Setting world-class standards for safe and effective practice
Phone: +61-8-9368 2655
Fax: +61-8-9368 2677
E-mail: admin@otcouncil.com.au
Website: www.otcouncil.com.au
ACN 159 509 387
COMMUNIQUE No. 9
February 2015
The OTC directors met via teleconference on 23 February 2015. The following issues formed part of the agenda:
Website
The OTC website will be updated and rebranded. Some of the improvements will include optimisation of technology with
access available from mobile devices and tablets.
Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference
Invitations to the OTA conference to be held in Melbourne in July 2015 have been issued. Whilst the OTC will not be
participating at this conference, consideration will be given to its participation at conferences in the future.
Program Accreditation Committee (PAC)
The status of programs was noted as follows:
(a)
Accreditation of occupational therapy programs approved by OTBA
(i)
(ii)
(b)
Site visits scheduled for 2015:





(c)
James Cook University
Australian Catholic University - Melbourne
La Trobe University
University of South Australia
University of Newcastle
Program monitoring of conditions – reports required from:






(d)
Charles Sturt University – B OT (pass and honours)
Southern Cross University
Griffith University
Australian Catholic University – Brisbane and Sydney
Flinders University
Monash University
Central Queensland University
University of Western Sydney
The following program changes have been approved by the OTC:

University of Queensland - Change in nomenclature following AQF review: existing
Bachelor level program is to be phased out and all students to commence enrolment in an
Honours level program from 2015.
Page 1 of 2
(f)

University of Newcastle - Existing Bachelor level program to be phased out and all students to
commence enrolment in an Honours level program from 2015.

Deakin University - Change in course code for Honours program.

La Trobe University - Program name change, with some modification in content.

University of Sunshine Coast - Addition of Honours program.

University of Western Sydney - Phase out of Masters entry-level and the double degree program
and the program to return to Bachelor level.

Monash University - Phase out of existing Bachelor-level program and all students to
commence enrolment in an Honours level.
Accreditation costing
It was noted the accreditation fees for universities from 1 July 2015 had been finalised, and all
education providers advised what the new fees would be and how these would be apportioned to be
payable on an annual basis.
Overseas Qualification Assessment Committee (OQAC)
Updated forms with examples have been included on the website to navigate practitioners through the Stage 2 period of
supervision as seamlessly as possible.
Governance and Strategic Affairs Committee (GSAC)
The constitution is under final review to reflect the directors’ decision to reduce the number of directors, and to clarify the
term of membership. A final draft will be circulated to external interested parties for comment. It is anticipated the new
constitution will be operational by October 2015.
Health Professions Accreditation Council Forum (HPACF)
Assoc Prof Adamson reported on the meeting held on 5 December 2014 at which Ms Rebecca Allen, Professional Adviser
Program Accreditation represented the OTC.
The meeting of the Forum to be held in Melbourne on 23/24 March 2015 will be attended by Mr Kim Bradbury and Assoc
Prof Adamson. This meeting will include a Strategic Planning Workshop which will focus on the review being undertaken
by the Minister for Health.
“Occupational Therapy in Australia – Professional and Practice Issues”
It was agreed for Assoc Prof Lynne Adamson to prepare a contribution to a new book entitled “Occupational Therapy in
Australia: Professional and Practice Issues”. This will be an edited book consisting of 28 chapters with contributing
authors from all parts of the Australian occupational therapy professional community. The aim of the book is to provide an
overview and introduction to occupational therapy practice from an Australian perspective and the primary audience for
the book will be first year occupational therapy students.
The book will have four co-editors:




Dr Ted Brown, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University;
Dr Helen Bourke-Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, Australian Catholic University;
Dr Stephen Isbel, Assistant Professor and Course Convenor, Occupational Therapy, University of Canberra; and
Dr Reinie Cordier, Associate Professor, School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University.
The publisher of the book will be Allen and Unwin who is an Australian-based publisher of textbooks. The OTC’s
contribution would form part of a chapter dedicated to professional associations and regulatory bodies.
***
OTC Communique 9
February 2015
Page 2 of 2