OTNZ-WNA overview

Past Presidents

	Harsh Vardhan (President Tangata Tiriti) September 2016 – August 2020 During his tenure as president tangata tiriti Harsh was employed as an occupational therapist at the Child Development Service, Hutt Valley DHB. Harsh had a strong voice of advocacy for occupational therapy and occupational therapists. Harsh stated in his election bio “I believe that in order to have a healthy community it is indispensable to keep our workforce valued, happy and healthy. We live in an era of increasing consumerism, advancing technology, fiscal constraints, and focus on primary health care, with an emphasis on outcomes. Our association needs to be visible and tuned to the current sociopolitical trends in order to be heard in this environment. I am passionate about promoting occupational therapy as a significant medium of prudent health and social investment. In this current climate there is a need to keep the government well informed of the powers of our occupational therapy superheroes”.
	Karen Molyneux 2013 – 2017 My vision is for the association to accomplish a strong public profile where occupational therapy is recognised as an innovative workforce and therapists are seen as leading contributors to the improvements in the health and wellbeing of all people living in Aotearoa / New Zealand. I am further encouraged in our move towards being a treaty relationship organisation, a journey we all must take with confidence, openness and consideration.
	Rita Robinson 2011-2013 “Our profession’s core beliefs are around the valuing of people, the importance of meaningful engagement in daily routines and rituals, collaboration, and client centredness. These concepts also reflect the principles of partnership, participation, and protection as articulated within Te Tiriti o Waitangi (from my understanding). For me seeing parallels between partnership and collaboration, participation and client centredness, and protection and meaningful engagement has assisted me to start to unravel these complex concepts and to feel safe to seek out more learning. “
	Tracey Partridge 2010-2011 “An association is vital as it supports and connects occupational therapists, thereby strengthening our professional identity, giving us a bigger voice and creating opportunities to work together.”
	Elizabeth Rowland 2007–2010 “The realisation of what great taonga (treasures) we possess within our profession and the calibre of the people that we stand on the shoulders of is humbling. These treasures provide the links to our ancestry as an Association and indeed show the power of collective strength.”
	Nancy Wright 2005-2007 “OTNZ-WNA is about people. The organisation exists to support occupational therapists, and indirectly, the communities in which they live. Without its members the organisation would fade away.”
	Jane Wilson 2003-2005 “Belonging to my professional association means I have the opportunity for professional and personal growth and development. I also belong to a fantastic group of like-minded professionals – a national and international support network.”
	Christine Rigby 1999-2001 “As a profession, we must ensure our ongoing social activism, and to paraphrase Elizabeth Townsend, ‘we must look to fulfilling our potential to change the world’.”
	Shirley Milligan 1997-1999 “My vision for OTNZ-WNA is to have 100% membership of all New Zealand registered occupational therapists and for every member to be proud to be actively involved.”
	Janet Taylor 1995-1997 “The role (of President) helped me see beyond my day-to-day work and to consider national strategic and policy issues that impacted on occupational therapists and their clients.”
	Valerie A Wright-St Clair 1989-1991“Belonging to my professional association means being involved, being politically aware, and working to shape the future.”
	Frankie Morgan 1987-1989 “My term of office was both exciting and turbulent. The most significant event was the Government of the day’s decision to open two new occupational therapy education programmes and to close the current school based at the Central Institute of Technology.”
	Beth Gordon 1983-1985 “My vision for OTNZ-WNA in 2020 is for members to stand tall within New Zealand/Aotearoa and internationally. I envisage a priority shift with less emphasis on professional self-interest. NZAOT will endorse outward looking actions of members and their contributions to society.”
	Elizabeth Saville-Smith 1981-1983 “Looking back, I think the real work was done in the 50’s when the then executive was working towards reasonable recognition, salaries and conditions in the light of the rapid and exciting advances right across the health spectrum. It was a privilege to have worked in those days!”
	Joan Davidson 1975-1977 “We held a conference in Christchurch during my time as president and it was exciting seeing how it all came together so well. We had support from local dignitaries as well as some attending from the medical profession. Amazing!”
	Chris Milligan 1973-1975 “The big issue of the day was pay parity with physiotherapists, seen as amilestone for occupational therapists and for the OTNZ-WNA.”
	Sue de Gilio 1971-1973 and 1979-1981 “Belonging to my professional association meant as a new graduate occupational therapist in a rural area, the association became the vehicle for me to communicate and be part of the wider world. The association was probably the only, and certainly the most valuable, link at the time.”
	Denise de Groot 1969-1971 “A recollection from my training days (mid- 60s) was that we (OT students) were regarded as second in the marriage popularity stakes, next to air hostesses, according to an article in the NZ Woman’s weekly at the time. Those were the days when, if you weren’t engaged by the time you were 21, you were considered to be on the shelf. Thank goodness attitudes have changed in that regard.”
	Lyn Dancer 1967-1969 “The OTNZ-WNA was a small, struggling Association, but had an enthusiastic core group who were committed to developing the profession in New Zealand. It is wonderful for me to see NZAOT now a thriving, energetic, professional body, which has taken its rightful place in New Zealand society.”
	PM Isaacs 1960-1962 “The Association was important to all graduates working as professionals in small numbers in the isolated institutions in the 1950’s and 60’s and we established friendships that still hold.”
	Hazel Skilton 1949-1950 “Never underestimate your influence on those you treat. You will be remembered as someone who has had an effect on their lives as you take a personal interest in them and as you give them the means to improve their health. Good luck to you.”

