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            Te Poari Whakaora Ngangahau O Aotearoa (OTBNZ) 

Feb 2021 Newsletter/Pānui
Kia ora koutou katoa 

Welcome to 2021. We are readying ourselves for a busy time with the refresh of the Competencies for Registration and Continuing Practice, Code of Ethics, and Scope of Practice for occupational therapists happening this year.

In this newsletter find out about:

It's time to renew your practicing certificate


Applications for the 2021/2022 practicing certificate process are now open. It's a requirement for all practitioners who wish to practice after 31 March to have a current certificate so please apply for renewal before 31 March. This can be done through your myOTBNZ account.

New driving assessor and vehicle modification standard consultation


Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback to the Board in the consultation for this standard. The standard has been modified to reflect the feedback and is available here.
  • A hui is scheduled for 23 March to discuss the standard. Please RSVP here if you would like to attend the hui in person or via video link. 

New supervision resource


The Supervision Requirements for Occupational Therapists resource was updated last year and is here for your information.

Board changes


Appointment of Board chair and deputy chair
Each year the Board is required to elect a chair and deputy chair. This year, we are pleased to announce that Erica Hodgson has been re-elected as chair. Roxanne Waru (NgatiNgāti Kahungunu Ki Wairoa, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Rongomaiwāhine , Ngāti Porou me te Whānau a Apanui) has been elected as deputy chair. 

Other Board changes
Prof Mary Butler has resigned from the Board following her appointment to the role of program head of occupational therapy at the University of Adelaide. We wish her well in her new role. 

Our Tiriti o Waitangi journey
 

Like yourselves, the Board and staff at OTBNZ are on a journey to learn how we can be more competent in our bicultural practice and in our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As a result Allanah Marriott (Ngati Porou) was contracted to help us with this work which includes an audit of our practices as well as a noho marae for staff and board to look at our way forward in this mahi. 

E-portfolio audits phase 1
 

Phase 1 of the 2021 audit programme starts this month. Each year, OTBNZ aims to audit 20% of practitioners holding a practicing certificate. You will be notified by email if you are selected to be audited so please ensure that your contact email is up to date. 

Staff changes at OTBNZ
 

New communications advisor
Angie Cairncross joins us as our new communications advisor. Angie's previous roles include editor of the OTInsight magazine for OTNZ-WNA, and communications advisor for both the Cancer Society and Community Housing Aotearoa.





Professional advisor role
The professional advisor role will be shared by Jane Wilson, Carolyn Simmons, and Tui Poff-Nuku while Mary Silcock is on secondment at the Ministry of Health.   
Carolyn Simmons
Ko Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta i Puketāpapa te maunga i nāianei (Three Kings)
Ko te Moana nui ā Kiwa te moana (Pacific Ocean)
Ko Ngāti Tonga me Ngāti Pākehā tōku iwi (Tongan and Pākehā ancestry)
No Tongatapu ahau (Born and brought up in the Kingdom of Tonga) 
Ko Tamaki Makaurau e noho ana i nāianei (Aucklander)
Ko Carolyn Simmons tōku ingoa
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa

I've been a practicing kaiwhakaora ngangahau since the early 1980's in a range of roles and countries. I love being a kaiwhakaora ngangahau and have been involved with OTBNZ mahi for many years now, first with the CCFR, and then the ePortfolio as an auditor. 
 
Carolyn will be providing support to practitioners who have failed an ePortfolio audit. She will also support and advise OTBNZ on the ePortfolio. You can contact her on 021 2402 354 or email  carolyn@otboard.org.nz.
Jane Wilson
Jane is a well-regarded leader in occupational therapy and allied health based in the Bay of Plenty. She is the recipient of the 2018 Occupational Therapy Whakaora Ngangahau Hazel Skilton Founder’s award winner. 

Jane will be working 10-20 hours a week with us to provide advice to the Board on practitioner issues, policy, conduct and compliance. You can contact her on 021 2430 209 or email JaneW@otboard.org.nz.
Tui Poff-Nuku
Tui graduated from AUT in 2000 and is a community paediatric occupational therapist with the Bay of Plenty DHB and a project manager for OTNZ-WNA - bringing a bicultural lens to their mahi.

For OTBNZ, Tui will provide advice around notifications and support to Māori occupational therapists and those working with Māori. You can contact her on 021 2400 278 or email  tui.poff-nuku@otboard.org.nz.

New website and myOTBNZ system


We have had to delay replacing our website and myOTBNZ system as we want to provide the most secure site possible for storing your personal information. We will keep you updated on our plans as the year progresses. In the meantime, we have updated our online registration process to make it more user-friendly.
Watch our latest ‘In Conversation’ videos with newly retired Otago Polytechnic associate professor Dr Linda Robertson.
Ngā mihi 


Andrew Charnock
Chief Executive and Registrar
Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
+64 4 918 4740
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Copyright © 2019 Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand, All rights reserved.

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Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
Level 5, 22-28 Willeston Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 9644, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

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