The Osteopath
We published the final issue of The Osteopath magazine in February 2021. Search the archive of back issues for information and practical guidance on the CPD scheme; the Osteopathic Practice Standards; research; fitness to practise and hear from osteopaths and patients about their experiences and views.
Click on the cover image to read the magazine
Spring 2021
Volume 23 Issue 6
In the final issue of The Osteopath magazine, we outline how the GOsC plans to embrace more ways to listen and engage with osteopaths and other stakeholders. Plus:
- How to capture patient views about COVID-19 for CPD
- Regulation: how can we make it better?
- Professional Conduct Committee Chair explains its role in ensuring fairness and justice
Previous issues
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Winter 2020 Volumne 23 Issue 5 How has COVID-19 affected your CPD?
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Autumn 2020 Volume 23 Issue 4 In this issue, we continue to highlight our COVID-19 related guidance.
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Summer 2020 Volume 23 Issue 3 The latest summer issue of The Osteopath magazine includes a focus on COVID-19.
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March/April 2020 Volume 23 Issue 2 Keeping CPD records A comprehensive guide to keeping track of your CPD activities. Features include:
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January/February 2020 (Volume 23 Issue 1) Understanding the patient perspective
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November/December 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 6) Communication and consent In this issue, we focus on communication and consent in practice:
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September/October 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 5) The Osteopathic Practice Standards: guiding good practice In a special issue to mark the updated Osteopathic Practice Standards (OPS) coming into effect, read perspectives on why the Standards are important in everyday practice. Other features include:
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July/August 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 4) Working and learning with osteopaths and other health professionals Find out how communicating and learning with osteopaths and other health professionals can enhance practice and lead to more joined-up, high-quality patient care. Features include:
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May/June 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 3) How patient feedback can inform your practice Learn more about the different ways to gather patient feedback and read a case study by an osteopath who shares insights on how using and analysing patient feedback can enable improvement of service and growth of practice. Other features include:
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March/April 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 2) Your CPD scheme, your views: take part in the annual CPD Survey How taking part in this year’s CPD Evaluation Survey will help osteopaths to plan and reflect on their CPD, while providing valuable feedback to enable the GOsC to continue developing tools and resources. Other features include:
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January/February 2019 (Volume 22 Issue 1) Concerns fall to a five-year low but communication and consent still main issues Read the results and learning points form the most recent sector-wide report on concerns raised against osteopaths. Other features include:
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November/December 2018 (Volume 21 Issue 6) Guiding your practice: focus on updated Osteopathic Practice Standards This issue focuses on the updated Osteopathic Practice Standards that come into force in September 2019. Other features include:
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September/October 2018 (Volume 21 Issue 5) All you need to know: your essential guide to the new CPD scheme Read an overview of the new scheme in the specially redesigned launch issue of The Osteopath, including:
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June/July/August 2018 (Volume 21 Issue 4) Sharing learning and experience Osteopaths share learning and experience while carrying out case-based discussions. Also in this issue:
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April/May 2018 (Volume 21 Issue 3) New CPD survey: what you told us and a guide to free CPD resources Also in this edition:
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February/March 2018 (Volume 21 Issue 1) Prepare for the new CPD scheme by finding out how to use clinical audit in practice Also in this edition:
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December 2017/January 2018 (Volume 20 Issue 6) Get ready for the new CPD scheme by trying out peer observation as an objective activity Also in this edition:
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October/November 2017 (Volume 20 Issue 5) 'No set scripts and no set patients': exploring why effective communication with patients about risks is a clinical decision The GOsC's Policy Manager, Steven Bettles, explores effective communication. Also in this edition:
