Occupational therapy is one of the trending careers in the allied health industry in Australia. It is a very rewarding career with high job satisfactions and great pay rates. Not only that there are so many others amazing benefits in following a career in occupation therapy in Australia.

A career in occupational therapy is ideal if you want to directly deal with patients but do not want to follow stress work shifts. This career is more of something which brings out compassion and empathy from within an individual.

Let us look into how a career in occupational therapy in Australia can be rewarding to you.

What is Occupational Therapy?

The role of an occupational therapist revolves around assisting injured and disabled individuals and patients suffering from mobility issues due to several reasons. Although the name of the profession includes the word ‘occupation’, it doesn’t necessarily mean assisting individuals at the workplace.

An occupational therapist assists individuals in their daily activities, especially those affected by mobility issues. They have to learn how to deal with the physical and mental aspects of patients.

Responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist in Australia

Occupational therapy is a very vast profession and the duties attached to it can expand towards many areas of healthcare. Following are the typical responsibilities of an occupational therapist in Australia.

·        Evaluate patient’s conditions and medical history to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

·        Determine patient goals, strengths and limitations by conversing with them.

·        Assist disabled patients and individuals affected by mobility issues, to return to work and function in an effective manner.

·        Evaluate work environment to identify area to improve for disabled or injured employees to work with ease and comfort.

·        Examine high-risk job work areas to identify how to improve the safety of workers.

·        Plan and organize healthcare workshops related to occupational therapy.

·        Conduct pre-employment and various healthcare assessments to identify and individual’s physical and mental fitness levels to undertake tasks.

·        Guide client through cognitive exercises.

·        Advice patients, their families, and caregivers about at-home wound care and prevention.

·        Coordinate patient discharge procedures from healthcare facilities.

Skills required to become an Occupational Therapist in Australia

A career in occupational therapy may not be for everyone. The job role requires a lot of soft skill from your part, and you need to be able to handle patients not only from a physical aspect but also from a mental perspective.

Below are some of the skills you need to become an occupational therapist in Australia.

·        Communication skills

·        Interpersonal skills

·        Problem-solving skills

·        Self-management skills

·        Ability to show compassion and empathy

·        Psychology and counselling

·        Patience

·        A flexible attitude

·        Ability to work both independently and as a team

·        Practical and observatory skills

·        Innovativeness

·        Confidentiality

·        Integrity

·        Honesty

Why work as an Occupational Therapist in Australia

Occupational therapy is a highly rewarding career with so many benefits, both monetary and non-monetary. It is a career with one of the highest job satisfaction levels in the healthcare industry. Here are some of the reasons why you need to consider working as an occupational therapist in Australia.

·        It is a career with high job satisfaction levels.

·        It is a high-paying career.

·        You get the opportunity to be a part of a person’s journey to recovery.

·        It is a career with great flexibility.

·        You get to meet different people.

·        It is an active job that keeps you on the move.

·        It provides career development opportunities.

How to become an Occupational Therapist in Australia

You need to be qualified to take up a career in occupational therapy in Australia. Here are the qualifications, training and experience you need to practice as an occupational therapist.

A bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. This type of undergraduate degree usually lasts four years in Australia.

Once you earn a bachelor’s degree you need to move onto a master’s degree in occupational therapy. It takes about 2 to 2.5 years to complete a master’s degree in Australia.

Obtain work experience related to occupational therapy. You can work at a summer camp dealing with individuals with disabilities. Another option is to work as a babysitter for a differently abled child.

Finally, you need to register with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and met the board’s registration standards, to practice as an occupational therapist in Australia.

Occupational Therapist Specialities in Australia

There are many distinct roles and specialities in occupational therapy in Australia. Here are some of the common occupational therapy specialities.

Committed Occupational Therapist

This type of occupational therapist, also known as a dedicated occupational therapist, is specialized in a specific area in occupational therapy. Therefore, he has a better grasp of the subject area and can give comprehensive interventions to patients.

Corporate Occupational Therapist

Corporate offices generally hire a Corporate Occupational Therapist who examines workplaces risks and demonstrates and advice employees on workplace safety procedures.

Policy Development and Research

These types of occupational therapists are generally hired by government and educational institutions to draft policies and conduct research on occupational therapy.

·        Other specialities in occupational therapy are:

·        Paediatric Occupational Therapy

·        Mental Occupational Therapy

·        Driver Trained Occupational Therapy

·        Hand Therapy

Job opportunities and employment settings

Qualified occupational therapists in Australia have extremely high demand and many job opportunities across all states and suburbs. Many of the occupational therapy posts are part-time, but with high salaries.

Occupational therapists can work in a diverse range of workplace settings including the following:

·        Public and private hospitals

·        Private clinics

·        Community health centres

·        Educational institutions

·        Aged care facilities

·        Government institutes

·        Correctional institutions

·        Universities

·        Research and evaluation facilities

·        Industrial settings

·        Corporate offices

·        Supported employment

·        Individuals living centres and people’s homes

·        Mental healthcare facilities

·        Non-government institutions

·        Acute and community rehabilitation centres

·        Palliative care

·        Hand therapy services

Pay rates for Occupational Therapists in Australia

Occupational therapists have exceedingly high salaries apart from a highly satisfying career. Here are some of the average salaries of occupational therapists of varying levels.

·        An entry-level registered occupational therapist with less than one year of experience: $62,940

·        A registered occupational therapist with one to four years of experience: $66,256

·        A mid-level registered occupational therapist with five to nine years of experience: $74,083

·        A senior registered occupational therapist with ten to nineteen years of experience: $85,065

Industry Insights

Occupational therapy is a professional with a growing demand in Australia. The sturdy growth is evident in the fact that there was a total of 16,300 occupational therapists employed in the country. By 2024, this number is expected to grow up to 20,000.

The demand for occupational therapists in Australia is not only limited to regional areas but expand towards all states and suburbs.

Conclusion

At Medfuture, we have a list of the highest-paid occupational therapy jobs across all states and suburbs in Australia. Our job roles are spread across diversified working environments to provide the best working experience to candidates.

Visit our job board for the current list of occupational therapy vacancies

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