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Occupational Therapy OT e-news - Text only version Newsletter Issue: TwoDate: august 2009Head OT SpotThis second edition of the newsletter comes to you at the start of second semester for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students. The School has had a busy year with the successful introduction of the new Common First Year (CFY) of the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy Practice at the Bundoora and Bendigo Campuses. Staff conducting workshops, are enjoying classes with a mix of students from different courses within the Faculty of Health Sciences including: occupational therapy, human communication sciences, physiotherapy, social work, podiatry, prosthetics and orthotics, clinical vision sciences, health information management and nursing. This change to the curriculum is a major development in the School which involves many staff in developing new skills in teaching, learning and assessment and engaging students in enquiry-based learning to stimulate deep and active learning. The new program at Bendigo is another major development for the School. The program mirrors the double degree at the Bundoora Campus. Carol McKinstry is coordinating the program in Bendigo and has joined the Bundoora Occupational Therapy School Advisory Committee where major academic and operational decisions are made. Carol has substantial experience in teaching and subject coordination in the Bachelor and Masters programs and we are very pleased that she is leading developments in occupational therapy in Bendigo and Mildura, Wodonga and Shepparton campuses. The School is in the process of devising ways to join together the two programs (Bendigo and Bundoora) in very practical ways, so staff at both campuses can fully understand the various issues that arise for metropolitan and regional students and staff. This December we will have the first staff planning meeting in Bendigo - this is an exciting time for us all Finally, I would like to remind you to note the dates for the Graduating Students’ Conference in your diary (Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October) at the John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University, Bundoora. So many of you are involved in student MOTPrac projects, Honours studies and 4th year Evidence Reviews, and we would like to invite you to come to any part of the program if you would like to join us. Linsey Howie HOS Contents
VNI – ONF exchange—Jane GalvinIn May, I had the opportunity to travel to Canada as part of a Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (VNI) and Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) research exchange. The visit was an opportunity to meet with leading researchers in paediatric TBI and to discuss possibilities for future collaborations. During the week in Ontario I had an opportunity to meet with a number of leading researchers in paediatric TBI. Meetings at Bloorview Kids Rehab with Drs Virginia Wright, Nancy Thomas-Stonell, and Gillian King consolidated existing knowledge and ideas for collaboration, while meetings with Drs Darcy Fehlings and Peter Rumney supported current projects and initiated dialogue for future projects. The visit to Can Child was invaluable in establishing research links with leaders in childhood disability research. Discussions with Prof Carol De Matteo at Can Child and McMaster University were beneficial both in terms of clinical service delivery and research collaboration. Visits to Chedoke, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Bloorview Kids Rehab, and Sick Kids were valuable to learn about different services provided to children with brain injury and their families. While in Toronto, I also had an opportunity to visit the headquarters of Gesturetek Health, who are the suppliers of the Virtual Reality equipment being used in a VNI funded project that is investigating the use of Virtual Reality to improve upper limb function in children who have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Two projects have been initiated since the visit to Ontario; one is progression of a project implementing a parent information package. The second project is an outcomes measurement protocol for comparing service outcomes in paediatric rehabilitation between Ontario and Victoria. Discussions are continuing regarding other projects related to paediatric rehabilitation, and hopefully these will lead to ongoing collaborations. After the time in Canada, I was also able to visit with Prof Gary Bedell at Tufts University in Boston to develop projects related to participation following paediatric brain injury. Two projects are in the early stages of development following this visit. The time in Canada and the US was invaluable for developing research collaborations. Thanks to the VNI for initiating and supporting the collaboration with ONF, and also to the School of Occupational Therapy for supporting time away from La Trobe to take part in this research exchange. 