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August/September 2017 (Volume 20 Issue 4) Osteopathic Practice Standards: share your views on draft revised standards Read about the background to the consultation and an explanation of the main revisions, to help you share your views in the GOsC’s consultation on the revised Osteopathic Practice Standards. Also in this edition:
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June/July 2017 (Volume 20 Issue 3) Countdown to new CPD: exploring the benefits of case-based discussions Early adopters try out new methods and talk about the benefits of case-based discussions. Also in this edition:
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April/May 2017 (Volume 20 Issue 2) Ready for the new CPD scheme? Osteopaths share approaches to learning Getting ready for the new CPD scheme in 2018: more than 350 osteopaths feedback on their current CPD activities plus tips on how to plan ahead and overcome common challenges like time pressures. Other features in this edition include: Complaints: are some osteopaths at higher risk?; how to protect your patient data from cyber-criminals; supporting principals to mentor their associates; meet the new members joining the GOsC Council; how patients can self-manage long-term pain: latest research from NCOR. |
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February/March 2017 (Volume 20 Issue 1) The ABC of CPD: Helping you prepare for the new approach to CPD The lead article takes you through our new CPD website designed to answer your questions about the new CPD scheme and let you try out the new CPD resources. Other key features focus on equality law and your practice; maintaining boundaries on social media; the Osteopathic Leadership Programme; draft guidance for osteopaths on our fitness to practise process; research updates; osteopathy in the performing arts; and new NICE guidance on the management of low back pain. |
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December 2016/January 2017 (Volume 19 Issue 6) Baby talk: what can your advertising say about treating children and pregnant women? New guidance on advertising from the ASA is the subject of the lead article in this issue. Other key articles focus on recognising osteopaths’ areas of expertise and protecting your practice against phishing. We also look at the progress of early adopters of the new CPD scheme; the importance of keeping your practice details up-to-date; our work on protecting the title ‘osteopath’; GOsC resources in Welsh; and the research journals available to you free-of-charge. |
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October/November 2016 (Volume 19 Issue 5) Notes and queries: dealing with requests to access patient records In ‘In Practice’ we examine what to do if you want to share sensitive patient information with another health professional or you are asked for it by someone else. Elsewhere in this issue, we bring you updates on the new CPD scheme, Council and committee recruitment and osteopathy research. Other key articles include the potential for regulation to play a more supportive role; the treatment of headaches, what to do if you want to retire or leave the Register and selling a human skeleton. |
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August/September 2016 (Volume 19 Issue 4) Ready steady...Be among the first to adopt the new CPD scheme The benefits to osteopaths of joining our community of early adopters, clinical audit as a way of obtaining feedback on practice and the types of issues that prompted patient concerns and complaints in 2015 are key features in this issue. Other articles include data security; mentoring for new graduates and making practice websites work for you and your patients. Other topics in this issue include Brexit and osteopathy; assessor vacancies; patient-reported outcomes and osteopathy at the Olympics. |
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June/July 2016 (Volume 19 Issue 3) Building the evidence: let patients tell you what works for them An app that collects feedback directly from patients to demonstrate the outcomes of osteopathic care is the focus of our leading article. Other key articles include the rollout of the new CPD scheme, how to become one of the CPD ‘early adopters’, and how long patient records should be kept. Topics in this issue also include Council and committee vacancies; improving the patient experience; patient dignity and the standing examination; animal osteopathy and starting a new regional society.
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April/May 2016 (Volume 19 Issue 2) What would you change? Help make the standards work better for you Have you added your voice to our review of the Osteopathic Practice Standards yet? This issue gives an update on the review. Other key articles include the new CPD scheme and becoming an early adopter; an introduction to our new, slimmed-down Council; and a preview of our forthcoming guidance for witnesses at hearings.
