• Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Home About AOPA

What is AOPA?

E-mail Print PDF

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.

 

Newsflash

Please remember Membership Early Bird Discount ends strictly on the 30th June 2010. 

Promoting the Prosthetic Orthotic profession:

Submissions & Comment :

  • Primary Health Care Strategy
  • Health & Hospital Reform Commission
  • NHWT Clinical Placement
  • TGA Draft Guideline
  • Device Modification Position Statement

At the meeting with the National Health & Hospital Reform Commissioners;  AOPA supported a Primary Health Care strategy which co-ordinates a best practice multidisciplinary approach for optimum patient outcomes, however AOPA was concerned that with the current prediction of a 25% increase in diabetes within in the next 8 years, if best practice is not implemented the number of amputations could crush the public hospital system;

Best Practice multidisciplinary Allied Health team for Diabetes Health Care;

Dieticians                   Diabetic Educators

Orthotists                    Podiatrists

It was pointed out that P&O's are an integral part of Primary Health Care teams in every tertiary hospital in Australia but omitted from the MBS EPC allied health list, resulting in diabetics often not being referred to Orthotist's.  The Commissioners requested supportive documentation which AOPA supplied.

Your guide to CPD is on the Web Site under Documents - Member Essentials

Submissions made by AOPA are also available under Documents - AOPA Comments & Submissions

Suppliers please consider applying for AOPA CPD-Accreditation for your next educational event.  AOPA members will receive a known number of CPD points for attending your event and when you provide us with the attendee list, we will record the CPD points against each members CPD Activity log (so in June members are not stuggling to remember what they have attended during the year).