Course type
This course is an AHTA Core course.
Core courses are suitable for practitioners:
- with a minimum of two years of post-graduate experience in treating upper limb conditions
- looking to acquire additional skills required for a position in hand therapy
- wishing to upskill and learn current best-practice
- wanting continued professional learning (CPD hours)
- undertaking to complete the Accredited Hand Therapist credential.
Refer Course types.
Quality
AHTA courses meet Australian Quality Framework (AQF) Level 8 standards.
Course presenters are Accredited Hand Therapists and they have undertaken a four-stage presenter training program.
Pre-requisites
It is not a prerequisite that participants have completed the Splint/Orthotic Fabrication Immobilisation Course, but it is strongly recommended. The course is designed for therapists with some experience treating persons with upper limb dysfunction. Participants must have a sound understanding of the principles of immobilisation splinting and be able to fabricate a wrist immobilisation orthosis in 15 minutes. Competency in use of thermoplastic splinting materials is essential. This enables the practical sessions to focus on fabrication of the mobilising components. This course is not open to students and is not recommended for newly graduated therapists.
Course content
The focus of this course is on the design and fabrication of mobilisation orthoses. A dynamic format using lectures, case studies, demonstrations and hands-on practical activities will help participants to improve their theoretical knowledge and proficiency in the fabrication of mobilisation orthoses. These skills will be used to master clinical reasoning and equip participants with the expertise required to successfully use mobilisation orthoses in clinical practice. Participants will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of thermoplastic materials fabricating numerous orthoses for mobilising the fingers, thumb, and wrist. Designs for mobilising orthoses for the forearm and elbow will be discussed but do not include a practical fabrication session.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this course, therapists will have:
- Detailed knowledge of mobilising orthotic designs for the upper limb.
- An understanding of tissue response in the process of wound healing and disease and the effects of mobilising forces from orthotic application.
- Detailed knowledge of the theoretical basis of orthotic design.
- Develop an understanding and ability to apply research evidence when fabricating and prescribing upper limb mobilising orthoses/splints.
- An ability to fabricate mobilising and torque transmission orthoses for the upper limb using a variety of thermoplastic and casting materials.
Assessment
Refer to Mobilisation Participant Manual found under My Documents in your AHTA portal.
Participants may choose to undertake the assessment.
Completing and passing the assessment is a requirement for those wishing to apply to become an Accredited Hand Therapist.
The course has 3 assessment components:
- Practical demonstration of orthosis fabrication: completion of all orthoses and evidence of competence in orthotic fabrication during the course
- Examination: 1 hr exam completed online, 65% requirement to pass
- Case study: Submission of a case study using evidenced-based practise decision making and application of clinical knowledge submitted 6 weeks after the course.
Participants who cannot complete the exam as scheduled and advertised will forfeit the option of a Certificate of Attainment. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided.
CPD
This course is 20 CPD hours for attendance only.
Participants will receive 50 CPD hours if they complete and pass the assessment.
Registration
Member discount
Discounts apply for Associates and Accredited Hand Therapists.
To become a member of the association, please click here.
To book
To book your place:
Login or create an account
Go to the Course & event registration and click purchase event.
Investment
Non-Member $1530.00 inc GST
Associate $994.50 inc GST
Accredited Hand Therapist $918.00 inc GST
To become a member of the Association please click here.
Cancellation
We endeavour to run all courses as scheduled however, at times, our courses do not meet the required minimum numbers to go ahead. Therefore, we advise that you DO NOT book flights and/or accommodation until the registration closing date (one month before the course), at which time we will notify you if the course does not proceed. Please Contact us for advice if you wish to book flights earlier.
Please read the Course Cancellation Policy before registering for our courses.
Time
The AHTA has a standard for course times as follows:
Face-to-face courses are held from 9.00 am – 5.30 pm local time.
Online courses are held from 9.00 am – 5.30 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)* is from 2.00 am on the first Sunday in April to 2.00 am on the first Sunday in October.
Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)+ is from 2.00 am on the first Sunday in October to 2.00 am on the first Sunday in April.
*Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is local time for VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD and TAS.
If you are in SA, WA, or NT you must check the time difference.
+Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) is local time for VIC, NSW, ACT and TAS.
If you are in QLD, WA, SA or NT you must check the time difference.
If you are not certain, use this website to convert:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
Before you attend
Pre-learning
Pre-learning for this course will be available in a portal, accessed using your login and can be located under My Documents four weeks before the course. We recommend you commence the pre-learning as soon as it is available.
This course's pre-learning includes assigned pre-reading articles, mandatory theory videos, and quizzes.
Orthotic Fabrication Mobilisation Course Resources – Pre-learning Modules: Step 1 Videos
Orthotic Fabrication Mobilisation Course Resources – Pre-learning Modules: Step 2 Quizzes
Please view the video* before completing the assessment for each of the modules listed below:
- Pre-learning Module: Session 1 (105 mins to view, 30-min quiz)
- Pre-learning Module: Session 2 (90 mins to view, 30-min quiz)
Quiz information: please refer to the schedule on the relevant course registration page for the due date (no extensions will be granted and access to videos and the assessments will no longer be active after the closing date).
You have 30 minutes to complete the quiz which comprises multiple choice and true/false questions.
You have only ONE ATTEMPT, please do not navigate away from the browser once you have started, as your attempt will be closed.
You can review and amend your answers before completion if you wish by using the navigation buttons within the program.
* VIDEO DISCLAIMER: The primary purpose of these videos is to educate and inform. This video does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services and is available only for private, non-commercial use. Advertising which is incorporated into, placed in association with or targeted toward the content of this video without the express approval and knowledge of the AHTA is strictly forbidden. You may not edit, modify or redistribute this video. The developers of this video and the AHTA assume no liability for any activities in connection with this video or for the use of this video in connection with any other website, computer or playing device. Please contact the AHTA if you have any questions or concerns.