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February/March 2016 (Volume 19 Issue 1) Local heroes: building osteopathic communities Half the UK’s osteopaths belong to local osteopathic groups, whose importance to the profession is our focus on this issue. Other articles cover our review of the Osteopathic Practice Standards, the use of patient data for e-marketing, peer observation, the National Osteopathic Archive, and how reflection benefits practice. |
2015 |
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December 2015/January 2016 (Volume 18 Issue 6) New directions for CPD Comments received during our 2015 consultation on the new CPD scheme, and an outline of next steps in implementing the scheme; patients’ views on candour and raising concerns about their treatment; GOsC support for final-year students; managing patient data; assessing capacity to consent; and soliciting patient feedback. |
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October/November 2015 (Volume 18 Issue 5) Learning from mistakes Common concerns raised by patients, and how best to gain patients’ informed consent and involve them in decision-making; key GOsC activities during 2014-15; complying with the duty of candour in practice; prioritising and planning your CPD; how to act on suspicions of child abuse; and osteopathy and the performing arts. |
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August/September 2015 (Volume 18 Issue 4) Getting to know you… More findings from our research into public perceptions of osteopathy - what do patients expect from their treatment, and what information should you provide for new patients? Plus: deciding your CPD priorities; recruitment for Council and fitness to practise roles; and the use of patient feedback. |
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June/July 2015 (Volume 18 Issue 3) Going public Research into public perceptions - how much confidence do people have in osteopaths, and what do prospective patients want to know? Plus: guidance on advertising standards; publicising osteopaths' specialist interests and expertise; the European Standard on Osteopathic Healthcare Provision; and the role of 'values-based practice' in shared decision-making. |
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April/May 2015 (Volume 18 Issue 2) Effective regulation Findings from research into how osteopathy can best be regulated; answers to common questions about the proposed new CPD scheme; how we investigate complaints, and details of complaints dealt with in 2014-15; guidance to prepare osteopathy students for practice; and results from our annual survey of new registrants. |
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February/March 2015 (Volume 18 Issue 1) CPD in the spotlight Launching our consultation on proposals for a new CPD scheme; helping osteopaths to develop leadership skills; how the GOsC seeks patients' views; the Francis report, two years on; new insurance rules; common issues in patient complaints; and funding research into osteopathy's effectiveness in treating children. |
2014 |
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December 14/January 15 (Volume 17 Issue 6) It’s good to talk How communication is at the heart of the GOsC's proposed new CPD scheme for osteopaths; incorporating values into osteopathic practice standards; update on the Osteopathic Development Group's work; the importance of regional groups; identifying children at risk of abuse, and sharing information about challenging situations. |
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October/November 2014 (Volume 17 Issue 5) Commitment to candour Details of the professional duty of candour introduced following the Francis Report into Mid-Staffordshire Hospital; 'pathfinder groups' help to shape the development of continuing fitness to practise; osteopaths’ advertising; Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs); the National Osteopathic Archive; and standing at work. |
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August/September 2014 (Volume 17 Issue 4) Research in focus A special issue, with information about funding for research into osteopathy, making a research proposal, 'research hubs' and how to get involved in research. Plus: seeking views on the effectiveness of regulation; continuing fitness to practise update; and the GOsC’s performance review by the Professional Standards Authority. |
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June/July 2014 (Volume 17 Issue 3) Changes to the law on regulation? Consultations on whistleblowing and enforcement of title; research into effective regulation; Government review of healthcare professional regulation; improving CPD; understanding fibromyalgia; withdrawal of certification mark; what counts as CPD; Osteopathy Development Group updates. |
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April/May 2014 (Volume 17 issue 2) Patient perceptions Feedback from patient and public focus groups; work of our fitness to practise committees; updates on the continuing fitness to practise scheme and research into effective regulation; research into advanced clinical practice; osteopathy at the Winter Olympics; interpreting research; preserving patient confidentiality. |
