Rehabilitation workforce development is a global priority to meet diverse demands for rehabilitation services. Around 100 million people globally need prosthetic or orthotic devices, yet 80-90% lack access to these services due to shortages of trained personnel, service facilities, and health rehabilitation infrastructure. Access is particularly limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where individuals are often younger and face greater physical demands.
The International Rehabilitation Education and Training Toolkit (IRETT) offers practical tools designed to assist stakeholders in executing key workforce development activities. These tools focus on enhancing entry-level education, continuing professional development, and professional regulation and are adaptable to all rehabilitation professions emphasizing the use of shared resources and efforts to strengthen the rehabilitation workforce. Implementation activities in Pakistan, Uganda and Ukraine demonstrate how the IRETT bolsters PO services through innovative approaches combining shared content development, local context adaptation, and contemporary learning technologies. Each tool emphasizes a quality improvement framework—plan, do, assess, and adjust—empowering local leaders to drive meaningful change.
The success of these initiatives relies on effective interprofessional collaboration, with POs playing a crucial role within rehabilitation teams. By providing a cohesive structure, the IRETT promotes alignment among stakeholders, facilitating coordinated efforts to integrate rehabilitation services into healthcare systems. In this presentation, we will introduce the IRETT tools and demonstrate their practical implementation through international case studies, exploring how POs can adapt these resources within their specific contexts.
Statement of the objective / learning objectivesParticipants will gain practical insights into tools developed for supporting sustainable rehabilitation workforce development fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and culturally sensitive approaches to address the evolving needs of diverse populations.
