Leaders in OT Present at Multiple Sclerosis Seminar

Top Japanese researchers attended a seminar at Multiple Sclerosis Limited (MSL) this week to learn more about the innovative services developed by Australian allied health professionals to enhance the health and wellbeing of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The leaders from the Department of Occupational Therapy, Tokyo University of Technology are visiting Australia for the first time as part of an international information exchange.

The seminar was aimed at strengthening ties between the Japanese and Australian allied health communities through presentations and discussions on research in areas such as occupational therapy’s role in community mental health and community mobility. 

During the seminar, Associate Professor Kounsuke Tomori from the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Tokyo University of Technology presented the app he developed to support occupational therapy strategies - ADOC.  The app has been used in Japan and other countries and allows both the client and the clinician to set functional goals to ensure occupational therapy interventions can be set up in a timely manner. The app is also being used to measure clients’ satisfaction towards their achievements in treatment, and ultimately increase their independence and quality of life.

Presentations from Melbourne based occupational therapists included Professor Ellie Fossey and Associate Professor Libby Callaway from Monash University and Lindsay Vernon from OTA who gave an overview of Occupational Therapy history and current practice in Australia.

Pictured from left to right as follows:

John Blewonski (presenter)
CEO Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Professor Ellie Fossey (presenter)
Head of Department and Graduate Research Coordinator
Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University

Associate Professor Libby Callaway (presenter)
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
Lecturer and Research Project Lead.

Natalie Francis
Executive Manager Consumer Directed Care, Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Tegan Hanisch (presenter)
Specialist Advisor (Occupational Therapist), Employment Support Service, Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Stephen Jolly
Senior Manager - Employment Support Service, Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Alison Schneider (presenter)
Senior Occupational Therapist / Ms Consultant, Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Mali Levav (presenter)
Employment Support Consultant (Occupational Therapist)
Employment Support Service, Multiple Sclerosis Limited

Lindsay Vernon (presenter)
Occupational Therapist
Professional Adviser: Learning and Development at Occupational Therapy Australia

Dr. Tatsunori (Tatsu) Sawada (presenter)
Associate Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy, Tokyo University of Technology

Associate Professor Pieter Van-Dijk
Course Director, Bachelor of Business Administration, Monash University

Yuho Okita
Occupational Therapist

Dr. Kounsuke (Koh) Tomori (presenter)
Associate Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy, Tokyo University of Technology

Associate Professor Andrea Kirk-Brown
Academic Group Leader (Governance, Leadership and Organisation)
Department of Management Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University