DRTA Conference 2017 was great experience for all involved. The conference began with the Thursday Workshop “Activities, Activities, Activities” and a full face to face board meeting kept the DRTA board busy- a fruitful but exhausting day for the DRTA voluntary board. The official conference was on Friday and Saturday, these were jam- packed with presentation and each day was started off with an amazing keynote. Well done to all of our presenters on your wonderful and innovative ideas.
The following finalists were all winners by their achievements:
· Tara Plaisance, Christadelphian Aged Care, Padstow, NSW with Resident Movie Calendar Project
· Annemarie Kluvers, WA with Jugo: Care for one another
· Ehab Ghobreyal, Living Care – Ashwood, Pendle Hill, NSW with Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
· Lesley Fox and the ‘A’ Team, Wesley Vickery, Sylvania, NSW with Themed Years
A huge congratulations to the DRTA 2017 Award for Excellence winners Lesley Fox and the ‘A’ Team on their special event Hosting A Themed Year in the Workplace. Please find attached a copy of their report for your reference.
The Awards cocktail party was an exciting time with six members receiving their Professional Development Award from our special guest presenter Mrs Robin Gallen OAM- one of the original founders of DT Organisations in Australia. Her words were inspiring and encouraging to all. The following are the 2017 Development Award recipients- congratulations to:
· Olivia Fernandez, Diversional Therapist, Ozcare Day Respite Centre, Clontarf QLD
· Lucy Bade, Diversional Therapist, Mental Health Rehabilitation Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool NSW
· Sarah Fanakis, Diversional Therapist, War Memorial Hospital, Waverley NSW
· Courtney Alchin, Fairfield Social Support Group & Aimee’s Place Dementia Social Support Group. Fairfield, NSW
· Jade Gilchrist, Embracing Difference Consultancy, Clifton QLD
· Glenda Kubler, Diversional Therapist, Blue Care Redcliffe Azure Blue Residential Aged care, Sutton QLD
· Renee Rizzo, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool NSW
· Julie Thomson, Diversional Therapy Supervisor, Brodribb Home, Toowoomba QLD
· Lynda White, Recreation Officer, Dr EAF McDonald Nursing Home, Oakey QLD
· Natalie White, Project Co-ordinator Day Respite, Blue Cross, Hawthorne East VIC