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Australian Orthotic and Prosthetic Association

What is AOPA?

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Founded in 1975, AOPA is the peak professional body representing orthotists and prosthetists within Australia. AOPA aims to promote the training, education and professional status of orthotists and prosthetists throughout Australia.

Orthotists and prosthetists are allied health professionals who liaise regularly with members of the multidisciplinary health team. The prosthetist/orthotist combines knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology and materials with physical skills such as patient assessment, casting, measurement and alignment to provide prosthetic and orthotic treatment, which is specific to each patient managed.

Our Commitment

The Association is committed to provide continuing education of the highest standard. Newsletters, seminars, workshops and publications keep members and industry colleagues up to date on all matters relevant to the profession including the latest clinical and technical research and development. The AOPA Continuing Professional Development Program ensures members are encouraged and rewarded for their continuing education efforts.

Through the Association's work, the profession has gained widespread recognition for professional excellence. Representation to federal and state government, industry stakeholders, employers and the public is made by AOPA on a wide range of issues including qualifications, professional standards and funding matters.

 

What is an Orthotist?

AOPA National Council
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An Orthotist (pron: Ortho-tist) is an allied health professional and clinician who practices in public hospitals or the private sector.

The Orthotist's role is to assess, prescribe, apply and provide education regarding the use and care of an appropriate orthosis that serves the individual's requirements.

An orthosis is the true term for a brace or appliance that is designed and fitted to the body to achieve one or more of the following goals:

  • Control biomechanical alignment
  • Protect and support a healing injury
  • Assist rehabilitation
  • Reduce pain
  • Increase mobility
  • Increase independence

Commonly prescribed orthoses include;

  • Foot Orthoses, for various foot problems
  • Ankle and Knee Orthoses, for joint protection or support after surgery
  • Fracture Orthoses, the modern alternative to plaster or fibreglass casts
  • Spinal Orthoses, providing low back pain relief or helping control spinal deformities and injuries

There are a wide variety of prefabricated and custom made orthoses used for many musculo-skeletal problems. They are specialised devices should always be fitted by a fully qualified Orthotist.

 

What is a Prosthetist?

AOPA National Council
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A Prosthetist / Orthotist is an Allied Health Professional who designs, measures, fabricates and fits Prostheses and Orthoses. The Prosthetist / Orthotist upgrades their knowledge, skills and experience to ensure the best possible Prosthesis or Orthoses is provided for each individual. 

A Prosthetist (pron: Pros-the-tist) is an allied health professional who is clinically responsible for assessing, manufacturing and fitting various types of upper and lower limb prostheses (artificial limbs). Prosthetists also provide education and training regarding the use, care and function of prostheses.

All limb prostheses are precision made appliances that are individually designed to restore the function and look of the lost limb as much as possible. Prosthetists assist clients such as children born with congenital limb deficiency, people who have had an amputation following an accident or the elderly who have lost a limb as a result of vascular disease.

Due to modern advances in prosthetic technology, prosthetists to supply lighter, stronger and more naturally functioning prostheses than ever before. Technological advances include the ‘energy storing foot', the ‘microprocessor controlled knee' and the myo-electric (bionic) hand.

 

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AOPA Inaugural CONGRESS 20th to 21st August 2010 at Bayview Eden

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Newsflash

Summary of Consultations

Scoping Study for a Centre for Allied Health Research

 The Menzies Foundation has provided funding for a feasibility study into establishing an Australian Centre for Allied Health Research in Melbourne. (see Project Plan, Perry, A., 2007).

People Involved:

A multi-disciplinary planning group was established to progress this study. Members consist of:

PI:        Professor Alison Perry, School of Human Communication Sciences,  La Trobe University.

CI:        Professor Meg Morris, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne 

CI:        Dr. Carol McKinstry, School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University

CI:        Ms Jenelle Loeliger, Senior Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

CI:        Prof Susan Paxton, School of Psychology, La Trobe University

 Ms Carol Chenco was appointed on 1st October, 2007 as a part-time Research Associate to this study and Ms Deb Benetti provides part-time secretarial support. 

 Since October, Carol has designed and set up an informational website and has contacted relevant key stakeholders (university Deans; academic groups, clinicians, health managers, professional and philanthropic organisations) to organise the running of focus groups and conduct interviews across Victoria.

Webpage:

An informational webpage was set up on the La Trobe University website attached to the School of Human Communication Sciences’ homepage.  This details the background to the project; introduction to the planning group; how the project will be progressed, what we expect to achieve and progress updates.  There is also a submission form for interested individuals or groups to document their views by completing the form and sending back to the Research Associate.

See: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/hcs/centreallied/index.html

Contact with Stakeholders:

Contact has been made with many stakeholders, to conduct an interview / discussion or to arrange to run focus groups or a forum. Contacts include:

·        The Department of Human Services (DHS), Victoria

·        Joanna Briggs’ Centre for Evidence Based Practice in Nursing and Allied Health in South Australia

·        Deans of the divisions of allied health at Monash, Melbourne and La Trobe universities

·        Heads of the schools of allied health at Deakin, La Trobe, Swinburne and RMIT universities

·        *Staff across the division of Allied Health La Trobe university

·        *Staff across the division of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne

·        *Menzies scholars in allied health

·        *A Victorian dietitians’ research group

·        *The Orthopists Association of Australia

·        The director of allied health services at the Royal Childrens’ Hospital and MCRI

·        *Allied health managers and senior clinicians at Southern Health

·        Allied health managers and senior clinicians at Northern Health

·        *Allied health managers and senior clinicians at Loddon Mallee health districts

·        Allied health managers and senior clinicians at Ballarat and Stawell

·        The Chronic Illness Alliance network, and

·        *Allied health professional organisations.

*Focus Groups / Forums conducted in 2008.

All Focus Groups are run with two members of the planning group in attendance. Participants’ views are either tape-recorded for later transcription, or documented in vivo, by one of the Team, while the other person runs the group.  

Discussion revolves around four issues for each group: the need for a centre; the site for a centre; what a centre could/should provide; how should it be organised (i.e., governance).

All key points raised are identified, recorded, typed and a summary is sent back to all participants for everyone who attended to amend/agree before the data are logged.

At the end of the whole process, we will aggregate all the points raised in the focus groups, then analyse the recurring themes and points of concordance, as well as recording disagreement/divergent views.

To date, close to 100 people have participated, in 10 focus groups, but we have many more focus groups to run…

For those unable to attend focus groups or discussions and/or those people who have an interest in contributing to the consultations, we encourage you all to make submissions via the pertinent section of our website.

Carol Chenco, Research Associate

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

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