Engaging in occupational therapy conferences presents a powerful opportunity for professional development and growth. Conferences bring together academics and clinicians from various clinical areas, offering a wealth of knowledge, innovative practices, and networking possibilities. However, to truly make the most of these conferences and minimise the risk of feeling overwhelmed, it’s critical to have a strategic approach that allows you to extract valuable insights and establish meaningful connections.

Let’s explore ten essential tips that will empower you to unlock the learning potential and maximise the benefits of attending occupational therapy conferences. With these tips, you can navigate conferences with intention, prepare effectively, leverage networking opportunities, and reflect on your experience for ongoing growth.

1. Get clear on your why.

Take the time to understand your personal and professional goals for attending the conference as this will guide you during the experience.

• Are you looking to expand your knowledge in a specific area of occupational therapy?
• Do you want to learn about the latest research and evidence-based practices?
• Is there a particular presenter that you would like to connect with?

Clarify the specific knowledge, skills, or connections you hope to gain from the event. This could include connecting with clinical experts, networking with like-minded peers, or discovering new evidence-based knowledge to implement in your practice. Having a clear purpose will help you focus your time and energy during the busyness of a conference.

2. Block out time for follow-up.

Blocking out time for attending the conference is only one aspect to make the most of your experience. Allocating dedicated time in your schedule after the conference to reflect on key takeaways, nurture new contacts, and address action items is also just as important. By setting aside time for follow-up, this demonstrates your commitment to leveraging the conference experience for meaningful development, thereby maximising the return on your investment of time and resources. Failing to follow up on valuable insights, connections, or potential collaborations may result in lost chances to enhance your practice and expand your network.

3. Show up prepared.

Showing up at a conference feeling prepared is key to making the most of the experience. Take the time to research the conference program, speakers, and topics in advance. Familiarise yourself with the sessions and workshops that align with your professional interests and goals. Come prepared with thoughtful questions to ask presenters or fellow attendees, allowing you to engage in meaningful discussions. Additionally, identify specific areas of interest that you want to explore further during the conference. This proactive approach supports your commitment to active engagement and maximises the learning opportunities.

4. Create a LinkedIn profile.

Creating a LinkedIn profile allows you to easily establish a professional online presence. You can showcase your expertise, achievements, and interests to colleagues and potential employers. The LinkedIn platform allows you to connect with fellow conference attendees and presenters and continue any conversations long after the conference ends. These connections can help you stay updated on the latest trends, research, and could lead to collaborations on future projects. By leveraging LinkedIn’s networking capabilities, you can enhance your professional visibility, foster connections, and open doors to new possibilities in your career.

5. Review and reflect.

Reviewing and reflecting on your conference experience is essential for maximising its impact on your professional development. Take the time to revisit conference materials, including presentation slides, handouts, and recorded sessions. By doing so, you can refresh your memory, identify key insights, or research findings that resonate with your practice. You can start to consider how you might want to integrate them into your work. Reflection enables you to critically evaluate the information gained and consider how it aligns with your current practices or challenges existing beliefs. It also provides an opportunity to identify areas for growth and improvement in your professional journey. By actively reviewing and reflecting on your conference experience, it will increase the likelihood of the new knowledge gained being translated into meaningful changes in your occupational therapy practice.

6. Share your insights.

I encourage conference attendees to share their insights and conference experiences with their colleagues. This might be via various platforms such as presentations, blog posts, or social media. Engaging in knowledge sharing not only contributes to your own professional growth but also fosters collaboration within the occupational therapy community. By sharing your experiences, you offer a unique perspective and can spark discussions that lead to new ideas. Sharing insights allows you to extend the reach of the conference beyond its physical and virtual boundaries, reaching a wider audience and inspiring fellow occupational therapists. Additionally, it opens doors for networking opportunities and the exchange of valuable information. Remember, by actively participating in knowledge sharing, you play a role in enhancing the collective expertise of the occupational therapy profession and contribute to its continuous development.

