The orientation and mobility (O&M) profession is well established in Australia and New Zealand. This paper gives a situational analysis of O&M in these countries, including a brief history, an overview of professional training and current activity, and data gained from two censuses of the profession undertaken in 2002 and 2011. Social observation comes from the perspective of Melbournebased authors who maintain contact with O&M personnel and agency managers across the region via e-mail, teleconferences, gatherings of the professional body, and local and international conferences.

In 2013, members of the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia ratifi ed a Quality Framework for the O&M profession, including an OMAA Code of Ethics and OMAA Standards of Practice. The OMAA Quality Framework took a six member committee four years to develop and involved extensive collaboration across Australia and New Zealand. During the process, the Committee discussed such themes as best practice, exemplary performance, minimum standards, independence, and selfdetermination. A community model of O&M practice was devised, demonstrating the way that power is shared in relationships between the client, the O&M specialist and other stakeholders. The OMAA Quality Framework represents exemplary O&M practice in the Australasian region and is available on the OMAA website (http:// www.omaaustralasia.com/qualityframework).

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