President’s Report

Professor Carol McKinstry | OTA President

In reflecting on what has already taken place during 2023, there is a lot of action happening across a wide range of areas for OTA. Recently I had the pleasure of virtually attending the annual meetings of the divisional councils across the states and territories. The meetings were informative about what has occurred during the past year, while also highlighting common national issues such as workforce shortages, concern for clinicians (particularly those early in their careers working with increasing complexities) and ensuring quality professional placements for students.

The Board recently also had a National Forum with Divisional Chairs, who reported on their division’s risks and opportunities. These meetings are invaluable for the Board to ensure we are prioritising and allocating the needed resources to address the things we have some influence over. It also provides the OTA Board and staff with the opportunity to report to Divisional Chairs on current work and future plans. On behalf of the Board and OTA members, I would like to thank the Divisional Chairs and council members for the work they do as volunteers, which may go unseen but is absolutely crucial for our profession and OTA.

Workforce issues continue to feature strongly in OTA’s work across all teams. Our CPD activities and programs, such as the new Supervision and Leadership Programs, are designed to support and build capabilities both individually and as a profession. The upcoming National Conference will provide another opportunity to hear the latest developments in practice and research relating to workforce, including emerging areas of practice and evidence to support core practice areas. The work done by the team advocating and lobbying for greater awareness and recognition of the contributions of occupational therapists is increasing. This work is often backed up and informed by the occupational therapists working within OTA and others working as clinicians and managers in specific speciality areas. Our Workforce Development Program has also commenced, and I would encourage OTA members to have input into this project.

I recently attended a rural workforce summit, facilitated to find real solutions to an increasing crisis in delivering rural health services to those who are both vulnerable and experience some of the worst health outcomes for our nation. What stood out over the two days of discussions was the need for professions to collaborate and not compete, thus parking turf protection, and the need to do things differently through finding local solutions and making systemic changes at a policy and funding level. The value of primary health was evident, particularly as we face workforce shortages in hospitals and growing waiting times with the increasing impact of ageing populations and incidence of chronic disease. Occupational therapists have a major role to play in maintaining wellbeing, particularly in the primary health sector.

I am excited about the upcoming National Conference. It provides an opportunity to come together, network and reminds us why occupational therapy is the best profession. The keynote speakers will inspire us, while presenters of posters and oral papers will share innovative practices and discuss the latest in research findings and what this means for practice, the profession and, importantly, those who receive our services. It is also an opportunity to recognise award winners including the Sylvia Docker Lecturer, Professor Leeanne Carey. Board members and OTA staff will be at the OTA booth to talk with members about things that are top of mind for them – please drop by and say hello.

The Board is continuing to work on our new strategic plan, which had significant input from members, consumers and other stakeholders. Our partnership with Bundyi Girri has also informed this crucial work to develop and determine our future direction.

Recently, I was thrilled to join President Carol McKinstry and Dr Stephen Duns as we welcomed our inaugural OTA Leadership Program participants to the Yarra Valley. It was a jammed packed agenda where we started to explore the theory, models and concepts of leadership and how it applies to us across not only our work, but the wider lives we lead. The richness of the content was matched, if not surpassed, by the quality of the conversation and the almost immediate connection as we shared the common commitment to curiosity, authenticity and enquiry. It is such a diverse cohort of participants who have decided to invest considerable time in themselves over the 15-week program. I know that after the program has completed, each participant will have a wealth of knowledge and personal growth and a new group of peers to draw on as they navigate the future ahead. It is exciting to see programs like this come to life and I look forward to seeing more of our members flex their leadership skills for the benefit of the profession, for clients and for their communities. An important reflection from our first day was that we can all exercise leadership – it doesn’t come with your title, your position or your pay grade. It is within all of us, in decisions big and small and in how we influence and engage on issues of importance.