Helping you to make it happen!
Helping you to make it happen!
Our Mission
Dedicated to the well-being of all Albertans, SAOT is the vehicle to drive practice, shape capacity and grow the profession of occupational therapy in Alberta by bridging research, practice, advocacy and policy.
Our Role
To conduct the activities, affairs, management and governance of the Society including maintaining a registry of members;
To promote, assist and maintain a high standard of occupational therapy practice through continuing education and awarding grants to members of the Society;
To disseminate information pertinent to occupational therapists;
To receive bequests, donations, grants of money and to raise money for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of the Society through membership fees, public subscription or any other manner that is not contrary to the federal and provincial laws of Canada;
To promote the practice of occupational therapy;
To represent the benefits and value of occupational therapy to other professionals, health disciplines, societies and associations, consumer groups and all Albertans;
To carry out any specific objectives that SAOT’s Board and Directors may, from time to time, adopt in support of the above objectives.
CAOT, ACOT and SAOT – Roles & Responsibilities
| Roles | SAOT | CAOT | ACOT |
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| Keeping occupational therapists informed about relevant (changes to current and new) federal and provincial legislation (e.g., privacy, persons in care, etc.) |  |
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| Advocating/marketing for occupational therapy to consumers and consumer groups | |
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| Maintain a website of interest to consumers | |
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| Help public find an occupational therapist | |
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| Facilitate occupational therapists’ networking | |
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| Link for COTF for funding of research | |
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| Sponsor and facilitate education | |
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| Disseminate pertinent practice and practical information through communication networks | |
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| Local/provincial advocacy for occupational therapy | |
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| Represent occupational therapists at provincial interdisciplinary committees/boards | |
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| Facilitate an “on the ground” occupational therapist community | |
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| Recognize occupational therapists among their peers for outstanding practice and contribution to society | |
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| Provide information to occupational therapists on accessing local resources | |
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| Facilitate local level practice interest groups | |
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| Protection of the public; investigate concerns raised about registrants’ practice | |
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| Information to the public about such topics as qualifications for “entry into practice” etc. | |
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| Contribute to development and updating of national OT ‘competencies’ and ‘standards’ documents | |
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| Publish inter-provincial documents/agreements as appropriate (e.g., agreement on internal trade) | |
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| Standards of Practice (Provincial) – establish programs and guidelines that promote competent and ethical OT practice (e.g., continuing competency program) | |
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| License occupational therapists, set standards for entry to practice | |
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| Maintain a practice advisor | |
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| Assure public of occupational therapists’ ability and show profession’s due diligence | |
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| Accreditation of educational programs | |
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| Publish relevant research and articles of interest (CJOT & OT Now) | |
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| Facilitate malpractice insurance | |
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| Assist in human resource planning for profession | |
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| Administer national certification exam | |
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| Represent occupational therapists on national committees | |