Hello members,
How exciting! A new newsletter format and the new website is almost up and running. This has been the focus of the Board and the DTA Office over the last few months.
It has been thrilling and motivating to watch the development of the new site, from the basic framework and developing the menu, through to reviewing the look of the new site. We are now at the point of populating the site with documents, images and information. There will be some old favourites, but also a lot of new and innovative ideas, which the Board have been working on. All of this is based on what you, the members, have said to the Board over the past few years. Keep your eyes out for the big announcement of when the site will go live!
I want to use this forum to keep members updated on what your Board is doing. Last year one of the big announcements was the acceptance of DTA as an affiliate member of Allied Health Professionals Australia (AHPA). I know some of you have been asking – what does this mean? I need to start by describing AHPA. (read more) here
AHPA is the peak body representing and advocating for the role of allied health professions in Australia. Collectively, the 22 national organisations within AHPA represent almost 78,000 allied health professionals – with over 11,000 working in rural and remote regions of Australia. Current AHPA membership represents the following professions: Audiologists, Chiropractors, Dietitians, Exercise Physiologists, Genetic Counsellors, Music Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Orthotist/Prosthetists, Osteopaths, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Perfusionists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Sonographers, Speech Pathologists, with the Associations for Audiometrists, Diabetes Educators, Diversional Therapists and Practice Managers as Affiliates.So what does this mean to DTA?
The AHPA Board has regular and ongoing interaction at the political level, advocating for appropriate valuing of the contribution allied health professionals can make in health and related services for Australians, wherever they live.
DTA now have the ability to have a voice within this lobbying group, and to propose areas of concern to not only DTA members, but issues which might impact on any allied health professional. The capacity to stand alongside the extensive list of health professionals noted above, and to be recognised as a valid and respected profession, is invaluable.
For the DTA profession this leads us into an arena of mutual respect, to be part of a collective voice, to have lobbying support, and to have access to each of the membership professions for advice, support and encouragement at the strategic level.
What does it mean to you in your professional capacity?
I would encourage you to regularly visit the DTA facebook page. Information which DTA receives from AHPA is posted on facebook . Not every piece of information will be relevant to you, however DT’s work across a broad range of roles, so posting as much information as possible will allow you to choose what you want to take on board. As the website develops, this information will be posted there as well.
It also means that as DTA develops a more intense and close working relationship with AHPA, there will be increased professional awareness of the DTA and the DT role.
Please take the time to have a look at the AHPA website; DTA is represented at each meeting and there will be regular reports in each newsletter. See Page 4 to read AHPA report of achievements.
Until next month,
Louise Absalom