Looking ahead to the OT Exchange 2024

Ahead of the OT Exchange 2024 being held in Perth from 13-14 June, we spoke to co-convenors Kathleen Langford and Lisa Cooper about what you can look forward to at the event and how to make the most of your time in WA.

Registrations for OTX2024 will open on 1 February 2024. Discounted prices will be available to OTA members, as well as special early bird rates. Discounted Perth accommodation and tour bookings are available now. Visit https://www.otausevents.com.au/ otexchange2024/ for more information.

Why should OTs attend the OT Exchange 2024?

Kathleen: The conference represents a fantastic opportunity to “down tools” and reconnect with our profession. It’s an opportunity to see and hear about the work others are doing in our field, and to feel inspired by these innovative ideas. Attending this conference provides opportunities to network with other members and make connections within your practice areas that will support you into the future. And it must be said that Western Australia is a fabulous place to visit – the sun, sea and surf are at our doorstep!

Lisa: OTX2024 is a wonderful opportunity for OTs to pause, reflect and share with others all the amazing work that is being done every day, across the diverse profession! In the rapidly changing healthcare landscape of technology and AI, be inspired by handson workshops, stories of lived experience and conversations with experts and peers. The conference shines the light on how OTs are embracing change and innovation –inspiring us to think, create and do things differently for greater client outcomes, and to ensure we are staying fresh and relevant in our skills – while earning CPD hours too. Visiting Western Australia is also a perfect opportunity to plan a holiday to recharge – and get a selfie with a quokka!

What kind of OTs will benefit from OTX2024?

Kathleen: OTs at any stage in their career will find benefit in this conference – the clinical practice areas are diverse and within each a stimulating array of topics will be presented. Given the innovation lens of this conference, OTs with new ideas, products or an entrepreneurial spirit will find it highly beneficial.

Lisa: All OTs should attend – from students to experts in the profession. The program is hands-on and clinically focused, but is also designed to spark collaboration between practitioners, students, managers, creators, suppliers, educators and academics in the pursuit of innovative practice and OT advancement. The five key practice areas – Knowledge Translation, Paediatrics, Older Persons, Disability and Emerging & Innovative Practices – are broad to ensure relevance for all OTs!

What differentiates the OT Exchange from other conference events?

Kathleen: This is not an academic conference, but a conference for clinicians who work hard and strive to continually improve their skills and clinical outcomes for their consumers. There will be an array of hands-on workshops, occupation stations and ‘Pitch It’ presentations, which will provide loads of practical and real-world approaches to feast upon.

Lisa: OTX2024 is also a unique opportunity to bring together all fields of OT – from clinicians to academics, students to experts – to create a collaborative and creative space ensuring OT continues to be responsive and relevant now and in the future.

What are you most looking forward to about OTX2024?

Kathleen: I’m looking forward to connecting with colleagues past and present, as well as making new friends in the OT world. I love the feeling of sitting back and being emersed in the world of OT, which for me is more than just a job. We are ensuring all our clinicians are able to attend this conference, so they can feel the benefits of it being held in Perth this year. I’m also excited to tell others more about the niche work we do at Inside Out OT Group in Perth.

Lisa: I’m also really looking forward to stopping and connecting with the wider OT community – reconnecting with old colleagues and creating new connections. I’m really excited by the creative and inspiring energy this conference promises. Listening to stories, hearing ideas, trying out new products and being inspired to continually adapt and evolve our services at Inside Out to ensure best practice both now and for the future.

What is unique about OT in WA compared to other parts of Australia?

Kathleen: We practice within a highly isolated part of the world; however, we don’t let that stop us connecting with the rest of the world and implementing fantastic and cutting-edge programs. We have to be “noisy” at times to be remembered and prioritised by international speakers to ensure training is also held in our state. Historically, we only had one university providing occupational therapy training for our state with a small intake. As such, we are a small but proud bunch, and have seen dramatic changes through the expansion of tertiary pathways for OT and graduates.

Lisa: WA’s size and location make it a unique area to practise in – not only in Australia but the world. Digital strategies and innovative care are highly prioritised to ensure connectivity and accessibility for people and communities across our vast state.

Where else should delegates visit while they’re in WA for the conference?

Kathleen: Those visiting from interstate and overseas should book an early ferry ride to Rottnest Island, hire a bike and enjoy a cold beverage at the Rottnest Pub. A stroll through Fremantle is always beautiful, as well as catching a boat from the Barrack St Jetty to Fremantle to see Perth by the river. Additionally, a trip to the Swan Valley (east of Perth) is lovely for some winery time. It’s also great to visit Cottesloe beach and have fish and chips while watching the sun set.

Lisa: Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre (PCEC) is in the heart of our beautiful city. It’s walking distance to lots of fabulous small bars and restaurants and the CBD shopping precinct. For outdoor and nature lovers, PCEC is located on our beautiful Swan River. The ‘bridges walk’ is a must for the fitness enthusiast and PCEC is only a ten-minute walk to the biggest innercity park in the world, Kings Park and Botanical Gardens. June is dry season up north and the perfect month to visit the majestic landscapes, waters, gorges and canyons of Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, the Ningaloo (Coral Bay, Exmouth) and of course the majestic Kimberley and Broome. If time is limited, use the weekend to explore Perth or hire a car and head to the Margaret River region – beautiful beaches, vineyards and a spot of whale watching!

What’s your favourite benefit of belonging to OTA and why?

Kathleen: I really value the professional support. As a business owner, I find the support for practice ownership matters, including insurance, legal advice and advocacy is essential. I also value the mental health endorsement program and the associated lobbying OTA do to ensure our role and needs as a profession are heard by governments and policy makers.

Lisa: I really value the advocacy role of OTA – ensuring that OTs have a voice across the wider health landscape, and we are at the table when important decisions are being made. The power of OTA’s advocacy and lobbying ultimately means more clients can access much needed evidence-based OT services across private, non for profit and government sectors. I also highly value the mental health endorsement program. When we started Inside Out OT ten years ago, limited OT positions existed within the child and adolescent mental health space in WA. The program allowed for us to be creative and innovative in our clinical model so that children, adolescents and their families were able to access much needed mental health OT support in a responsive and holistic way.