Leadership and Advocacy

We are finding and supporting the voices in occupational therapy to enhance our role in world health and wellbeing.

As the international representative for the occupational therapy profession, the executive team is responsible for a range of projects focused on leadership and advocacy. Disability and Human Rights are at the core of our work, publications and standards as we advocate for the human right to inclusion and participation in meaningful occupation.

Our work within this programme area pioneers the development and evolution of the profession at international, regional and national levels through; strategy and vision, standards and governance, collaboration and representation, support and information.

We are capacity building for the future of the profession by supporting the development of the profession in countries where it does not exist, facilitating the WFOT approved status of education programmes and providing labour force data and resources to support the growth of the profession.

Strategic and operational plans determine the organisation’s development and business in addition to a range of projects that include:

Collaboration plans with the World Health Organisation, strategic engagement and liaison with the UN, WHO, International Labour Organisation, Humanity & Inclusion and many other International Non-Government Organisations.

Master Plan on Human Rights, Education, Mental Health, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Assistive Technology

Council Meetings and Congress

WFOT Bulletin

Global Health

Marketing, Promotion, website and social media

Student involvement

Human Resources

Sustainable occupational therapy practice


Leadership and Advocacy Strategy Tools

WFOT encourages involvement in advocacy efforts by member organisations, as well as individual occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and students by offering tools and resources.

Leadeship and Advocacy FAQ

The WFOT has a range of projects that form part of its work, often in collaboration with a number of international organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT). The primary route for WFOT to source volunteers for these projects is via the WFOT Delegate and Member Organisation of the relevant country, whereby WFOT issues a call for volunteers with skills specific to the project, to our Delegates and Member Organisations.

Please contact the WFOT Delegate in your country to inform them of your interest in becoming a volunteer in WFOT projects. You can find details of WFOT Member Organisations and Delegates at Member Organisations Profiles.