The following is taken from the WCPT Quadrennial Report for the period 2003-2007

Some of WCPT’s most important work over the past four years has been ongoing – the groundwork has been laid, and it is yet to come to fruition. Here are five areas of particular significance.

NEW STANDARDS
As part of its programme of worldwide standard-setting, WCPT wants to establish a network of experts and a toolkit of resources to support organisations looking to establish new physical therapy educational programmes and set the profession on a stronger footing in their country.  The first step to achieving this is to set down definitive statements on what should be included in the curriculum of physical therapy entry-level education programmes around the world, and standards of physical therapy practice.  These have been drafted, for acceptance at the 2007 General Meeting.

Once these standards have been agreed, WCPT expects to be able to establish a means by which courses, and services, around the world can be reviewed and accredited.   WCPT aims to have a resource list of experts on specific subjects in physical therapy that education programmes can draw on to help put these standards into practice.

NEW NETWORKS
WCPT is an organisation of Member Organisations, and it is always important to try and meet their information needs.  There are new areas of its website where Member Organisations can easily access essential documents.  But WCPT has also established that it has a key role to play in establishing and maintaining global networks of physical therapists, not only establishing resources for Member Organisations but for their members.  For example, a new web-based forum provides the opportunity for physical therapists to exchange ideas and develop networks. It was set up on the WCPT website in response to suggestions from Member Organisations and physical therapists worldwide, and there are specific tracks on areas such as evidence based practice, community based rehabilitation and ICF.

But WCPT intends to broaden the idea further, providing an opportunity for those networks to meet during Congress, and encouraging them to organise events and publish written material.

SHARING EXPERTISE
WCPT has access to some of the top names in physical therapy research and practice issues around the world, and it has made the most of these by publishing important statements and resources in areas of international significance for the profession.  In the important areas of community based rehabilitation, evidence based practice and ICF, for example, it has published agenda-setting discussion papers and started online forums.

COLLECTING DATA
WCPT has embarked on a major project to collect information, through its Member Organisations, about the state of physiotherapy in as many countries as possible – building into a unique global picture of the number of physical therapists, how they are educated, and where they work.  Member Organisations and WCPT Regions will collect and input this information through the WCPT website, and then be able to access it for research, campaigning, and encouraging high standards of physical therapy education and practice throughout the world.

WORKFORCE PLANNING
WCPT is supporting work investigating how pressing workforce and migration issues can be addressed.  The World Health Organization is concerned that major initiatives to tackle the causes of global ill health are being compromised in many countries by major shortages of workers.  WCPT supported a conference investigating the steps that can be taken to address this problem, and will collaborate with other international professional bodies to investigate the poor working conditions experienced by the profession in many countries, and the influence this may have on workforce levels.