Occupational Therapy Study Tour in Tasmania
About the tour
Learn about occupational therapy in Tasmania with immediate past president of the WFOT, Marilyn Pattison, with plenty of opportunity to enjoy Tasmania’s natural beauty, botanical wonders, lovely towns, rich history and superb local food and wine.
The tour starts in Launceston and travels to Strahan and Hobart over the course of a week. Browse some of the best markets in Australia, wander in beautiful botanical gardens, take a stunning lunch cruise on the Gordon River, take a chair lift across Cataract Gorge and visit world-famous MONA.
With a character all its own, Tasmania is the place to slow down and unwind, as well as treat your taste buds with fresh local apple cider, gin, whisky, cheese, berries and wine, and exquisite seafood straight from the ocean. This tour is fully organised so you can relax and enjoy the journey; partners are also very welcome.
This tour is eligible for CPD. Partners are very welcome.
Download our brochure Occupational Therapy Study Tour in Tasmania Book now
Your tour leader
Marilyn Pattison
Marilyn Pattison is the founder and General Manager of MPOT/Access Fitness, a leading provider of adult community rehabilitation services in South Australia, the General Manager of Talking Matters, a leading provider of paediatric services in South Australia and the immediate past president of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Marilyn has been involved in a wide variety of practice settings and has been involved with the state and national Australian Occupational Therapy associations and worldwide with WFOT, including liaising with the World Health Organisation. Marilyn is recognised as an international expert in Workplace Health, Rehabilitation and Entrepreneurship and is regularly invited as a guest speaker internationally.
Marilyn has been recognised by the occupational therapy profession in Australia and internationally. She has been awarded the OT Australia National Award for her contribution to her professional association as well as the Sylvia Docker Lectureship for her contribution to the profession. Internationally Marilyn has been made an Honorary Member of the Swedish Occupational Therapy Association and the Moroccan Association of Occupational Therapy and an Honorary Fellow of WFOT, the highest international honour an occupational therapist can receive.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Launceston (Sun, 20 Feb) Arrive Launceston and check into the Grand Chancellor Hotel. Walk to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
- Day 2: Launceston (Mon, 21 Feb) Walk along lovely Cataract Gorge and take the chair lift across the Gorge. Visit St Giles Paediatric Centre and learn of their history and of their leading early childhood behaviour intervention programs, autism services and paediatric allied health services. Visit the Lavender House, a perfumery which grows a small field of the true perfumery lavender and produces lavender skin care, home products and herbal balms on site. Learn of the health benefits of lavender on a tour. In the evening enjoy a reception drinks and dinner with local occupational therapists.
- Day 3: Launceston / Strahan (Tues, 22 Feb) Drive via gourmet food tour as part of the Tarkine Cradle to Coast with tastings including produce from Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and House of Anvers Chocolate. Meet with Victoria Conway, Director of NorthWest Therapy Services. Learn of the provision of occupational therapy services on the remote west coast of Tasmania and on the setting up Tasmania's very first occupational therapy training school. Visit Windows on Westella, the home of Tasmania’s famous pickled onions, and enjoy a platter lunch. Continue through the unique landscapes to Strahan on the wild west coast and check into Strahan Village. Optional dinner at View 42.
- Day 4: Strahan (Wed, 23 Feb) Cruise through Macquarie Harbour on the upper deck of Harbour Master II to Hell’s Gates and continue to Sarah Island. Disembark and take a guided tour. Following lunch on board continue up the Gordon River with a stop to walk through the rainforest and another to visit a Huon Pine sawmill. Arrive back in Strahan mid-afternoon and at leisure. Option to see the play “The Ship that Never Was” about the true story of convicts stealing a ship from Sarah Island. Optional Dinner at Bushman’s Thai.
- Day 5: Strahan / Hobart (Thurs, 24 Feb) Drive via Queenstown. Continue through the unique landscapes to Lake St Clair in Cradle Mountain National Park. At Derwent Bridge, see the Wall of Wilderness carved in rare Huon Pine. Continue to Hobart and check into the Quest Apartments near the Hobart waterfront. Walk to dinner on the waterfront.
- Day 6: Hobart (Fri 25, Feb) Meet with Marita O'Connell, an occupational therapist and assistant director for the Department of Justice. Learn about forensic mental health practice and witness intermediary practice with a focus on communication needs in a legal environment. Visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens for lunch. Following lunch take part in a guided tour of the gardens. Return to the hotel by on an orientation tour of the city past Battery Point with some of the city’s most exclusive houses. Walk to dinner on the waterfront at the Drunken Admiral.
- Day 7: Hobart (Sat, 26 Feb) Visit Salamanca Market and browse the market stalls of Australia’s best market. In the late morning travel by boat to visit MONA - the impressive Museum of Old and New Art, Australia’s largest private museum, located on the banks of the Derwent. The museum has three levels of underground galleries built by David Walsh to house his collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art. Alongside the collection are bars and restaurants, chill out areas, gardens and live music. Dinner at Syra in Salamanca Place.
- Day 8: Hobart (Sun, 27 Feb) Depart Hobart after breakfast.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour is $2,980 per person sharing