Expressions of Interest due: Friday 24 October 2025
Monthly meetings commence: Thursday 27 November 2025

About the Forum

The OT Mental Health Forum began in the 1990s and is now a national biennial event attended by 300+ occupational therapists across all areas of mental health practice in Australia. After the successful two-day format in 2024, the Forum continues to expand opportunities for presentations and workshops that reflect the diverse roles of OTs in mental health.

Strategic Vision

Deliver a diverse program that maximises professional development for Australian occupational therapists and supports excellence in professional practice.

Overview of the Role

The Program Committee will guide the development, implementation and support the publication of the Forum program.  This will include overseeing the Call for Abstracts process, reviewing abstracts, and allocating to the program grid and providing input on invited speakers.  The Program Committee will work closely with the OTA Events Team to ensure the OT Mental Health Forum is a success.

Time Commitment

November 2025 to November 2026. Allow 1–2 hours per month, plus time to review an estimated 50–100 abstracts during May–June 2026.

Selection Criteria for Program Committee

Essential

• Educated as an occupational therapist.
• Current OTA membership across the planning cycle.
• Awareness of current and emerging topics in OT practice, education, and research.
• Strong communication, time management, and teamwork skills.
• Availability for monthly Zoom/Teams meetings.
• Availability to review abstracts and contribute to program build.

Desired

• Research-based graduate degree (PhD preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in OT research, practice, and/or education.

Selection Criteria for Consumer Representative

Provide input that promotes consumer engagement, lived experience, and the consumer voice within the program.

Essential

• Ability to contribute a consumer perspective on current and emerging OT topics.
• Strong communication, time management, and teamwork skills.
• Availability for monthly Zoom/Teams meetings.

Desired

• Educated as an occupational therapist.

Application Procedure

All applications will be considered. Members serve in a personal capacity. Selection balances standing in the OT community with regional, gender, and practice-area diversity.

Please include:

1. Your current role, contact details (email and mobile).
2. Your interest in joining this committee.
3. The skills, experience, or insights you will bring to the Forum.
4. Responses to the selection criteria.

Questions? Contact the OTA Events Team at conferences@otaus.com.au.