The 2011 WCPT awards programme is to be launched during September.  A press release will be issued along with an invitation from the awards committee to all WCPT member organisations, requesting nominations for the various award categories including:

• Mildred Elson award
• International service awards
• Humanitarian service award
• Leadership in rehabilitation award

The WCPT 2011 awards programme information pack will include details of the award categories, nomination criteria and the nomination procedure.

WCPT is committed to expanding continuing professional development (CPD) opportunties for PTs whatever their global location or working environment. To this end WCPT supports a range of programmes and formats.  

CD based courses: The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and RehabEssentials have partnered to offer affordable, practical, and career-enhancing continuing education courses on a wide range of topics via CDs. For information and a complete listing see http://www.wcpt.org/node/31156.

Online courses: WCPT has partnered with the online education company Educata to provide global web-based continuing education for physical therapists.  Educata adds new courses regularly with the latest additons including Physical therapy of specific oncology related issues and Foundations of oncology for physical therapy.   See http://www.wcpt.org/node/29540.

WCPT courses: Several well-known course leaders have volunteered their time to offer WCPT member organisations and regions a range of CPD courses. A WCPT workshop on ICF hosted by the Korean Physical Therapy Association will take place 17-18 October. See http://www.wcpt.org/node/27531#wcpt.

The eighth issue of the WHO newsletter dedicated to disability and rehabilitation has recently been published.  It is available through the DAR website at http://www.who.int/disabilities/en/.

The WCPT website has an exciting new facility whereby you may now post your comments on selected areas of the site.  You can have your say on all articles in WCPT News and let us know your thoughts on any of the issues addressed. You may also post your comments on the World Physical Therapy Day section of the site to let everyone know of local activities that are taking place and to say how useful you found this year's toolkit.

A special issue of Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, edited by Elizabeth Dean, discusses areas where physical therapists can make an impact on patients' lifestyles and promote health and wellness. The content of the special issue Physical Therapy Practice in the 21st Century: A New Evidence-informed Paradigm and Implications may influence the way in which physiotherapy develops over the coming years.

New information is available on the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). WCPT has developed an ICF update with reference resources and a report on ICF activities from around the world. It is available as a PDF download from the WCPT website at http://www.wcpt.org/icf.

WCPT's first recognised subgroup, The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT), has recently voted on a name change.  From 1st October 2009 its official name shall be The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). 

The group's executive committee felt that the name should better express the common bond that all subgroups of WCPT share, that no matter what the area of special interest, its roots lie in physical therapy.

To find out more about the work of IFOMPT please visit the WCPT website at http://www.wcpt.org/ifomt.

International policy summit: registration is now open for the International summit on direct access and advanced scope of practice in physical therapy taking place in Washington, DC from 22-24 October 2009. The objective of the summit is to share international experiences in developing and implementing policy in these areas. For further details please go to http://www.directaccesssummit.com.

Regulation conference: mark your calendar for the second World health professions conference on regulation (WHPCR) organised by WCPT and the World Health Professions' Alliance on 18-19 February 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland. To submit an abstract or register for the event, please visit www.whpa.org/whpcr2010.

A reminder to all WCPT member organisations that the deadline for the recently issued call for comments on the briefing paper, Legislation/regulation of the physical therapy profession is 30th September.