7. Goals help maintain focus.

Setting goals for the conference is a powerful way to maintain focus and make the most of your time and energy. Be specific and identify what you hope to achieve from the event, whether it’s attending specific sessions or networking with specific individuals. These goals provide a clear direction, guide your decision-making and help you prioritise your efforts. Goals also provide motivation and a sense of purpose, keeping you engaged and driven throughout the event. So, take a moment to set clear and actionable goals before the conference begins, and let them serve you as a tool in maintaining your focus and ensuring the best use of your energy.

8. Accountability is your superpower.

Accountability is a superpower when it comes to maximising the benefits of attending a conference. Find an accountability partner that you can regularly check-in with to share experiences and provide support in achieving your conference-related goals. This could be someone who is also attending in person or virtually. This accountability not only keeps you motivated and focused, but it also provides an opportunity for reflection and learning from each other’s experiences. Your accountability partner can offer new insights, offer encouragement, and help you stay on track. By embracing accountability, you unlock the potential for improved follow-through, and commitment to your professional growth. So, don’t underestimate the power of accountability—it can be a game-changer in making the most of your conference experience.

9. Keep all your notes in one place.

Keeping all your conference notes in a systematic way offers numerous benefits for your professional development. Whether you opt for a digital or physical system, organising and storing your conference notes, handouts, and business cards in one place is essential. This systematic approach simplifies the process of reviewing and referencing valuable information in the future. You can easily revisit key insights, research findings, or contact details, saving you time and effort in searching for scattered notes. It also facilitates better integration of new knowledge into your practice, ensuring that you can readily apply what you have learned from the conference. By keeping your notes in a systematic way, you create a valuable resource that supports continuous learning and professional growth.

10. Were my expectations met?

Reviewing your expectations about attending the conference and reflecting on whether they were met is the final piece in the conference participation experience. Take the time to evaluate the conference experience against your initial goals and expectations. Reflect on the knowledge you gained, the connections you made, and the overall impact the conference had on your professional development.

• Did you acquire new insights and skills that align with your objectives?
• Did you establish meaningful connections and expand your professional network?

Assessing the conference’s outcomes allows you to gauge its effectiveness and determine if it fulfilled your expectations. This reflective process provides valuable insights into the value of the conference and helps you make informed decisions about future attendance or adjustments to your professional development plans.

Attending occupational therapy conferences offers tremendous opportunities for professional growth and development. By implementing these ten tips, you can unlock the learning potential and maximise the benefits. Approach each conference with intention, preparation, and a commitment to ongoing learning and networking. Get clear on your goals and protect the time it deserves so you can seize the opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with peers and enhance your occupational therapy practice.

If you want to share your tips on maximising the learning potential of attending conferences, come and join the Facebook group, OTs who love learning HERE or if you need the accountability to apply your new knowledge from attending the conference, the OT Learning Network might be what you are looking for.

The post Maximising Occupational Therapy Conferences for Meaningful Professional Development. appeared first on The Occupational Therapy Learning Network.

I was recently asked for some feedback on the COPE (Care of People with Dementia in their Environment) training within the OTs who love learning Facebook group. Instead of just giving a few lines of feedback, I wanted to share my experience to help others when faced with the same dilemma.

I completed the program online in June 2022. My reason for enrolling in the course was that I felt I lacked an evidence-based approach to support people with dementia and their families as they struggle to respond to challenging behaviour. I did not feel that I needed any previous experience although I did find it helpful to recall previous clients who may have demonstrated some of the behaviours explored.

PRESENTERS

The presenters, Sally Day and Dr Kate Laver, were engaging and knowledgeable. They were able to draw upon their own experience and share stories of how they have implemented the program.

FORMAT

The format of the online program was interactive with a good balance between theory and opportunities to practice in small groups. If you are averse to role playing, then you may need to prepare yourself in advance. As much as I find them forced and lacking authenticity, they are a great way for you to have a go at using the language and applying the process.

TIME

The online program was offered over two consecutive days. There was the expectation to have completed some pre-reading and then there is the time required to integrate this process into your current practice.

RESOURCES

There were a number of resources provided prior to the session with the expectation of some pre-reading to be completed. I found this to be a valuable way to become familiar with the program and be able to follow the content more easily.

