Revised federal data protection law:
The revised federal data protection law came into force on September 1, 2023. The Occupational Therapy Association Switzerland provided information sheets to help practitioners working in the community, explaining how to handle data in everyday practice. The data protection law is complex, it concerns all occupational therapists who store, process or forward information about their clients.
ErGo mentoring- for OT`s starting or returning to Occupational Therapy:
Whether you are returning to work after a break or are at the beginning of your career, the Occupational Therapy Association Switzerland and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences have created a mentoring program to support OT`s. The mentoring program supports by giving advice, personal as well as peer mentoring and by providing further training.
New name for the Swiss OT Association:
At the Swiss OT delegate meeting in May 2023 an gender neutral name was unanimously voted for: Ergotherapie-Verband Schweiz / Association Suisse d’Ergothérapie / Associazione Svizzera di Ergotherapia. The new association name in all three languages officially applies from January 1, 2024.
A survey study on the Size and Structure of the Swiss Occupational Therapy Workforce:
A Survey Study was made to provide a comprehensive overview of the Swiss Occupational Therapy workforce. It revealed significant gender imbalances, low employment rates, limited pursuit of advanced degrees compared to other health professions. Questions raised include strategies to enhance gender diversity, increase employment rates, and promote further education among occupational therapists. Furthermore, regional disparities in occupational therapy accessibility within Switzerland underscore the need for targeted measures to address staffing shortages and improve service provision, an issue that warrants further investigation in future research. Please find further information here.
Reapproval for the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy program:
The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) received it`s reapproval of its program in January 2024.
Come and join us for the 7th Winterthur Occupational Therapy Summit:
On the 2n March 2024 Occupational Therapy meets Technology. Artificial intelligence, robotics, apps, or virtual reality- new technologies are diverse and omnipresent. The summit will explore which developments really benefit people in therapy. What can clients and therapists benefit from the new technology. In addition to presentations, the event offers plenty of space to exchange ideas and to network.
Please find further information here.
Save the date for the Swiss Congress of Occupational Therapy 2024:
We are proud to welcome you to the 6th Swiss Congress of Occupational Therapy in Fribourg on the 24th and 25th May. The motto of the congress is “Empowerment matters”. Strategies and measures are discussed to increase the autonomy and self-determination of our clients. The theme of the congress is “participation” in school, at work, in leisure time and in social life, regardless of disabilities and limitations. There will be lectures, workshops and posters from research and practical work. Empowerment matters to our clients and to ourselves.
Come and join us!
Please find further information here.