Published: Thursday 30 October 2025
This accolade aims to honour and showcase an occupational therapist who has made outstanding, innovative, and impactful contribution to the clinical practice of occupational therapy. This year’s recipient will present a keynote address at OT Exchange 2026, presenting their interpretation and experience of innovation in occupational therapy practice. The OTA Oration is awarded by the OTA Board, in recognition of innovation in the Australian occupational therapy profession.
The OTA Oration will be run biennially, aligned with the OT Exchange Conference.
The inaugural Oration was delivered at the 2024 OT Exchange. We are delighted to announce that in 2025-2026 the OTA Oration will be conferred once again, and applications are now open for the 2026 OT Exchange Oration.
The successful applicant will present a 45-minute oration at the OT Exchange in 2026, and will have their conference travel, registration and accommodation expenses covered.
For more information, download the guidelines below, or contact awards@otaus.com.au.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be:
- An Australian resident
- Current OTA member
- Hold a current registration with Ahpra.
All eligible OTA members are encouraged to apply; this oration is not exclusive to academics or researchers.
Applications for the Oration are now open and close at 5:00pm (AEDT) on Friday, 13 February 2026. Application forms with additional documents as listed in the Guidelines are to be submitted to awards@otaus.com.au.
Previous Recipients
2024
Jenny Gribbin
Your OT Roadmap for Innovation Success
More information can be found in the guidelines below.
Related topics
1 January 2025
Aon: What is Cyber Insurance and What it's Intended to Cover
OTA is pleased to present this member-only webinar from Aon, the preferred insurance broker to Occupational Therapy Australia. Learn about cyber insurance and what it's intended to cover here.
19 March 2025
Working with Interpreters: A Guide for Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists should engage credentialed interpreters to communicate complex or technical information to clients with limited or no English language proficiency.
24 March 2025
Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards
The new Australian occupational therapy competency standards (the competency standards) have been in effect since 1 January 2019. The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (the Board) expects all occupational therapists to understand and apply them in their practice.