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February/March 2014 (Volume 17 Issue 1) Promoting your registration Helping osteopaths to show patients they are regulated healthcare professionals; communicating risks and benefits; lessons from the Francis Report; registration fee reduction; new research commissioned on the effectiveness of regulation; how to register in Australia; continuing fitness to practise. |
2013 |
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December 2013/January 2014 (Volume 16 Issue 6) Should osteopaths review peers? The role of osteopathic organisations and regional groups in the continuing fitness to practise process; new fitness to practise and consent guidance; fee reduction and insurance consultations; e-learning to support the Osteopathic Practice Standards; resources for new graduates and final-year students; projects to develop the profession; the law on giving injections; FORE meeting in Malta; pain medications; the enhanced IJOM research resources package. |
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October/November 2013 (Volume 16 Issue 5) Supporting the regions Strengthening the regional infrastructure of the osteopathic profession; future changes to professional indemnity insurance; recruitment to three GOsC committees; research into the effectiveness of regulation; changes to the CPD audit process; osteopathy in Portugal; consultation on a European osteopathic standard; early signs of bone cancer. |
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August/September 2013 (Volume 16 Issue 4) Review of the year Financial report for 2012-2013; how the GOsC proposes to support development projects; the evolution of revalidation; a reminder about advertising; osteopathic statistics; seminar on continuing fitness to practise; new GOsC data retention policy; developing NHS osteopathy in Wales; osteopathy in Canada. |
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June/July 2013 (Volume 16 Issue 3) The Francis Report: What can the profession learn? Implications for the osteopathic profession of the Francis Report on the failings at Mid Staffs Hospital; Patient Partnership Group; professionalism in practice; CPD audits and resources; article by Maurice Cheng, new CEO of the British Osteopathic Association; starting out in practice. |
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April/May 2013 (Volume 16 Issue 2) Reporting on fitness to practise Fitness to practise report 2012-13; interview with the Chair of Council; evaluating the revalidation scheme pilot; update on the development of the profession programme; news from the National Council for Osteopathic Research, a new app enabling osteopaths to read the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine on mobile devices. |
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February/March 13 (Volume 16 Issue 1) Save time, do it online How renewing registration and submitting CPD online saves time and money; reduced fees for 2013-2014; new Council members; new GOsC Corporate Plan; initial findings of the revalidation pilot; consultation on sanctions in fitness to practise cases; dealing with ethical issues. This issue also contained an insert, A development agenda for UK osteopathy: a joint statement from organisations including the GOsC about the future development of the osteopathic profession. |
2012 |
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December 2012/January 2013 (Volume 15 Issue 6) Acting on your feedback Feedback received through the osteopaths’ opinion survey and how we are responding; revalidation update; auditing CPD; non-practising status; local professional networks; what’s new with IJOM; Any Qualified Provider; using social media safely. |
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October/November 12 (Volume 14 Issue 5) Communicating risk Results of the Clinical Risk Osteopathy and Management (CROaM) study; explaining benefits and risks to patients; Olympics round-up; assessing revalidation; osteopathy worldwide; consent guidance consultation; the IJOM Plus research journals package; coloured flags in osteopathic practice; GOsC financial report for 2011-2012. |
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August/September 2012 (Volume 14 Issue 4) Putting OPS into action How to keep your practice standards up to date following the introduction of the new Osteopathic Practice Standards on 1 September; regional conference round-up; osteopaths’ opinion survey findings; new practice information leaflets; the GOsC’s performance review report. |
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June/July 2012 (Volume 14 Issue 3) Interactive learning o zone resources to support the introduction of the new Osteopathic Practice Standards; more about professionalism in the OPS; appointment of assessors for the revalidation pilot; public information leaflets; osteopathy at the Olympics; the Council of Osteopathic Educational Institutions; osteopathy in Europe. |
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April/May 2012 (Volume 14 Issue 2) Developing the profession GOsC discussion document UK osteopathy: Ten questions for the next ten years; Section D (Professionalism) of the Osteopathic Practice Standards; pitfalls for health professionals of social networking; 2012 GOSC regional conferences; fitness to practise report 2011/2012; preparing students for practice; conviction of a practitioner falsely claiming to be an osteopath; Law Commission review of healthcare regulation. |
