CEO’s Report

Samantha Hunter | OTA CEO

I am grateful for the members who embrace their leader within as they step into providing advice and feedback on a wide range of issues of importance to OTs in the current political climate. I know there is a great deal of unrest at some of the narrative around the NDIS. This concern is being felt across the entire sector that supports participants of the scheme, and indeed participants of the scheme itself. It is important at these times of media speculation and uncertainty that our advocacy is a true reflection of our profession – evidence based, rational and solutions focused.

While the NDIS steals much of the media spotlight, there are many other issues on which OTA is providing representation and advocacy. These are across all states, territories and federal schemes. The breadth and depth of work undertaken by our Government & Stakeholder Relations team continues to grow (and it can seem like whack-a-mole on some days!).

Advocacy is a fundamental activity of OTA in both promoting and defending the profession, and it is due to our members (and our members’ dues!) that we can conduct this important work. We are fierce advocates for ensuring the various schemes recognise and value the role of OT as an integral profession in building and maintaining a robust health system, where equity and quality of care is available to all our community, and the best possible outcomes and optimal care is achieved for clients. Advocacy is a tightrope of both soft and hard skills if we are to negotiate optimal and sustainable outcomes for the profession. These relationships and representations are not always immediately visible to all, the art of advocacy and diplomacy is rarely front-page news. It may seem as if advocacy is always about fighting fires or defending our position; however, as one of the fastest growing allied health professions with a strengths-based mindset, there are a wealth of opportunities available to the profession should we choose to embrace them.

Our association is at its strongest when we are all united in stepping into leadership, either within our teams, our workplaces, our communities or through collaboration with colleagues or with OTA. We are at our strongest when we unite in our advocacy and speak as one, when we share, learn and support each other together.

I am humbled and grateful to our Board of Directors, our Divisional Council members, SIG convenors, National Reference Group, AOTJ Board, Conference Committees and to every member who volunteers their time and energy to enable us to continue to lead the association and the profession.

I look forward to seeing old faces and new in Cairns for the National Conference as we further ignite our passion for the profession.