Occupational Therapy Australia
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Workforce Development Project

We've heard from our members and the OT community about the significant workforce challenges facing our profession.

We are embarking on a Workforce Development Project that will deliver a plan focusing on the ways OTA can support OTs on the ground, both now and into the future.

The Workforce Development Survey is now closed. Thank you to those who provided their input - stay informed of our next steps by subscribing to updates.

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About workforce development

Here at OTA, we know that there are significant workforce challenges facing our profession. To better understand the issues, and factors that are contributing to them, we want to connect with OTs far and wide – across all career stages, and in all settings.

We are investing in a Workforce Development Project, which will deliver us a plan that focuses on the ways that we can support OTs on the ground, both now and into the future. In addition to consulting with OTs, we are examining existing workforce data, and completing a thorough literature review, to ensure this plan is grounded in evidence, and reflective of your views.

Project Timeline

 
 

Project establishment

To ensure OTA can best support the occupational therapy workforce in this complex environment, we initiated the workforce development project.

 

Data Analysis and Environmental Scan

In progess - more details to come soon.

 

OT workforce literature review

 

Consultation with occupational therapists and key stakeholders

We received 2145 responses to our workforce development survey. We received responses from all jurisdictions with good representation across practice areas, levels of experience, and practice settings.

 

Workforce plan design and development

More details to come soon.

Subscribe to receive updates on the workforce project and be alerted to opportunities to have your voice heard.

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Phase One - Project establishment

OTA has received high amounts of feedback from occupational therapists around challenges they are facing and their concerns regarding the broader OT workforce. In addition to this, OTA acknowledges that there are also many opportunities arising for the profession in the changing healthcare landscape. To ensure OTA can best support the occupational therapy workforce in this complex environment, we initiated the workforce development project.

OTA has appointed Katharine Manning and her team at ManningCo to work alongside OTA to deliver the workforce project. Katharine has held a range of clinical, Chief OT, and other senior positions in the health sector and with the Victorian Department of Health prior to the establishment of her consultancy company. ManningCo is a national health planning consultancy that specialises in health, community and aged care sectors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OT workforce literature review

A literature review has been completed with a total of 300 data items assessed and reviewed. A thematic analysis of the reviews undertaken has been prepared and is currently under review. We look forward to sharing key findings soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consultation with occupational therapists and key stakeholders

We received 2145 responses to our workforce development survey. We received responses from all jurisdictions with good representation across practice areas, levels of experience, and practice settings. This included high numbers of responses from both public and private sectors.

Additionally, over 100 occupational therapists were invited to participate in focus groups and 1:1 structured interviews. All focus groups and interviews have now been completed.

We are in the process of analysing data from focus groups, structured interviews, and the survey and will share findings once analysis is completed. Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation phase."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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