration and what some projected thoughts are for the new registration body.
  • The registration boards are in place to protect consumers not practitioners.
  • Modulate complaints handling, registration of clinicians and current CPD.
  • Currently when registering Occupational Therapists have to undertake police and medical checks.
  • Registration will highlight the need for competency and practice for all occupational Therapists.
  • Could impact on OT Australia membership due to non-compulsory membership to OTA when registration is compulsory.
  • OT Australia will not be on any working party or advisor to the registration boards due to conflict of interest but will be advocating for OT’s when ever possible and appropriate.
  • There will be a state registration boards.
OT AUSTRALIA will keep members up to date as more information is raised.
The Council also moved a motion that we need to be ready for any representation that may be needed and not to be caught on the back foot.
 
Single Entity:
The Single Entity Information Road Show is ongoing in October/November, with the aim of getting the communication out to members in regards to the restructure to a single entity. The transitional plan is being worked on to help with the changes that will be implemented if the vote on November 27 is a yes.
 
The voting pack has been posted to members with information on how to vote and what to do, so keep an eye on the mail.
 
Transition Plan:
It was highlighted that Member Association need to be involved in dialogue with OT AUSTRALIA to assist with the changes that will be implemented when we know the outcome of the vote. There are meetings held at present but we need to revisit our processes to see that it is answering all the objectives from the states/territories and OT AUSTRALIA.
 
Next meeting:
The council will be having an extra face to face meeting in 2010. At present we are projecting they are scheduled for 20/21February 19/20 June  and 16/17 October.
We are scheduling the AGM on the evening of the 18 June, 2010.
 
Over the past 2 years some members have suggested we make the AGM a more interesting affair. We will be looking at this over the next few months to come up with a plan.
 

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