What do you need from an OT?	Explanation of the service.
Home and Community Environment assessment	Assessment of a person’s ability to access and move around their home or community environment and ability to perform everyday tasks in their home. Strategies for independence or safety may be taught. Alterations to the environment or adaptive equipment may be recommended.
Rehabilitation	Enabling a person’s participation in life’s activities and achieving their goals. Rehabilitation of physical or cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury, spinal injury musculoskeletal injury or other medical condition or event.
Technology solutions	Recommendation of equipment and technology that will enable access to and participation in activities. Might include technology for learning, visual impairment or controlling the environment.
Activities of Daily Living – Assessment and Treatment	Assessment of the way everyday tasks are performed. Recommendations about better and safer ways to manage are made. Alterations to the environment or adaptive equipment may be recommended. Recommendations for funders regarding level and type of personal support may be supplied.
Older Person’s Health and wellbeing	Assessment of a person’s ability to manage their everyday activities in their living situation. Recommendations for safe and easy ways to do activities and equipment and home modifications may be provided. May include provision of a treatment plan to support and enable the person to achieve their goals.
Child health, Learning and Development	Assessment and therapy services for children (and their families/whanau) with a variety of diagnoses whose ability to play, learn or perform daily activities is interrupted. Includes assessment and working with clients (usually children) with Autism Spectrum Disorders. May include working with people to develop skills for handwriting and other tasks that required fine motor skills.
Mental health and wellbeing	Assisting participation in chosen activities in people who experience social or emotional distress or mental illness. Supporting wellness, self management, lifestyle changes and recovery. May include support with stress management, life enhancement, family therapy, psychotherapy spirituality and sexuality.
Driver assessment and vehicle modification	Specialised assessment of a person’s fitness to drive and conditions which should be placed on a person’s license. Assessment for modifications required to vehicles to enable driving.
Worker safety, assessment and rehabilitation	Assessment and treatment of the injured worker and advice to insurers regarding the needs of injured workers. Design and support of return to work or work rehabilitation programmes. Can include recommendations for injury prevention. May include ergonomic assessments of workplaces and tasks. May include Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE’s) to determine a person’s general work tolerances and abilities. May include vocational counselling through determining a person’s background, skills and abilities that can be transferred to alternative employment.
Workplace Health, Safety Design and Training	Evaluation of work environments, their design and practices in order to maximize safety, health and welfare of workers. Can include provision of workplace training for the prevention of injury, including moving and handling training. May include working with designers and architects to optimize healthy human-environment interaction.
Participation at home and community	Enabling a person’s participation in their chosen life activities and/or occupations. Includes people who have an age related disability, physical disability, mental health issue or intellectual disability .
Living well with Long Term Conditions	Enabling participation in everyday activities and roles in the presence of persistent challenges. Supporting self management and effective coping strategies. Includes Pain, fatigue, chronic health issues and disability. May include managing the changing needs caused by a palliative condition such as cancer and treatment so that a person can continue to do the everyday tasks that are important to them.
Managing Vision Impairment	Specialists who assess and treat the functional implications of vision problems. Includes managing symptoms (Glare sensitivity or migraine), teaching strategies for safety and independence with everyday activities, recommendations for modifications to home and work and special equipment, tools or aids.
Hand therapy, Splinting and Scar management	Specialists who assist people who have difficulty using their hands as a result of injury, a disease process or deformity.
Community/Organisational Strengthening and Culture Change.	Working with groups in community or organisational settings or policy development to enable participation for all people. May include review of Aged Residential Care or other residential facility to enable occupation for residents.
Mobility, wheelchairs and seating	Assessment of a person’s needs for specialized wheelchair and cushions, seating, and positioning. May include assessment of needs for mobility scooters.

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