Connection and Collaboration at OTAUS2025

Occupational Therapy Australia’s (OTA) National Conference was held in Adelaide from 25 – 27 June, with Adelaide PHN enjoying a presence at the biennial event.

The theme for OTAUS2025 was ‘Collaborate and Connect’, highlighting the importance of fostering collaboration and building meaningful connections within the occupational therapy community, as well as other healthcare disciplines and stakeholders.

Dr Heather Block, an Occupational Therapist and Research Fellow for Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University and Adelaide PHN, conducted three presentations on the following research:

• Occupational therapy in primary care
• Quality of life for middle to older aged adults with chronic conditions
• Co-designing a model for social prescribing for older people

The presentations were well received and there was lots of interest about social prescribing.

In exciting news, Heather and Professor Stacey George, Primary Care and System Integration, were among the Flinders University Occupational Therapy Team that won the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Team award. Team members included occupational therapist researchers at Flinders University, with Heather and Stacey jointly appointed with Adelaide PHN.

The team:

• Professor Stacey George
• Professor Kate Laver
• Dr Heather Block
• Dr Miia Rahja
• Dr Suzanne Dawson
• Dr Ali Dymmott

The OTAUS2025 conference was a fantastic few days of connection and collaboration, with the opportunity to connect with so many passionate and knowledgeable occupational therapists.