Prosthetics and Orthotics Technicians Association Inc

POTA

Prosthetics and Orthotics
Technicians Association Inc

POTA is a registered not-for-profit association (IA60156).

Membership

  • The key members of POTA are practicing graduates with qualifications based on Plastic Fabrication and Polymer Technology, and applied practical orthotics and prosthetics experience.
  • Non-voting members of POTA can be delegates of related industry corporations, practicing clinicians of related health professional work, and apprenticeship students.

Objects of POTA

To promote the formal recognition of qualified Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) Technicians, and to maintain their compliance with TGA regulations with professional skills development.

P&O Technician qualification proposal for Queensland Apprenticeships

The PARTEC Institute and POTA are proposing a P&O Technician qualification for Queensland Apprenticeships:

  • Gary Bateman, founder of Brisbane-based GB Orthopaedics and a Diploma Graduate in the profession, employed Plastic Fabricator Apprentices who graduated from PARTEC Institute with 3 year’s industry experience and a Certificate III in Polymer Processing. This apprenticeship was arranged to promote an application of plastics fabrication for orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing and servicing.
  • A new Industry Association, Prosthetics and Orthotics Technicians Association (POTA) was formed to oversee the training for this occupation.
  • Nowadays the PMB30121 (Certificate III in polymer processing) and the PMB40121 (Certificate IV in polymer technology) are recognised as being the qualifications for the ANZSCO 399916 Plastic Technician. So with P&O additional skill applications the ANZSCO 399916 Plastic Technician Skill Level 3 is effectively covering the Skill Level 3 for the P&O Technician, and the PARTEC Institute is delivering this as an apprenticeship.
  • The PMB40121 (Certificate IV in polymer technology), is also recognised by the Queensland government as an Apprenticeship, and PARTEC graduates specialising in P&O with 4 years in the industry can be awarded “Prosthetics and Orthotics Technician – Advanced Trade Qualified” on graduation, having had 4 years with a Skill Level 1 or 2 mentor or employer, and 4 years and 1200 hours of training by PARTEC Institute P&O Apprenticeship.
  • It is feasible that this should be commensurate with ANZSCO Skill Level 2 and formal Diploma Qualification.