Introduction: Many regions globally face challenges in meeting rehabilitation workforce demands tailored to local population needs, service demands, and healthcare models. Enhancing the rehabilitation workforce is imperative worldwide, aligning with efforts from the World Health Organization. The International Rehabilitation Education and Training Toolkit (IRETT) provides tools to guide stakeholders through key implementation activities focused on entry-level education, continuing professional development, and professional regulation.
Objectives: This project aimed to develop tools to assist stakeholders in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with essential activities for rehabilitation workforce development.
Approach: We present a model that offers reflective guidance on workforce development in three key areas: academic programs, continuing professional development, and regulation. These areas were identified through a global needs assessment, including surveys, interviews, and workshops across 88 countries and five rehabilitation professions. Each area has a dedicated tool to accommodate varying stakeholder priorities. For sustainable, integrated strategies, the tools align with one another and the broader workforce development vision.
Practice implications: The IRETT tools allow for the alignment of workforce development activities and communication across stakeholders.
Significance to the occupational therapy profession: As occupational therapy expands in LMICs, the IRETT tools guide stakeholders in developing culturally relevant, context-specific strategies to enhance workforce capacity and support the profession’s growth.