WFOT update

Dr Emma George, WFOT 1st Alternative Delegate

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists comprises national and regional organisations that work together to improve health and wellbeing, and champion occupational rights and occupational justice. It deplores action that denies access to human rights and occupational engagement. Conditions that threaten the right to occupation include war, disasters, poverty, discrimination and displacement.

At the time of writing this update, the war in Ukraine rages on. WFOT has been closely following the traumatic events, as millions of people flee their homes and many are caught in the crossfire. WFOT is in regular contact with the Ukrainian Society of Ergotherapists, and collaborating with the WHO Rehabilitation Programme/ Emergency Medical Teams initiatives as part of the humanitarian response. It is distressed that two member countries, Ukraine and Russia, are at war, and the WFOT (2022) statement on the crisis clearly “reaffirms its condemnation of all actions or circumstances that infringe on the rights of people and community to live purposeful and engaged lives in safety and peace”.

In Australia, the devastation of recent floods in NSW and QLD is difficult to comprehend, particularly on the back of bushfires and the unrelenting stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. WFOT president Samantha Shann wrote to OTA expressing support and condolences to all members, families and friends touched by the flooding. Occupational therapists and the communities with whom they work are resilient and optimistic, which is a great strength of the profession. In responding to all types of disasters, occupational therapists can draw strength from one another, their association and WFOT.

WFOT empathy and advocacy for displaced people extends beyond the immediate crisis in Ukraine and floodimpacted communities in Australia. WFOT launched a new online course to introduce occupational therapists to helping displaced people living in transition and crisis.

Displacement refers to the forced movement of people from their localities, environments and occupations due to natural disaster, famine, development, climate change and poverty. Global displacement continues to grow even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. UNHCR (2020) data shows more than 1 per cent of the world’s population (one in 95) is now forcibly displaced. It is thought that up to one million children were born in displacement between 2018 and 2020, with many at risk of remaining displaced for years or the rest of their lives.

Occupational therapists work with displaced people to address occupational injustices, and utilise the following two basic principles in this scope of practice:

1. Understand the policy and legislation relevant to migrant rights and government/ NGO actions; and 2. Incorporate occupational rights as human rights.

The course is available on the WFOT Learning Platform, and therefore available anywhere with access to the internet. It teaches about the complexity of displacement, the humanitarian sector and new approaches to sociopolitical occupational therapy. Free to WFOT members, it is designed to be completed through a self-directed model over 35 hours.

In August, the three OTA delegates head to Paris for the WFOT council meeting and 18th WFOT Congress. The work of WFOT aligns under the following four program areas: education, research, practice development and executive/leadership and advocacy. As it will be my first council meeting, I anticipate stimulating discussion, plans for action, development of stronger international relationships, and lots of learning from other delegates.

Registration for the WFOT Congress is open at wfotcongress2022.org/registration

Emma George and Adam Lo in Adelaide, March 2022

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