COTEC Vice President Yara Peterko, together with COTEC President Anu Söderström, recently attended the 2025 Annual Congress of Ergotherapie Austria in Salzburg. The event, titled “Occupational Therapy in Digital Times – Together Towards a Successful Transition,” explored how Occupational Therapy can effectively embrace digital transformation. The congress featured high-level presentations, engaging workshops, and insightful discussions on digital tools, eHealth strategies, and the role of AI in therapy. In addition to supporting and connecting with the Austrian association, Anu Söderström and Yara Peterko also took the opportunity for a one-on-one meeting to exchange ideas and align on COTEC’s ongoing priorities.

A day prior to the congress, Yara Peterko also represented COTEC at a national press conference alongside political and professional stakeholders (foto below). The message was clear: Austria’s Occupational Therapy profession is ready for digitalisation, but still faces barriers due to a lack of systematic inclusion in national health digitalisation strategies. Yara emphasised the need for clearer guidance, better funding for digital systems in ambulatory care, and the inclusion of all health professions—not just doctors and nurses—in digital policy development.

COTEC commends the initiative of Ergotherapie Austria to advocate for the profession’s integration into Austria’s digital health agenda. Occupational Therapists across Europe have a vital role to play in shaping person-centred, accessible digital health systems—and events like these help make that role visible.