F E AT U R E
Connecting with Rural and Remote OTs in the NT Miriam Hobson, OTA Manager SA/NT
I
t is well known that associations like OTA benefit members through increased access to professional knowledge. Less documented are the fulfilling benefits of direct engagement such as networking, volunteering, advocacy, and collaboration. This cluster of OTA services was the focus of my recent road trip across the Northern Territory. Towards the end of 2020, it was possible to travel without restrictions between South Australia and the Northern Territory. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I travelled from Adelaide to Darwin, and then to Alice Springs. It was a not-to-bemissed chance to connect face to face with OTA members and stakeholders, and to consolidate bonds significant to driving membership engagement (Gruen, 2000). As it is important to OTA to recognise and support its active membership base, a busy schedule of discussions and activities was planned across the week. In the middle of 2020, the Northern Territory Divisional Council, along with members from Darwin and Alice Springs, drove a pre-election advocacy campaign with each of the key political parties. The campaign highlighted solutions to regional workforce shortages, and scope of practice capabilities. My trip to Darwin allowed me to follow up these communications in person, and discuss in-depth with ministers and shadow ministers the capabilities of the local membership. A senior advisor to NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles invited a member and myself to Parliament House, overlooking the
Miriam Hobson traveling 2020 style through the Northern Territory
foreshore in Darwin, to provide insights on general and expert knowledge of occupational therapists helping clients with mental health needs. The handful of mental health specialist occupational therapists in NT is pivotal in its work across hospital, community, and specialist services. This area is expected to grow across NT, with Commonwealth funding being directed into co-response services to shore up consistency of care. Much of the NT membership and stakeholder conversations covered the relatively new roll-out of the NDIS framework and its impact. Across meetings with NDIS territory manager Susan Burns at her office near tourist attraction Crocosaurus Cove, OTA members at the Trailer Boat Club over jugs of iced tea and platters, and a range of service leaders, the key theme was underutilised allocated NDIS funding. The reasons for this happening in NT may be familiar to occupational therapists across the country— thin markets, waiting lists, assessment
Local stars of the Children’s Development Team in Alice Springs including OTs, physios and speech pathologists
requirements, costs to small practices in delivering these services, supervision needs, and recruitment, recruitment, recruitment. Having support of the NDIS in Darwin allows OTA members to be part of joint advocacy attempts to draw attention to crossovers between NDIS and My Aged Care; to be introduced to local leaders and policy influencers involved in recruitment decisions; and to share information on the Continued next page CONNECTIONS AUTUMN 2021 21