One of the unexpected benefits was the offer of three post-training group coaching sessions. I was not able to attend all of them however I felt reassured knowing that if I had any questions or challenges that came up while implementing this new knowledge, I could ask in these sessions.

Additionally, there is an online forum set up via Microsoft teams that Sally and Kate encourage you to join so you can continue to learn from others who are implementing the program. There are also electronic versions of the documentation available within the forum which is great when working within a paperless practice.

IMPLEMENTATION

As someone who works for themselves in a solo role in private practice, I had reservations about how I would implement this into my current services. It is an intervention protocol that is structured to be delivered over a series of up to ten sessions. I was not confident that aged care package providers would approve the funding to support that level of intervention, but I decided to go ahead and complete the program as I felt that there would be elements that would still be relevant to my practice. I felt that I could look to build it into my business in the long-term.

So, to summarise, deciding to enrol in the COPE program is a significant investment of time. The financial cost at the time was up to $1,150 but could have been reduced if you were an OTA member and if you enrolled within the early-bird period. Although I don’t feel that I have fully implemented my new knowledge, I believe the need for this type of intervention will continue to grow and is something that I will continue to integrate into my practice.

If you are keen to complete the COPE training, you can find further information HERE.

If you want to be a part of the OTs who love learning Facebook group and be a part of other conversations about CPD, then come and join us HERE.

The post Should I enrol in the COPE program? appeared first on The Occupational Therapy Learning Network.

“Is this going to be relevant?”

“Is it going to be worth it?”  

Below are 10 questions you could ask yourself before you say yes to the next bright, shiny workshop or webinar or conference.

1. Is this relevant to my current learning needs?
2. Is this relevant to my future career aspirations?
3. What is my learning goal for this activity?
4. What resources do I need?
5. What support is available?
6. What costs are involved?
7. How will I implement my new knowledge or skills?
8. Are there any barriers to implementing my new knowledge or skills?
9. How will I feel once this has been completed?
10. What evidence can I collect for my learning portfolio?

BONUS QUESTIONS

1. Who can I share my new knowledge or skills with?
2. How can I share my new knowledge or skills?

So, with the answers laid out in front of you, the final decision is to choose between WHERE DO I SIGN? or NOT RIGHT NOW. 

There will always be more learning opportunities available so avoid spending your time and money on activities that aren’t in alignment with your learning needs or career goals.

If you have found these questions to be helpful, join the OT Learning Network by clicking on the JOIN THE NETWORK button below. Within the network, you can find the template for these 10 questions as well as more resources to help you to become a master of your professional development including:

• An OT specific professional development directory.
• A platform to record and store all of your PD evidence.
• A community of like-minded peers who want to cheer you on to achieve your learning goals.

The post 10 quick questions to think about before committing to your next CPD activity appeared first on The Occupational Therapy Learning Network.

8. Support a student placement.

There is a constant need for student placements, not only for occupational therapy but also allied health assistants. Maintaining your connection with universities can help you remain up to date with what is being taught as well as encourage you to develop your own teaching and communication skills.  

9. Attend a special interest group (SIG).

If you have a current membership with OTA, then you can participate in any of the SIGs but even if you are not a member, they can allow you to attend a limited number as a guest. If there is a topic that is relevant to your learning goals, reach out to see if you are eligible to attend.

10. Write an article for a professional magazine or your organisation’s newsletter/website highlighting the unique value you bring to the service.

Being able to convey a clear message in a written format is a skill that we are always using within our documentation; however, consider challenging your writing skills by preparing a piece for a different audience. You might want to share a case study on a great outcome achieved by one of your clients or your personal reflections on a clinical experience. The online world is always looking for relevant content that tells a powerful story so maybe you have one that others would benefit from reading.

11. Offer to run an education session to a local group such as “Falls Prevention Strategies” for the Seniors Citizens group.

Building up your public presentation skills is something you either avoid or embrace. If this is an area you would like to increase your confidence then volunteer to share some of your clinical knowledge directly with your audience. This could be online or face-to-face, depending on what you identify as your learning goal.

