Celebrating Otuition’s Launch at the Amazing OT Exchange Conference in Perth

This week, I had the privilege of attending the Occupational Therapy Australia Exchange Conference in Perth. It was a significant event for Otuition as we marked the launch of our new platform and subscription-based membership by exhibiting at our first-ever conference. The energy and enthusiasm in the room were palpable, with over 550 occupational therapists (OTs) joining us, many of whom travelled to be there. As a local OT, it was heartening to see such a tremendous interstate turnout.

One of the highlights of the conference was the camaraderie we shared with our fellow exhibitors. Each neighbour was doing something innovative and inspiring in the OT world. It was clear that there is a shared passion and commitment to advancing our field and it was a buzz to be a part of it.

Despite the busy exhibitor schedule, we managed to attend the opening sessions both days, which were truly enlightening. Here are my takeaways!

Judith Hewitson : "Unlearning: The Catalyst for Tomorrow’s Technological and Work Revolution"

Judith's talk was a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of 'unlearning.' She challenged us to move beyond resilience and embrace what she termed 'Fragile-Strong.' This idea resonated deeply, suggesting that our strength lies in our ability to adapt and unlearn outdated practices to make way for new, innovative approaches. With AI upon us, the time to unlearn and relearn is certainly now.

Jordon Steele-John : "Personal and Political reflections on 10 years in the NDIS"

Senator Steele's address was a powerful critique of current government policies impacting people with disabilities. As a senator with lived experience, he has personally seen the value we can add as OTs and was inspiring in his support of our profession. He highlighted the Productivity Commission's findings about the return the spend on the NDIS generated, and pointed out the huge volumes of amount of information we have about necessary reforms, without much reform yet seen. His insights particularly into what he referred to as ‘stage-managed consultations’ with the sector over genuine inclusion of the disability community in crucial conversations, and the mystifying secrecy behind current bills were eye-opening

Senator Steele's call for transparency and inclusion was a stark reminder of the work still needed in policy-making. He emphasised how some politicians seem to have an agenda to diminish our role, ironic in the context of a far-reaching bureaucracy that cripples the scheme, is nothing but trash talk.

A welcome perspective given the current media storm, that has most of us looking at each other unsure how we became the target when we represent a fraction (10-15%) of the expenditure in a $27 billion budget, and are largely providing services that build capacity and reduce dependency on the scheme.

Jenny Gribbin : "Your OT road map to innovation success"

Jenny Gribbin is the inaugural winner of the Occupational Therapy Australia Oration Award, and an unbelievably deserving winner at that. Her keynote speech on Friday was both inspiring and pragmatic. As a fellow enthusiast of self-development books, I was thrilled to hear her speech woven with learning from many of my favourites, including Michelle Obama’s biography, Brené Brown’s many books (as booth neighbours we’d bonded about a shared love for Brené already), with her speech providing a new addition to my reading list: 'Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.'

Jenny candidly spoke about the challenges of being a small business owner in our industry (spoiler alert, no one I met at the conference has built a deck at their holiday house Bill Shorten, nor did they have holiday houses to build one at). But that despite the hardships, the journey is incredibly rewarding. She emphasised the importance of courage, creativity, problem-solving, and most importantly, making an impact. She had everyone in the room hooked for all 45 minutes and a good chunk of the audience welled up with a beautiful video of clients Jenny and her team have supported in their Driving Well OT practice.

Some of Jenny’s key messages that resonated with me were:

Finding Your Tribe: Discovering a supportive community has been pivotal in my journey.

Embrace Collaboration: Working with others not only makes the process more enjoyable but also exponentially increases our learning opportunities

Lifelong Learning: The continuous pursuit of knowledge is invaluable, and unbelievably rewarding.

In conclusion, the conference was a resounding success for OT as a profession and for our team at Otuition . We made meaningful connections, gained invaluable insights, and left feeling more motivated than ever to continue our mission. The passion and dedication of everyone involved in the OT community were truly inspiring.

Here's to embracing innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning as we move forward together.