60 Million Reasons to Study OT at LTU’s Bendigo CampusIn May this year, the Federal Government announced approximately $60 million from Education Infrastructure Funding to establish the La Trobe Rural Health School (LRHS), which is a radical and original model for health professional education and research across northern Victoria. This funding will provide two additional facilities and student accommodation. The new Bendigo Occupational Therapy Program is part of LRHS which aims to Improve rural participation rates with 781 additional student places. Create an additional 60 academic and administrative positions Increase applied health research, improve health practice and service delivery. An additional Health Sciences Facility (3000 sq metre building located on La Trobe University - Bendigo campus) will contain new anatomy laboratories, multipurpose preclinical/simulation facilities, innovative and contemporary learning spaces, office space and research facilities. The Clinical Teaching Facility (3000 sq metre building co-located with the Monash University School of Rural Health on the site of the Bendigo Hospital) will provide collaborative teaching rooms, simulation laboratories, a multipurpose lecture theatre and student and staff facilities. Over 140 student accommodation beds for the LRHS will be provided in regional centres such as Wodonga, Echuca, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Bendigo. This will enable students to undertake placements in health and human agencies located in these regions, particularly in the third and fourth year of the double degree. In 2010, up to five first year occupational therapy students will be able to study the common first year on each of LTU’s regional campuses of Wodonga, Shepparton and Mildura as part of the Bendigo Occupational Therapy Program. With the establishment of the new anatomy facilities at the Bendigo campus, these students will then complete the remainder of their double degree (2nd, 3rd and 4th years) based at the Bendigo campus while still undertaking placements in regional Victoria. Currently twenty students are studying first year at the Bendigo campus with a target of 25 students set for the 2010 intake for the Bendigo Occupational Therapy Program. Carol McKinstry Read the Article on page 6 of OT Australia—May 2009 Issue No. 09-04 LTU & OT participate in the Global Corporate Challenge 2009Four other OT staff members (Janet Fricke, Elizabeth Martin, Ursula Winzeler, Robin Lovell) and I form the majority of members for the Team called “DeJaVue” taking part in the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) 2009. The Team name represents the first letters of our Christian names. La Trobe University has a total of 16 teams registered for this Challenge. As the world's largest and most exciting corporate health initiative, the GCC is specifically for the workplace and addresses the emerging health crisis resulting from the triple threat – longer workdays, sedentary occupations and little or no exercise. The 2009 GCC runs from 21/5/09 to the 21/9/09 (125 days). When Teams are formed, all members are issued with a backpack, drink bottle and 2 pedometers (in case one fails). The pedometers are worn every day to record individual Team member’s daily walking activity levels from their GCC pedometer and every step moves them (and their Team) further along a virtual walk around the world. LTU commenced the GCC on the 21/5/09 at the Taj Mahal, in India and so far, DeJaVue has walked all the way to Hallstatt, Austria a total of 5,140,256 steps or the equivalent of 3,290 kilometres. DeJaVue are currently running 5th on the LTU Leader board. We are determined to make our way up the ladder. The GCC also supports the Footprint Initiative® which is an important program of the GCC that educates and supports participants to make a “global difference” through their GCC participation. From helping communities survive crisis brought about by poverty, war, famine, and disease, to reducing our individual environmental impact through carbon abatement and lifestyle choices. The Footprint Initiative® promotes personal, organisational and global responsibility. All projects undertaken by The Footprint Initiative® will work to specified and measurable outcomes. The Footprint Initiative® also provides information for simple, practical and relevant ways in which everyone can help the environment. Founded on a framework that is optimistic, compassionate, empowering and conscious of the less fortunate and vulnerable, The Footprint Initiative® offers all participants the opportunity to learn more about our world and, if they choose, become an active helper. In 2008, thanks to the donations made through the GCC website, participants literally helped save lives and restore hope to three separate communities in Africa, South America and Papua New Guinea. In 2009, The Footprint Initiative® will be focusing all its efforts on helping African children facing a life and death situation at the Iganga Babies Home in the country of Uganda. Dot Marshall OT ArchivesFollowing the celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of occupational therapy education in 2008, it was decided to catalogue and preserve the photographs and papers associated with the first occupational therapy school. These have been placed into large display books and captions have been included where possible. Some photographs did not have any identification, so we are still trying to date and include locations. In 1948 a large display about the new occupational therapy school was mounted at Larnook Teachers College in Orrong Road Armadale, with the assistance of Industrial Design students from RMIT. We have copies of the photos from the display – which provide very interesting information on the plans for the new school’s curriculum and the role of the occupational therapist in that era. Again in 1953 there were a number of photographs taken of occupational therapy students practising in the clinics – providing wonderful historical background. If you are interested in looking at these archives, or helping with identifying the photos, please contact Janet Fricke on j.fricke@latrobe.edu.au Janet Fricke Farewell & WelcomesFarewell— Primrose LentinPrimrose Lentin, who has been a Lecturer with the School of Occupational Therapy at LTU for many years, left in early July to take up a new position at Monash University (Frankston Campus). All the staff at LTU and OT wish Primrose well with her new appointment. Welcome— Daniel