Portal access
All information regarding this course is located in a portal on our website. To access please follow the steps below.
- Go to our website ahta.com.au
- Click on Login, located in the top right-hand corner
- Enter your username and password and click Login
- Go to the My Documents tab
- Click on the"[COURSE NAME] Resources" to access the course materials.
- Click on the Events tab to download your tax invoice.
Workbook
The workbook for this course will be available for you at the venue.
What to bring
Essential Items:
- Pen for adding notes to your course workbook which will be provided at the course
- Sharp Scissors for cutting heated thermoplastic
- Shears to cut cold thermoplastic materials
- Pliers, round nose and square nose (wire benders)
- Smooth Roll Bandage (width 7.5cm)
- Small Towel
- Chinagraph pencil/splint markers
Desirable Items:
- Hole punch
- Wire cutters
- Spring wire coil jig (if your clinic has one you can bring)
Other
Photography and filming
Images taken at our workshops may be used for promotion and evaluation, including press releases, publicity materials, newsletters, eNews, social media, presentations and our website. Images will not be accompanied by names or other details that could identify individuals. If you DO NOT consent to be filmed or photographed during an AHTA course, you must Contact us and advise the presenter on the first day of the course.
Previous participant feedback
The extra time available in the course to do practical splinting was excellent. Doing the theory and taking the exam a little later was very beneficial as I did not have to focus on anything but building my practical skills.
The aspects of the course that were most beneficial include: learning practical aspects about orthotic design; indications and clinical applications; takeaway patterns and design information; access to experienced HT staff, and learning practical tips about shortcuts and orthotic construction.
Both presenters were knowledgeable and nurturing in their teaching. They made the course very relaxed compared to previous ones I’ve attended.
The practical components were most beneficial as I had not made some of the orthosis in clinic before
Intellectual property disclaimer
By registering for this course you agree that during the course, any contributions verbally or in writing which you make in regard to improving, altering or amending the content of the course, may be used by the AHTA in subsequent courses and will become the intellectual property of AHTA
Contact
Contact us.
Presenter bios
Barb Hall
Barb is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience in hand therapy in the UK, USA and Australia. She has a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Indianapolis and completed the Certification in Hand Therapy in the USA (HTCC) in the 1990s, where she developed her passion for rehabilitation of the hand and upper limb. She has had many teachers and mentors: Physio, OTs, surgeons and orthotists.
Barb’s interests include hand trauma, research and teaching. Barb has been involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at Curtin University. She has published research in conjunction with therapists from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on ‘Extensor Tendon Rehabilitation’ and ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’.
She currently lives and works as a Senior Occupational Therapist in beautiful southwest of WA.
Helen Fitzgerald
Helen graduated from university in 2000. Initially working in the public sector, she worked in Rheumatology, Burns and Plastics; and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation for 18 months before developing her Hand Therapy skills during locum work in the UK. On her return to Perth, she worked as a Senior Therapist in the Hand & Upper Limb Clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for 8 years before devoting her time as a Director and Principal Therapist at InHand Occupational Therapy. She is an active member of the AHTA and has been involved in membership and education for the past nine years. She was co-author of a research publication on the effectiveness of wrist splinting and education in the treatment of Carpal Tunnel syndrome in 2013. Clinically Helen has a particular interest in acute trauma, tendon rehabilitation and Rheumatology. She has a flare for splint fabrication and is passionate about the ongoing development and mastery of this unique skill in hand therapists across Australia.
Terra Bredy
In 1996, Terra graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Since that time, she has worked in a variety of public and private therapy clinics throughout Canada and the United States, and in 2002, she obtained a certification in Hand Therapy. She became a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) in 2009 and served as the Queensland Divisional Representative in 2013. During a brief stint in California from 2014 to 2017, Terra was an Adjunct Professor at Stanbridge University, where she lectured at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and also served as a postgraduate research advisor on projects focused on Yoga as a therapeutic modality for CRPS and goniometric measurement techniques for wrist flexion/extension. Terra is an Accredited Hand Therapist with the AHTA and a Certified Hand Therapist with the HTCC. She is based in Brisbane, where she works as a Clinic Coordinator with EKCO Hand Therapy and as the owner/operator of LeatherWorks Splinting, fabricating custom leather orthotics.
Tracey Clark
Tracey has been a full member of the AHTA since 1997. She has worked in the public and private sectors and has recently opened her private practice – North West Hand Therapy, in suburban Sydney. Tracey has contributed significantly to the AHTA's growth and development as a volunteer on the Research Committee for four years, as President and on the Credentialing Council for five years. Tracey is interested in evidence-based practice and wants to improve members’ access to research to assist in clinical decision-making. Tracey has an MSc(Hand & UL Rehab) from Curtin University and has studied the relationship between sensibility and dexterity following digital nerve injury.
Melissa James
Melissa has worked in hand therapy for over 25 years. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 1991 with honours and a university medal. She completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation (Curtin University) in 1997. She has been a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association since 1996, including serving as Queensland State Representative.
Melissa has worked in both the public and private sectors and now has her private practice, Bayside Hand Therapy, in Brisbane. Her teaching experience includes teaching splinting/orthotics to undergraduate occupational therapy students at the University of Queensland for several years, as well as running many courses on other hand therapy-related topics. Melissa has been a presenter of the AHTA orthotic fabrication courses since 2006.
David Parsons
Dave graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2006. During his career, he has worked in private and public sectors, before moving into a role at Curtin University teaching hand and upper limb rehabilitation, including orthoses fabrication. Dave completed a PhD and conducted research. He has a keen interest in acute trauma and managing sporting injuries. Dave is currently on the AHTA Board of Directors.
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