12. Audit a selection of your own client files or swap with a peer.

Whether you work in a large organisation or a small practice, it is crucial that our documentation is an accurate reflection of what has occurred and reflects best practice. Set some clear expectations about what you would expect to find in a file and then start auditing. Use the results to guide any changes required as well as recognise if you are doing things well.

13. Reflective journal.

Creating space to process your thoughts through writing can be another way to facilitate your personal development. As a regular practice, it can help remove you from the intensity of each individual moment and highlight patterns that you may be experiencing. You can choose to write freestyle or refer to a framework such as Kolb’s Reflective Cycle. There is no one way to do it but the transformation comes with the new insights gained and then how to implement any changes.

Now of course this list is not exhaustive but it should help you start thinking outside of the traditional methods of professional development. Just because there is no financial expense to participate in these activities, it doesn’t undermine the value that they can bring to your development as a therapist. The important thing to remember is that there needs to be an element of professional growth for these activities to contribute towards your OT PD hours. Ensure you allow time to record your reflection so there is evidence of how there has been a change in your practice.

Relevant links:

https://www.otaus.com.au/member-resources/interest-groups

https://otaus.com.au/blog/writing-for-the-ot-blog

Kolb’s Reflective Cycle

If you have found these ideas to be helpful, you can find more resources within the OT Learning Network to help you to become a master of your professional development including:

• An OT specific professional development directory with both paid and free listings.
• A platform to record and store all of your PD evidence.
• A community of like-minded peers who want to cheer you on to achieve your learning goals.

Join the OT Learning Network by clicking on the JOIN THE NETWORK button below:

The post 13 free ideas to accomplish your OT professional development goals PART 2 appeared first on The Occupational Therapy Learning Network.

Below is a list of suggestions to help you start thinking about what might suit you and your learning style. 

1.Read a journal article relevant to your area of clinical practice. 

If you have a current membership with OT Australia (OTA) then you already have access to a number of journals at your fingertips. If you aren’t a member, then a search through Google Scholar may provide access to full text articles instead.

2. Provide supervision / mentoring to a peer. 

If you feel that you are ready to challenge yourself by offering to support a peer, then send out an offer. Discuss what you can bring to the conversation and acknowledge that there are professional benefits for both of you.

3. Receive supervision / mentoring with a peer. 

Seek out someone in your network who you feel may be happy to provide support as a supervisor or peer mentor. You can decide how frequent you would like to meet and create a clear agreement about what the expectations are of the arrangement

4. Participate in FB group discussions re: clinical concepts. 

There are an ever-growing number of Facebook groups devoted to OT specific clinical areas of practice. Be prepared to initiate a conversation and encourage others to share their experiences. My word of warning would be to set a time limit so you can avoid it consuming more time than you would otherwise spend on an alternative PD activity

5. Listen to a podcast.

There are so many opportunities to listen to a podcast in a time and place that suits you. Topics can be clinical or focused on personal development. The emphasis needs to be on challenging your thinking and consider how this can impact on your practice. It can be easy to not have sufficient evidence for this type of activity so be sure to use a template to record your reflections

6. Listen to a TED talk.

If you have a spare 18 minutes, then you have time to tune in to a Ted talk. This is the average length of a TED talk and if you block out a full 30 minutes, then there is also time for you to record your thoughts and the content’s relevance to your development. 

7. Participate in a webinar offered by a supplier.

Most suppliers are more than willing to share their knowledge with you as it helps to strengthen the professional relationship. Some are now offering regular online webinars so if there is something you want to know more about, share your ideas with the suppliers and see what they are willing to offer.

Be sure to look for part 2 for the remaining free professional development ideas.

Relevant links:

https://scholar.google.com.au/

If you have found these ideas to be helpful, you can find more resources within the OT Learning Network to help you to become a master of your professional development including:

• An OT specific professional development directory with both paid and free listings.
• A platform to record and store all of your PD evidence.
• A community of like-minded peers who want to cheer you on to achieve your learning goals.

Join the OT Learning Network by clicking on the JOIN THE NETWORK button below:

The post 13 free ideas to accomplish your OT professional development goals PART 1 appeared first on The Occupational Therapy Learning Network.