Since last report, I have been in contact with Dr Jerome Singleton who has recently been appointed on the NCTRC Board in the US/Canada. NCTRC is the credentialing body that oversees the ATRA members and Recreation Therapists in the US and Internationally. He is also a member of the International TR Coalition along with DRTA President Kylie Rice and myself and Nicole Peel from Western Sydney University. He is coming out to Australia for a holiday at the end of 2018 and we are hopeful he will be able to give a lecture presentation, possibly in conjunction with WSU and Nicole. There is a possibility he will also give a presentation via Skype from his home in Nova Scotia, Canada, during DRTA’s conference in Melbourne in September.
On a more work-related topic, over the last 6 weeks I have been emailing and phoning nursing homes in Hollywood in California in the hope of organising a Skype concert with our Barunga Village Choir and a nursing facility in LA in particular Hollywood. After not having much luck, I decided to try finding an organisation that takes care of people with disabilities. Plans are well underway so hopefully I’ll be able to shed some light on the project and how the planning is progressing in the near future.
I emailed a copy of the last Connections Newsletter to Sylvie Silver at NAPA in the UK with her article about the Aged Care Open days, as requested by her.
I also emailed Takako Serizawa the President of DTAJ in Japan. She has been very busy as usual, especially this time of year as the new University Term in Japan is about to start. She sends her best wishes to everyone here in Australia and is looking forward to attending the DRTA September Conference in Melbourne. She will again be bringing a tour party with her.
Finally, Orquidea Mortera, Vice President of NZSDT informed us that their organisation will now be called the New Zealand Society of Diversional and recreation Therapists, NZSDRT.
Darren Robinson
International Liaison Projects Team leader.