College of Occupational Therapists
International SessionChaired by:
Alison Laver-FawcettBAOT/COT Council member for International Affairs
& WFOT delegate
Today’s journey……..
1) Overseas student placements and projects
2) Volunteering overseas3) Working Overseas
• Role of the Council member for International affairs (WFOT delegate)
• Work of WFOT• WFOT’s Achievements• Future plans
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Programme for session
9.00: CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME AND Alison Laver-Fawcett, INTRODUCTION BAOT/COT international
council member and WFOT delegate
OVERVIEW OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS’ WORK
9.20: STUDENT PROJECT OVERSEAS Elizabeth TraversOT student/Membership and External Affairs Board member
9.30: STUDENT PLACEMENTS OVERSEAS Fiona Fraser, – a brief introduction Education Manager,
Student Affairs, BAOT/COT
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Programme for session
9.45: VOLUNTEERING OVERSEAS Ruth Grearson, VSO;Sophie Disayanake, returned
VSO OT volunteer
9.50: WORKING OVERSEAS Christine Higgins, Australasia
10.05: WORKING OVERSEAS Elizabeth Taylor, President,
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), Canada;
Fran Wiernusz, USA
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
10.20: GROUP WORK IN 3 GROUPS FACILITATED BY PRESENTERS:
Group discussion – Chose a group:1) Overseas student placements and projects2) Volunteering overseas3) Working Overseas 10.40: CLOSE
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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 Shann is the WFOT Vice President of Finance • Ritchard Ledgerd is the Programme Co-ordinator for
Promotion and Development.• Both Sam and Ritchard have previously served as the
BAOT/COT Council member for international affairs
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Santiago, Chile 22 April – 7th May 2010
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
WFOT Council Meeting: April 25-30th 2010
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Council Meeting Santiago 2010
WFOT
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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?
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Individual Membership
• Twice yearly copies of the WFOT professional journal The Bulletin and e-newsletter
•Eligibility to apply for research awards
• Opportunity to register with Occupational Therapists Outreach Network
£15 per year to join
WFOT
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Individual Membership• MEMBER ONLY access to the website www.wfot.org
• Free and exclusive downloads – keeping you up to date with what is happening in the international OT community
• Information about working abroad and links to useful sites and communities
• Discounts on publications and events
Join through BAOT
Form in December 2009 OTN – or collect a form today to sign up
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Individual Membership
• Member discounts in the WFOT Online Shop
• Regional conferences, networks and working groups
• Opportunity to join project teams pursuing over 80 separate initiatives in four programme areas: Promotion and Development; Education and Research; International Cooperation and Standards and Quality.
£15 per year to join
WFOT
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
56 Full Member Associations13 Associate Member Organisations
5 Contributing Members
Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Canada Chile Columbia Czech Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong Iceland India Indonesia
Iran Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kenya Republic of Korea Latvia Malaysia
Malta Mauritius Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Pakistan Palestine Philippines Portugal
Russia Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania
Thailand Uganda United Kingdom
United States of America Venezuela Zimbabwe Bermuda Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus
Georgia Luxembourg Macau Namibia Nigeria Republic de Panama Peru Seychelles Turkey Caribbean
APOTRG COTEC CLATO Kuwait
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Programme Areas
ExecutiveProgrammes
Standards and Quality
Education and Research
International Cooperation
Promotion and Development
World Federation of Occupational TherapistsEducation & Research Programme
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Bulletin [Master Project]
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Marketing [Master Project]Website – over 1.5 million hits every month
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
E-newsletter
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Human Resources Project
A summary of global demographics of the occupational therapy professionRitchard Ledgerd, PCo Promotion and Development70 Member Associations included in the research93% response rate
Outcomes include: Total Number of Practising Occupational Therapists = 324,757Total Number of WFOT Approved Education Programmes = 702Member 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 at www.wfot.org available soon
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WORLD FEDERATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS - HUMAN RESOURCES PROJECT 2010 www.wfot.org
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
International Advisory Groups
• Occupational Science• Mental Health• Evidence Based Occupational Therapy• Accessibility and Participation• Occupational Therapy and ICF• Health Policy• E-Health
World Federation of Occupational TherapistsPublications
Resource Package - developing the occupational
therapy profession in countries which
are not yet members of WFOT
World Federation of Occupational TherapistsNew 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
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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
New document approved at the 2010 WFOT Council meeting (revision from previous ‘Definition of Occupational therapy’)
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
How do we do it?
• Volunteer labour• Sponsorship• Donations• Membership fees
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Into the next decadeStrategic 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
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
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?
Raise awareness of occupational therapy & WFOT
Send an e-card!
www.wfot.org
World Federation of Occupational Therapists
WFOT Congress - Japan in 2014
Will you be
there?
Where will your occupational therapy journey take you ...?
... it is up to you!