A renewed push is underway to revive New Zealand’s chapter of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) – with Clinical Orthotist and advocate Sean Tickner leading the charge.
Founded in 1970 and active in more than 100 countries, ISPO is a global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, assistive technology and rehabilitation. The organisation brings together clinicians, engineers, therapists, researchers and users to improve patient care worldwide.
Connecting with international best practice
Sean says ISPO offers New Zealand professionals a valuable connection to international best practice, innovation and collaboration.
“Being part of ISPO is our best conduit into the global orthotic and prosthetic community,” he said. “And not only for orthotists and prosthetists – there’s a whole multidisciplinary team behind every patient journey, including physiotherapists, engineers, therapists, researchers and users.”
Joining ISPO is voluntary for Peke Waihanga staff and self-funded, with New Zealand fees kept low and unchanged for many years.
Clinical Orthotist, Sean Tickner
Benefits include:
- More than 100 online courses, webinars and case studies
- International best-practice resources and guidelines
- The Prosthetics and Orthotics International journal
- Opportunities to publish and present internationally
- Networking with global experts and multidisciplinary teams
- Discounts for ISPO congresses and courses.
“The last congress I attended was in Mexico, and it gave me insight into what’s happening internationally,” Sean said. “It also helped me realise what a great job we’re doing in New Zealand.
“In Mexico they were talking about how difficult it is to print a 3D prosthetic. We’re quite advanced in what we’re doing here, and we should celebrate that more.”
The next ISPO World Congress will be held in Bangkok from 22–25 March 2027 – the first time in around 15 years the congress has been held on this side of the world.
To join ISPO as a member:
- Join through ISPO International
- Select “Join as a Full Member” and choose New Zealand as your country
Rebuilding the New Zealand chapter leadership
The push to re-establish the New Zealand chapter gained momentum after Sean presented at the NZOPA conference. The previous chapter chair revealed the group still had funds available – but no active committee to manage them.
“There was a strong burst of activity initially,” Sean said. “But over time people moved on, momentum was lost, and the chapter became inactive.” “Both NZOPA and ISPO are valuable membership organisations. They are not in competition. NZOPA gives us a strong voice and connection across Australia and New Zealand, while ISPO connects us to the wider global community,” Sean said. “Together, these platforms offer both regional advocacy and access to international best practice.”
Sean is encouraging Peke Waihanga staff and other professionals working in the sector to join the New Zealand committee and help strengthen the country’s international presence. This includes clinicians, therapists, engineers, researchers and support professionals. Anyone working with patients who use orthotic or prosthetic devices is welcome.
For any further information, feel free to get in touch with Sean Tickner: sean.tickner@nzals.co.nz.