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February/March 2012 (Volume 15 Issue 1) Safety and quality in practice Section C of the new Osteopathic Practice Standards, focusing on patient records; consultation on a GOsC fee reduction; 2012 regional conferences; revalidation round-up; announcing the GOsC Facebook page; introducing the new Chair of Council. |
2011 |
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December 2011/January 2012 (Volume 14 Issue 6) Knowledge, skills and performance Putting into practice the Osteopathic Practice Standards; revalidation update; IJOM Plus readership survey; CPD discussion document; new Chair of the GOsC; GOsC Patient and Public Partnership Group. |
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October/November 2011 (Volume 14 Issue 5) Communications and patient partnership |
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August/September 2011 (Volume 14 Issue 4) What do patients expect? Findings of the Osteopathic Patient Expectations Study; helping osteopaths prepare for the new Osteopathic Practice Standards; revalidation pilot; the GOsC’s CHRE performance review; House of Lords enquiry into healthcare professionals' mobility; June meeting of the Regional Communications Network. |
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June/July 2011 (Volume 14 Issue 3) New Osteopathic Practice Standards Reducing the cost of regulation; recruiting a new GOsC Chair; consultation on guidance about student fitness to practise; looking forward to the revalidation pilot; recent International Osteopathic Education conference. |
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April/May 2011 (Volume 14 Issue 2) Revalidation: testing the benefits Fitness to Practise report 2010; consultation on the GOsC Welsh Language Scheme; online renewal of registration; new Osteopathic Practice Standards update; joining the register under the new powers; developments in osteopathic regulation in Europe. |
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February/March 2011 (Volume 14 Issue 1) Help us test the revalidation scheme Plans to pilot our revalidation scheme; reviewing procedures for assuring the quality of osteopathic education qualifications; helping osteopaths comply with advertising law; revised Osteopathic Practice Standards and work around osteopathy students' fitness to practise; new online research resources; interview with Tim Walker. |
2010 |
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December 2010/January 2011 (Volume 13 Issue 6) New o zone: improving usability Helping osteopaths put new ‘Knowledge, skills and performance’ osteopathic practice standards into practice; draft revalidation scheme pilot; IJOM Plus package of research journals; our CPD Discussion Document; guidance on interim suspension orders; the new GOsC Chair; recruiting a Chair of NCOR; international osteopathy. |
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October/November 2010 Volume 13 Issue 5 Shaping osteopathic practice standards Consultation on revised osteopathic practice standards; review of GOsC activities in 2009-10 and summary of annual accounts; introduction to Tim Walker; update on the revalidation scheme; overview of current and forthcoming research; developments in osteopathic regulation in Europe. |
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August/September 2010 (Volume 13 Issue 4) Consulting on osteopathic standards Forthcoming consultation on our practice standards; update on the development of the revalidation scheme; quality assuring standards of training; research into osteopathic practice; our performance review; update on the Vetting and Barring Scheme. |
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June/July 2010 (Volume 13 Issue 3) Revalidation - developing the assessment criteria Assessment criteria for our draft revalidation scheme; recruiting a new Chief Executive and Registrar; developing reciprocal registration arrangements with Australia and New Zealand; student fitness to practise; Regional Communications Network; pan-European standards for osteopathy. |
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April/May 2010 (Volume 13 Issue 2) Revalidation: testing the scheme The latest news on revalidation; handling the early stages of fitness to practise complaints; new e-bulletins for osteopaths; forthcoming Regional Communications Network meeting; Forum for Osteopathic Regulation in Europe update; new ‘Statement of Fitness to Work’; the Government’s new vetting and barring scheme. |
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February/March 2010 (Volume 13 Issue 1) Conduct case review 2009 fitness to practise report; updates on developing a revalidation scheme revised osteopathic practice standards, and a scope of practice; the OPEn project; review of quality assurance processes for training courses; reciprocal arrangements with Australia and New Zealand; volunteering at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. |
