Occupational Therapy Council (Australian and New Zealand) Limited

COMMUNIQUE

December 2012

With the commencement of the new national registration scheme from 1 July 2012, the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia & New Zealand) Ltd (OTC) has been appointed as the accreditation authority and has reviewed its operations in compliance with legislation set down in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law).

A Certificate of Registration issued by the Australian Securities Investment Commission, dated 16 July 2012, certifying:

Occupational Therapy Council (Australian and New Zealand) Limited

(ACN 159 509 387)

is a public company limited by guarantee. All Directors and key staff have undergone training by the Institute of Company Directors.

The directors of the company are:

Ms Joanna Riches - Chair

Ms Jane Hopkirk - Deputy Chair

Dr Margaret Cook

Dr Jill Hummell

Ms Susan Kennedy

Ms Jan Erven

Ms Nancy Wright

Assoc Prof Lynne Adamson

Ms Laila Hakansson Ware

Ms Alison Sinclair

Mr Michael Piu

The OTC’s secretariat, located in South Perth, Western Australia, comprises:

Mr Kim Bradbury Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Ms Julia Fenton Executive Officer

Ms Courtney Stevens Administrative Assistant

The OTC has also appointed two part-time professionals to provide advice relating to:

·  the assessment of practitioners with overseas qualifications, and

·  the accreditation function of occupational therapy programs offered by universities in Australia.

Ms Angela Thynne – OQAC Professional Advisor

Ms Rebecca Allen – Program Accreditation Professional Advisor

To ensure the smooth operation of the OTC, a number of committees have been established to make recommendations to the directors. These committees are:

·  Overseas Qualifications Assessment Committee (OQAC)

·  Program Accreditation Committee (PAC)

·  Governance and Strategic Affairs Committee (GASAC)

The OTC is represented on the Forum of Australian Health Professions Council (FAHPC) which has been established to share information relating to accreditation of education and training programs, and

·  to work together on issues of national importance to the regulated health professions;

·  to identify areas of common interest and concern in relation to the regulated health professions;

·  to work toward a position of consensus on identified issues and concerns;

·  to take joint action in areas of importance to the regulated health professions;

·  to develop joint position statements which provide recommended policy directions for governments and other relevant stakeholders.

The collective expertise of the Councils is in:

·  setting educational standards for health professionals to develop safe and competent practitioners able to adapt to changes in professional practice over time;

·  encouraging improvements in the education and training of health professionals to respond to evolving health needs and practices;

·  assessing and accrediting education programs;

·  assessing overseas qualified practitioners;

·  collaborating and consulting with a wide range of stakeholder bodies and actively engaging members of their profession in the regulation of professional practice;

·  regional and international developments, capacity building and partnerships.

Overseas Qualification Assessment Committee (OQAC)

The OQAC has reviewed its policies and procedures in line with the National Law and the registration standards employed by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA).

OQAC and OTBA will work together to formulate competency standards to ensure the highest standard of care is afforded to the public at all times.

Programme Accreditation Committee (PAC)

The PAC has awarded full accreditation status to the following programs:

Southern Cross University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Curtin University Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy)

Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours)

Master of Occupational Therapy

Revised accreditation standards approved on an interim basis had been circulated for preliminary consultation.

Wide-ranging consultation is planned for a period of eight weeks from mid-December 2012 to mid-February 2013.

Governance and Strategic Affairs Committee (GASAC)

The GASAC has been established to fulfill the following functions:

·  provide advice that supports effective and accountable governance of the OTC;

·  provide advice to oversight those activities of the Board which cut across multiple programs such as development of the business plan, monitoring performance, and matters of significant strategic importance to the organisation which have broader impact on the financial, contractual or legal affairs of the OTC;

·  provide advice that supports the achievement of greater accountability and transparency;

·  to do anything necessary, expedient or incidental to performing or discharging the functions of the Committee as listed herein or to achieving its objectives.

The OTC is also represented on:

·  the OT Academic Learning Network (OTLAN). This new network provides a mechanism for the extension and expansion of the existing Emerging Leaders Network (ELN), and increases the reach to all members of the occupational therapy academy working in higher education in Australia and New Zealand. It is hoped the involvement of new and established academic leaders/heads of school will provide opportunities for mentoring, career development, and discussion of curriculum and teaching and learning matters across the academy with the ELN members in particular.

Mutual Recognition with New Zealand

The OTC will maintain open communication with the Occupational Therapy Registration Board of New Zealand in relation to accreditation processes both sides of the Tasman.

OTC Communique 1 Dec 2012 Page 3 of 3