2025-26 Webinar Series

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Thurs

15 May

10.00am

Dee Muller

Sleep Science 101: An interactive workshop on sleep for occupational therapists.

Health sleep supports us to live our best lives and plays an important role in supporting illness and injury recovery and positive rehabilitation outcomes. This webinar will incorporate information on sleep science, what research tells us about relationships between sleep and health, the five principles for good sleep health, and a range of strategies that can support us to sleep well.

Dee Muller is a Senior Research Officer at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at Massey University Wellington. She started out many years ago as an occupational therapist, working mainly in adult mental health. Through a number of twists of fate she went on to study public health and took up an unexpected opportunity to develop a career in sleep research.

ZOOM LINK HERE

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Thurs

15 May

12.00pm

Janine Appleby and Tori Bensemann

Improving Equity for Māori in Dementia Mate wareware diagnosis. The MANA Māori Assessment of Neurological Abilities: An introduction.

Janine and Tori will discuss the Māori Assessment of Neuropsychological Ability (MANA) was developed in research led by Māori for Māori. A diagnostic tool embedded in values aligned with Te Ao and Tikanga Māori used in the assessment of symptoms and signs associated with cognitive impairment to assist in the diagnosis of mate wareware (dementia). The MANA tool empowers occupational therapists to provide culturally sensitive, accurate and timely assessment for Māori Whanau affected by dementia and delivering commitment to equitable care.

Janine is an experienced Occupational Therapist and Specialist in Dementia care of 30 years. Her current role is Senior Clinical Lead for the Waikato and Lakes regions. Janine’s interests are delivering a diverse range of services available to people living with a diagnosis of Dementia and their extended families, that enables and empowers people to capitalise on their strengths and capacity to live well through their unique Dementia journey.

Ko Tainui tōku waka, Ko Maungaroa tōku maunga, Ko Marokopa tōku awa, Ko Ngāti Maniapoto tōku iwi, Ko Ngāti Kinohaku, ko Ngāti Peehi, ko Ngāti te Kanawa raua ko Ngāti Huiao ōku hapū, Ko Mirumiru tōku marae, Kei te Whanganui ahau e noho ana, Ko Tori Bensemann tōku ingoa, Ko Adaline raua ko Briana ōku tamahine.

Tori is a Māori Occupational Therapist working in the Whanganui Region. Tori completed her Masters in Psychology with Auckland University in 2022, specialising in Mate wareware/Dementia and Occupational Identity. Tori has a keen passion and interest in people’s warewaretanga (dementia journey) and is currently working for the Whanganui Regional Health Network, offering services to people living with a diagnosis of dementia and their whānau.

ZOOM LINK HERE

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Tues

29 April

10.00am

Dan Johnson

The role of occupational therapy in the identification and recovery from Moral Injuries & Moral Distress

Dan will explore the role of Occupational Therapy in the identification of, and support for, people from all walks of life experiencing moral injury & distress. Applicable for all levels of experience and regardless of your area of practice. Your presence will enrich the discussion and exploration of this emerging area of understanding the human condition and the potential cause of significant occupational deprivation that can occur.

Dan is a UK-trained Occupational Therapist who has spent the past 8 years working with New Zealand Veterans and defence force personnel as a Rehabilitation Advisor. Dan is also the OTNZ-WNA Tangata Tiriti WFOT Delegate, and has presented on the topic of Moral Injury across the globe.

Recording here

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Tues

29 April

12.00pm

Angela Mariani, Everbility

An introduction to AI as a documentation assistant, designed specifically for Occupational Therapists.

Angela is an Occupational Therapist based in Australia. She is the co-founder of Everbility. Angela will introduce you to an AI report writing toolkit that will synthesise and summarise your client notes, write reports, soap notes, etc using templates.

Recording here

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Weds

30 April

10.00am

Nicola Merrilees

Upper limb and hand therapy after neurological injury

Nicola is the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist at Rope Neuro Rehabilitation in Auckland. Since graduating in 1998, Nicola has worked primarily in neurological rehabilitation culminating in the establishment of a specialised hand and upper limb rehabilitation service at Rope Neuro Rehabilitation. Nicola has completed comprehensive post graduate training in rehabilitation of the neurological upper limb, motor control, neuroscience, the musculoskeletal hand, and rehabilitation modalities. She is passionate about building the Occupational Therapy skill set in this field and improving outcomes for people seeking better function of their arms and hands.

Recording here

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Weds

30 April

12.00pm

Lucy Charles and Arul Hamill

What matters to Tamariki. Using the F-Words Life Wheel in Aotearoa and Pacific Islands

Join Lucy and Arul for a practical and inspiring session sharing reflections on the cultural relevance and recent developments in the use of the Favourite F-Words Life Wheel and coaching approaches in Aotearoa NZ, that enable tamariki and whānau to voice “what matters to them – not what is the matter.”

Lucy Charles and Arul Hamill are Tangata Tiriti Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau/Occupational Therapists with 30 years' experience, in developmental paediatrics and neurodiversity. They co-founded Paediatric Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Aotearoa NZ, and received the 2024 OTNZ-WNA Achievement Award. International presenters, clinicians and researchers and they co-developed the F-words Life Wheelcoaching approach with CanChild Canada.

Recording here

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Thurs

1 May

10.00am

Sonya McCullough

Trauma Informed Yoga

Sonya has been delivering Trauma informed yoga groups for ACC sensitive claims clients for the past 2 years. This presentation will provide OTs information around Trauma, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and Sonya will then speak about trauma informed yoga, how it is different to traditional yoga and the benefits. There may also be opportunity to experience a 10 min session of chair yoga. Sonya welcomes questions related to her presentation at the email below.

Recording here

Day

Date

Time

Presenter

Topic

Friday

2 May

10.00am

Dr Karen Jacobs, OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTO

Understanding AI in Occupational Therapy: Opportunities and Realities for New Zealand

Join Dr Karen Jacobs for an introduction to the use of AI for enhanced assessment tools, predictive analytics, therapeutic interventions, AI research methodologies, the responsible and ethical use of AI. 

Dr Karen Jacobs is the Associate Dean of Digital Learning and Innovation, the Program Director for the post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy, and a Clinical Professor of occupational therapy at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Dr Jacobs is a recognised leader in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within occupational therapy. Her work in AI has led to innovative research that explores the intersection of machine learning, data analytics, and rehabilitation practices

Recording here