Call for Abstracts Now Open!

The Conference Scientific Program Committee warmly invites you to submit one or more abstracts in accordance with the instructions that are provided on the Call for Abstracts webpage. This is a wonderful opportunity to have your research published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. For more information on submission guidelines, mentoring assistance, and abstract examples, please refer to the instuctions below.

 

Submit Abstract

Why present?

  • • Showcase your research findings to your OT colleagues.
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  • • Improve your presentation and communication skills.
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  • • Get feedback or bring fresh ideas to your work.
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  • • Have your abstract included in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
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  • • Grow your network, leadership, and influence in the OT community.
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    Program Dates
  • Call for Abstracts Opens
    		•  May 30, 2024
  • Abstract Mentoring Closes
    		•  August 30, 2024
  • Call for Abstracts Closes
    		•  September 5, 2024
  • Notification to Authors of acceptance into the program
    		•  November 7, 2024
  • Authors accept invitation to present
    		•  November 21, 2024
  • Program finalised and released
    		•  December 13, 2024
  • REGISTRATION OPEN
    		•  February 1, 2025
  • Early Bird Registration Closes
    		•  April 1, 2025
  • Speaker registration closes
    		•  April 7, 2025
  • 31st National Conference and Exhibition 2025
    		•  June 25-27, 2025

     

    Steps to Submit an Abstract


    • 1. Prepare your abstract using the appropriate headings /template.


    • 2. Click the button below to access the submission portal and setup an account in Contact Information.


    • 3. Select the abstract submission tab. Follow the instructions to ensure you have included Title, Presentation Type, Method Type, Themes, Author names and affiliations, presenting author bio, abstract content.


    • 4. Submit your abstract and check your inbox for your confirmation email.

     

    Abstract Mentoring

    The abstract mentoring program is suitable for those with limited to no experience in submitting a paper for a conference. The goal of mentoring is to assist the author to present material clearly and concisely prior to submitting for the formal review process. Mentoring may be useful for those who do not have access to support via their own networks or organisations, or for those whose first language is not English. Submitting authors should prepare their submissions according to the guidelines found in the link above. Please forward your draft submission in Word format by 30 August 2024 to nationalconference@otaus.com.au. A mentor will be assigned to give assistance and feedback.

    It is important to note that the mentoring and formal presentation and review processes are separate and receiving mentoring assistance does not guarantee that a submission will be accepted into the conference program.

    Example Abstracts

    Submission examples from previous conferences can be found here to assist you.

    Abstract Guidelines and Review Criteria

    For guidance on the abstract format, method types, presentation types and review criteria, please click here.

    Method Type

    Papers are to be submitted under one of the following method types:

    • • Quantitative Research
    • • Qualitative Research
    • • Review Paper
    • • Mixed Methods Research
    • • Practice Note
    • • Other

     

    Theme Types

    Papers are to be submitted under one of the following theme types:

    • • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people / communities
    • • Ageing well
    • • Assistive technology / adaptive equipment / environmental modifications
    • • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • • Cancer / palliative care
    • • Community level practice / community development
    • • Consumer Perspective
    • • Driving / community mobility
    • • Disability, policy and practice
    • • Economic evaluation / cost-effectiveness
    • • Emerging practice areas
    • • Entrepreneurship / business development
    • • First responders and disaster recovery
    • • Gender and sexual health
    • • Health promotion / population health
    • • Infants, children and families
    • • Interprofessional practice / Trans-disciplinary practice
    • • Knowledge translation / bringing evidence into practice
    • • Men’s health and wellbeing
    • • Mental health / mental illness and recovery
    • • Musculoskeletal / hand therapy
    • • Neurodiversity and neurodivergence
    • • Neurosciences
    • • New graduate / early career transition to practice
    • • Occupational rehabilitation
    • • Occupational science
    • • Occupational therapy education *(Tertiary education of OT’s)
    • • Perinatal transitions and maternal health
    • • Primary health care
    • • Psychosocial, trauma, and domestic violence
    • • Rehabilitation
    • • Research methods
    • • Rural and remote practice
    • • Social and critical perspectives / occupational justice
    • • Scope of practice – e.g. Advanced, emerging or changing scope of practice or scope of practice
    • • Using technologies for participation
    • • Women’s health and wellbeing
    • • Youth and adolescents

     

    Presentation Types


    • Oral Presentation

      Oral Presentations will likely be 15 minutes in length *(12 min presentation / 3 min Q&A). Presenting authors will be notified of their length of presentation time in the acceptance notification. Abstracts not selected for oral presentation may be eligible for a Poster, Impact Insight or *Conversations that Matter.


    • ePoster/Poster Display

      Posters will included in the Conference program and displayed either online prominently near the exhibition hall. Presenting authors will be notified of full instructions of the format and display within acceptance notification.


    • Impact Insights – New to 2025!

      Present your impact insights in a concise, 5-minute oral presentation, focusing on quality improvement and practice-based research. This format features a single presentation slide, following a TED-style approach for maximum clarity, impact and engagement.


    • Occupation Station

      A small number of occupation stations will be included in the Conference Program. These sessions will be 25 minutes in length and will engage participants in doing an occupation / activity. The accompanying presentation will focus on the therapeutic use of this occupation / activity in practice and the theory supporting its use.


    • Workshop

      A small number of workshops will be included in the Conference Program. Workshops will be 45 minutes in length. A focus for these sessions is high audience engagement. The methods/approach section of your abstract should include clear detail of how the audience will be engaged, including a minimum of 50% of allocated time in active interaction, and this interaction should involve more than questions from the audience. Authors submitting abstracts for workshops need to be aware that if their abstract is not accepted it will not be considered for any other presentation type.


    • *Conversations that Matter

      A select number of oral presentations may be accepted as a Conversation that Matters into the conference program. These sessions will take the format of either a Yarn or round table 45-minute discussion facilitated by the submitting author/s on specific occupational therapy related topics.


    • Scientific Research Panel

      Opportunity for a panel of occupational therapists to speak from multiple perspectives on topical areas in scientific research. They will be 30 minutes in total, comprising of 20 minutes discussion from the panel with 10-minute Q&A. Panel members can include relevant research partners (consumers / other health and social care professionals).

    Submit Abstract