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Orthotic Management of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Gazettethe THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN ORTHOTIC PROSTHETIC ASSOCIATION INC. Volume 12 - Issue 4 / December 2012 Orthotic management of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis IN THIS ISSUE President’s Report 3 Office and Membership Report 3 2012 AOPA Planning Day 4 The AOPA 2013 Strategic & Operational Plan 5 Update on State Activities 7 Orthotic management of patients with Amyotrophic 8-9 Lateral Sclerosis Member Biography: Jackie O’Connor 9 Definition of allied health 12 Allied Health Professions Australia 13 AOPA Congress 2013 - Call for presentations 13 AOPA Executive & National Council 15 State Section Office Bearers 15 President’s Report Office and Membership Report The AOPA National Council recently held the annual It has certainly been a busy and exciting year for the Association. As we strategic planning day in late October, and an enter this last quarter we are pushing to finalise a number of projects and overview of this event is outlined in this edition of the are also reflecting on the achievements of 2012. Membership renewals and gazette. The primary objective of the planning day is CPD reporting is a major task of the Association in the third quarter. The to consolidate the Associaion’s plans for 2013, whilst National Office is happy to report that all membership renewals, CPD logs providing us with an opportunity for review of past and CPD auditing has been completed and we are looking forward to an activities and achievements. Many achievements have improved and streamlined process next year with the implementation of a been made during Richard Dyson-Holland’s term of new website and database system. This will be a significant membership presidency and we thank him again for all his time and and office operational benefit that National Council and the Office intends to dedication to AOPA. roll out in the 2013/14 financial year. Perhaps our most significant developmental leap under The National Annual General Meeting (AGM), Meeting of Special Resolution Richard’s leadership has been the establishment of (MSR) and CPD event was another highly successful event. We welcome our new national Office, and the appointment of a the new Board members to the National Council, including Harvey Blackney new Executive Officer and retainment of a valuable (President), Jackie O’Connor (Registrar) and Paul Sprague (Vice-President). Administrative Officer. This has provided AOPA with the Colin Aburn was also re-elected into the Treasurer position. Further to the requisite infrastructure platform and skill set to meet the AGM elections, we have also welcomed Sarah Anderson into the casual demands placed on a modern allied health association. vacancy Vice-President position. It is pleasing to see the number of high The recently increased annual membership fees have quality nominations for Office Bearer positions. Our newly elected Office been well supported by the membership and now Bearers have hit the ground running this year with a very productive planning provides our Association with the funding base required day held in late October, the details of which can be found over the page. to execute the key strategic plans AOPA has outlined. The National Office continues to represent the membership in a number Further to the creation of much needed organizational of consultations. We have provided another submission to the National infrastructure and capacity, Richard’s term as president Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) taskforce. This focused on the elements has also seen the running of two highly successful of individual assessment and long term planning and our submission can be annual Congresses, ably managed by Sally Cavenett found in the member essentials section of the website. A more significant and her team. The Congress has received outstanding consultation occurred in late September being the Australian Competition support from the membership and much positive and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report to the Senate regarding Private comment. AOPA has also delivered substantive Health Insurance. This is an annual inquiry, however unique to this year submissions and contributions to a broad range of was the specific focus on issues that reduce the extent of health cover initiatives including the NDIS, workforce development, and increase consumer’s out of pocket expenses, particularly focusing registration, Medicare funding, and many more. There on the discriminatory basis in which private health insurance companies is much being done by AOPA to advance the profession choose not to recognise some allied health providers. AOPA provided a and lay the foundation for a successful future. Whilst detailed submission which is available to view on the website and also reflecting on what has already been achieved, the provided representation at an invitation only meeting with the ACCC in late current Executive team and National Council are aware September. We look forward to hearing the outcome of the report after it there is still