BAOT/COT Council member for International Affairs & WFOT delegate Alison Laver-Fawcett introduces presentations addressing overseas placements and projects, Volunteering overseas, and Working Overseas. COT Annual Conference 2010 (22-25 June 2010)

1. College of Occupational TherapistsInternational Session Chaired by: Alison Laver-Fawcett BAOT/COT Council member for International Affairs & WFOT delegate

2. Today’s journey…….. 1) Overseas student placements and projects 2) Volunteering overseas 3) Working Overseas Role of the Council member for International affairs (WFOT delegate) Work of WFOT WFOT’s Achievements Future plans

3. Programme for session 9.00: CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME ANDAlison Laver-Fawcett, INTRODUCTION BAOT/COT international council member and WFOT delegate OVERVIEW OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS’ WORK 9.20: STUDENT PROJECT OVERSEASElizabeth Travers OT student/Membership and External Affairs Board member 9.30: STUDENT PLACEMENTS OVERSEAS Fiona Fraser, – a brief introduction Education Manager, Student Affairs, BAOT/COT

4. Programme for session 9.45: VOLUNTEERING OVERSEASRuth Grearson, VSO; Sophie Disayanake, returned VSO OT volunteer 9.50: WORKING OVERSEASChristine Higgins, Australasia 10.05: WORKING OVERSEASElizabeth Taylor, President, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), Canada; Fran Wiernusz, USA

5. 10.20: GROUP WORK IN 3 GROUPS FACILITATED BY PRESENTERS: Group discussion – Chose a group: 1) Overseas student placements and projects 2) Volunteering overseas 3) Working Overseas 10.40: CLOSE

6. Other UK OTs involved with WFOT Council Council member for international affairs COTEC: Tina Gericke We have two BAOT / COT WFOT alternate posts: 1st alternate: Caroline O’Haire 2nd alternate: Helen McCloughry We currently have two therapists from the UK are serving on the WFOT executive management team: Samantha Shannis the WFOT Vice President of Finance RitchardLedgerdis the Programme Co-ordinator for Promotion and Development. Both Sam and Ritchard have previously served as the BAOT/COT Council member for international affairs

7. Santiago, Chile 22 April – 7th May 2010

8. WFOT Council Meeting: April 25-30th 2010

9. Council Meeting Santiago 2010

10. WFOT

11. WFOT individual membership Becoming an individual member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) enables you to network with occupational therapy colleagues across the world to enhance your practice and development and to contribute to the development of the profession at an international level It’s not just what membership does for you – but how your membership also helps provide people who need OT access to occupational therapists around the world

12. WFOT individual membership Qualified occupational therapists and students who are interested in becoming individual members of WFOT are able to do so through their national association. It is only through your membership in your national association that your qualifications can be checked, and the status of individual membership of WFOT be given due recognition. Will you be a WFOT member?

14. Eligibility to apply for research awards

17. Regional conferences, networks and working groups

19. WFOT Constitution (1952) to act as the official international organization for the promotion of occupational therapy to promote international cooperation among occupational therapy associations, therapists and other allied professional groups to advance the practice and standards of occupational therapy to help maintain the ethics and to advance the interests of the profession to facilitate the international exchange and placements of therapists and students to facilitate the exchange of information to promote the education and training of therapists to hold international congresses

20. Programme Areas

21. Education & Research Programme

22. Bulletin [Master Project]

23. Marketing [Master Project] Website – over 1.5 million hits every month

24. E-newsletter

25. Human Resources Project A summary of global demographics of the occupational therapy profession Ritchard Ledgerd, PCo Promotion and Development 70 Member Associations included in the research 93% response rate Outcomes include: Total Number of Practising Occupational Therapists = 324,757 Total Number of WFOT Approved Education Programmes = 702 Member Organisations reporting a shortage in the field of Mental Health = 37% Member Organisations reporting a shortage in the field of Physical Health = 35% Students, assistants, migration, shortage specialties plus much more! Free download atwww.wfot.orgavailable soon

27. International Advisory Groups Occupational Science Mental Health Evidence Based Occupational Therapy Accessibility and Participation Occupational Therapy and ICF Health Policy E-Health

28. Publications Resource Package - developing the occupational therapy profession in countries which are not yet members of WFOT

29. New Position Statements Client centeredness in occupational therapy Professional registration Consumer interface with occupational therapy Diversity and Culture Recruiting occupational therapists from international communities Academic credentials for occupational therapy educators Inclusive occupational therapy education Occupational therapy entry level qualifications Professional autonomy in occupational therapy

30. New document approved at the 2010 WFOT Council meeting (revision from previous ‘Definition of Occupational therapy’) Statement on occupational therapy During the project work, at the WFOT Council meeting in Santiago, I worked with the delegates from new Zealand and Ireland to make the final edits to this statement

31. How do we do it? Volunteer labour Sponsorship Donations Membership fees

32. Into the next decade Strategic and Operational Plans Continued focus on education including a revision of the Minimum Standards Master Plan on Research Continuing to increase the public’s and governments’ understanding of occupational therapy Further development of strategic alliances across the UN and its agencies WFOT/WHO Mental Health initiative This is the project I am leading for the next 2 years

33. World Occupational Therapy Day This year = 27th October 2010 Aims is to increase the awareness of occupational therapists and society of the truly global impact of occupational therapy. the World Occupational Therapy Day is integrated with other national celebrations and promotions of the mission and goals of occupational therapy. How will you contribute this year?

34. Raise awareness of occupational therapy & WFOT Send an e-card! www.wfot.org

35. WFOT Congress - Japan in 2014 Will you be there?

36. Where will your occupational therapy journey take you ...? ... it is up to you!