ClohesyThe School of Occupational is pleased to welcome Daniel Clohesy. Daniel is teaching in the Bachelor Program and is delivering Problem Based Learning classes in the MOTPrac. Daniel works Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Welcome - Rwth StuckeyOT also welcomes Rwth Stuckey in Semester 2 (Rwth takes over from Philip Meyer). Rwth has worked for the School in a sessional capacity for many years so we are now able to welcome Rwth as a part-time Lecturer to the OT Team. Rwth works Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays. International FarewellIn June we farewelled the international students who had completed the Advanced Standing Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course at La Trobe. All students had Diploma of Occupational Therapy from a WFOT accredited School, and had selected our School to upgrade their qualifications. The majority of the students came from Singapore, but we also had students from Germany, Switzerland and South America. During their year long course we organised several social activities to introduce them to Australian culture; we farewelled them with a pizza dinner in Carlton. Janet Fricke New Cohort from Singapore WelcomeIn late July we were delighted to welcome twelve Diploma of Occupational Therapy graduates from Nanyang Polytechnic who have enrolled in the 12 month Advanced Standing Bachelor of Occupational Therapy program at La Trobe. These students are in addition to the twelve students who are due to start the Advanced Standing course in August, which we run in Singapore in association with Singapore General Hospital Post Graduate Allied Health Institute (SGH-PGAH). A welcome morning tea was held where students met with a student representative from 3rd year, a recent graduate of the program and academic and administrative staff. These students will undertake three core units and two electives in their first semester and then one core unit on critical review in occupational therapy and two electives in the first half of 2010. Feedback from former students of this program has been very positive, they enjoy being in Melbourne and also enjoy working with the “local” students on projects, and being part of a different culture. Janet Fricke OT Prize Night 27/7/09Congratulations to all students who were Awarded prizes at the Faculty of Health Sciences Annual Presentation of Prizes and Scholarships. Two students have shared their experiences with us: Accredited Occupational Therapist (AccOT) Prize I was recently jointly awarded the OT Australia’s Accredited Occupational Therapist Program Prize. I am pleased to receive the award, which waives the fees associated with becoming an Accredited OT. Especially as a new graduate, I am keen to participate in as much professional development as possible. The award offers extra incentive to participate in this and continue in lifelong learning, now as an occupational therapist, rather than a student. I thank La Trobe and OT Australia for the award. Trish Nolan The AccOT prize is awarded in recognition of professional development and occupational therapy knowledge. As a student of the MOTPrac course, professional development and evidence based practice skills were developed and strongly encouraged. Since finishing the MOTPrac course, I have started working in the Occupational Rehabilitation field where I have had exposure to some professional development opportunities. I’ve realised that professional development and evidence based practice are important to expand various aspects of practice skills, and requires ongoing commitment. Becoming part of the AccOT programme encourages professionalism by providing access to a variety of resources, opportunities and support networks. I’m sure that being part of the AccOT Programme will continue to enable me to of keep up to date with new developments and enhance my professional practice and skills. Julie De Crespigny Visitors to OTOccupational Therapy at LTU was pleased to welcome Professor Gudrun Palmadottir Associate Professor and Program Director Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, Nordurslod, Iceland. We were interested to hear about the delivery of the OT Program at the University of Akureyri. What’s New!Centre for International Rehabilitation Research Information & Exchange Janet Fricke was invited to contribute to CIRRIE (Centre for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange). This encyclopaedia is available with many interesting articles from international contributing experts. It is full of information for OT’s based on the ICF International Classification of Function. Janet’s article Activities of Daily Living is available on the International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation on the CIRRIE web site. Adjunct ReclassificationOccupational Therapy is pleased to announce the re-classification of Dr Helen Edwards to the position of Adjunct Associate Professor. For information of OT Adjunct positions please refer our MAY Edition of the OT Newsletter. Graduating Students’ ConferenceThe 2009 Graduating Students’ Conference will be held on 29—30th October 2009 at John Scott Meeting House. Please put this date in your diaries in preparation. Further details will follow. Please check the OT School Website as details come to hand, and are posted. Carolyn Unsworth OSPCarolyn Unsworth departed for her Research Sabbatical on Monday 1st June 2009. Carolyn will be away from LTU for a total of 6 months (returning 8th February 2010), her time away will comprise teaching in Singapore, and professional visits in the United Kingdom and Sweden, together with a little bit of recreational leave in-between. We wish her well on her travels. |
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