much to do to ensure the membership is has been received by the Senate in early 2013. fully informed and integrally involved in the future steps we take. Our current membership statistics are outlined in the table below. We are pleased to report relatively stable membership numbers overall, with Over the next 12 months we will see some further a slight decrease in full time members, but an equivalent increase in significant shifts in how the Association operates. To part-time members*. We have also heighten efficiency, the national Office will aim is to had a significant increase in student Members Number centralise administrative processes wherever possible, membership uptake, and we welcome and to ensure all efforts made by members in any student members Claire Jessup, Full time 228 capacity or location are translated into successful Heather Stewart, Jude Doherty, Udo Part time 37 outcomes. We hope to have the support of the Foerster, Sarah Bell, Thomas Garnier, Student 36 membership in these times of change. Emma Davis (BRM Grant Recipient), Leave of absence 21 Joseph Murray, Marc Spence, Alison Our profession faces tremendous challenges over the Schenk, Jessica Dunn, Claire Harms, Retired 9 next five years, and major shifts across all areas of Joshua Carey, and Kate Doodson to Life 7 health are forecast. Long-term structural changes are the Association. We would also like to Total practicing underway, and these changes will significantly impact 265 welcome full members Radhika Van members* how we are able to deliver services to our clients in the Rooyen, Claudia Doebrich, and Louise future. Both public and private sector groups will need Toose to the Association. Total Members 338 to embrace the new environment and creatively drive * Based on ABS census 2006, AOPA change. This period of transition provides opportunities members represent 79% of the profession for the profession that have not existed in the past. It will be an exciting period, and the executive urges all Please continue to make your enquiries to the Office via phone or email members to keep abreast of all activities undertaken by [email protected]. Should you have any suggestions or feedback the Association. regarding your professional association, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours respectfully, Harvey Blackney Leigh Clarke and Sue Laksassi President, The AOPA Inc. Executive Officer and Administration Officer, The AOPA Inc. [email protected] The Gazette / Volume 12 - Issue 4 / December 2012 / 3 2012 AOPA Planning Day The AOPA held its annual planning day on Friday 26th October Another major undertaking 2012. The purpose of this meeting was to create a new strategic over the past 12 months has and operational plan for the AOPA to pursue in 2013. An been a review of the current extensive range of topics were covered and issues pertinent to AOPA CPD program. A new CPD the efficient and effective running of the Association discussed. committee was formed last year This report aims to focus on the progress of projects identified as and this team has been working most important to the majority of members. on clarifying existing discrepancies within the current CPD program as well as The meeting was attended by the current AOPA Executive developing more rigorous guidelines for processing applications Council, National Council state representatives (exception of for CPD event accreditations and applications from members for Peter Digance on behalf of Bridie Howley), our Executive Officer, special consideration or leave of absence. A document is also Administrative Officer and Richard Dyson-Holland as the outgoing being developed outlining the procedure for managing non- President. Details of our current Executive and National Council compliance of CPD. These new documents and guidelines are can be found on the final page of this Gazette. currently being finalised and will become available to members early next year. Planning Day commenced with a motivating welcome address from incoming President, Harvey Blackney. Our Executive Officer, A topic of great interest to many members is the ongoing Leigh Clarke, presented a review of outcomes against the 2012 struggle for Orthotist/Prosthetists to be nationally recognised by Strategic and Operational Plan. This review demonstrated how Medicare. The current lack of Medicare recognition has numerous much has been achieved in 2012 and the results of this review consequences for the profession including many challenges in can be found on the AOPA website. achieving funding and a lack of general parity with other Allied Health professionals. The AOPA considers the ongoing process Over the course of the day, proceedings included a presentation of lobbying for Orthotist/Prosthetist inclusion on the Medicare and discussion regarding the current structure of the Association, Benefits Schedule (MBS) to be a major task for 2013. Our alternative Association and Company Board models, benefits and Executive Officer had a recent face-to-face meeting with Bronwyn limitations and opportunities for optimising efficiency within our Taylor, Advisor to Health Minister Hon.
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