Occupational Therapy Jobs in Australia

Young Power

Hello all, I would really appreciate your help if you can help me out at all! I am a qualified occupational therapist and am from Ireland, and I am moving to Australia this coming December. I really want to work as an OT over there and am currently looking for employment opportunities and wondering the best way to go about this. I have my working holiday visa and have applied to COTRB, but wondering how do I go about specifically finding work?
Regards
Catherine

mandrake04

www.seek.com.au

Mykal23

Pick your state eg Queensland and go to that states health department website and check out the job section. No shortage of work for OTs.

Diddler82

Young Power wrote: »

Hello all, I would really appreciate your help if you can help me out at all! I am a qualified occupational therapist and am from Ireland, and I am moving to Australia this coming December. I really want to work as an OT over there and am currently looking for employment opportunities and wondering the best way to go about this. I have my working holiday visa and have applied to COTRB, but wondering how do I go about specifically finding work?
Regards
Catherine

My friend is leaving her job shortly in Sydney. She is an OT. PM me your details and I will see if she can get you sorted out with them

statina

theres loads of OT jobs in Australia. indeed.com.au is a good website

Zambia

Good first post nice to see one that gets all the important visa and experience points.

Katy C

Hi Catherine,

Have you post graduate experience in working in OT? I am interested in moving over in the coming months but I am trying to ensure that there will be an opportunity for employment when i arrive as a lot of people have said that you require at least a years clinical experience which unfortunately I have not.

katelyn x

Piriz

is anyone working as an occupational therapist in aus or nz? is it difficult to get a job as a graduate?

any info is appreciated...thanks..

hussey

Mod Merged ... not too much info here I am afraid.

LittleT

Hi guys

I came to Australia nine months ago and have been working as an OT since I arrived. I had three year's experience before I came and actually had sorted a job for myself before I even arrived...although it was an hour outside Sydney.

My advice would be to do the rounds of the main teaching hospitals in whatever city you are based in, contact the OT managers directly and see if they have anything coming up. If you are in Sydney, NSW Health recruitment website is a good place to start. Dont be put off by the amount of experience required in the job advert, there is often a shortage of applicants for jobs here so jobs can often be re-levelled to reduce the amount of experience required.

I dont know any OTs who came out here and didnt find work, provided they were willing to put in the effort.

Good Luck!

kiwipower

Katy C wrote: »

Hi Catherine,

Have you post graduate experience in working in OT? I am interested in moving over in the coming months but I am trying to ensure that there will be an opportunity for employment when i arrive as a lot of people have said that you require at least a years clinical experience which unfortunately I have not.

katelyn x

Im not 100% sure on OT but I know for Radiography you will not get registered in Oz without 1-2years clinical experience. The year ahead of me in NZ couldnt get Nz registration of our course due to an argument between the registration board and the univerisity. Oz would not register them without the home country registration and experience.
www.globalhealth.com.au/ is a friendly, personal agency that I used about ten years ago.
Dont forget to ask for accomodation to be provided as part of your countract, and try for a higher hourly rate than offered, agencies charge you out at about 400% of what they pay you!

They also have good info on sorting your registraion, do it yourself though if you can, more independence that way.

dodgylegs

Young Power wrote: »

Hello all, I would really appreciate your help if you can help me out at all! I am a qualified occupational therapist and am from Ireland, and I am moving to Australia this coming December. I really want to work as an OT over there and am currently looking for employment opportunities and wondering the best way to go about this. I have my working holiday visa and have applied to COTRB, but wondering how do I go about specifically finding work?
Regards
Catherine

Hi Catherine,

I'm an OT with & years experience in Paeds, thinking of heading November 2012.
Did you have any luck getting work?
How did the registration go for you - i haven't half the things they are looking for - will i pass the registration??
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

dodgylegs

LittleT wrote: »

Hi guys

I came to Australia nine months ago and have been working as an OT since I arrived. I had three year's experience before I came and actually had sorted a job for myself before I even arrived...although it was an hour outside Sydney.

My advice would be to do the rounds of the main teaching hospitals in whatever city you are based in, contact the OT managers directly and see if they have anything coming up. If you are in Sydney, NSW Health recruitment website is a good place to start. Dont be put off by the amount of experience required in the job advert, there is often a shortage of applicants for jobs here so jobs can often be re-levelled to reduce the amount of experience required.

I dont know any OTs who came out here and didnt find work, provided they were willing to put in the effort.

Good Luck!

Hi LitteT,

How does the pay scale work compared to the Irish one? Ive 4 years senior experience in Paeds, hoping that would bring me to Grade 4 - am i hoping for too much?

statina

Hey
Im working as an OT in Australia. Theres loads of jobs, you will have no problem getting one with your experience. Indeed.com.au and seek.com.au ar the main websites. Theres also Sugarman Group and Julie Warner for Occupational Rehab, which is very big over here. Also try the Government health websites, theres usually fulltime permanent jobs on them. The wages are (alot) better than in Ireland.

I have recently applied for registration. To be honest, its a bit of a mess cos they dont really know what they are at. They sent me an email saying I had successfully registered and my certificate would be put in the post. A week later, they emailed me to say I had to do the practice audit! You cant do the practice audit until you are working somewhere.
Any job that you are applying for will expect that you have at least submitted your application for registration. When you say you have stuff missing, how do you mean? Id advise you to try and have everything together because they're very strict and will definitely come back looking for all the information.

dodgylegs

Hi, thanks a million for your response,

In question 9 its asks for a certificate to say that you have passed the OTC skills assessment phase one and two – but you cant do Phase 2 till they audit your work.

So then i am required to answer “Have you practised the profession at any time between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2012 for a consecutive period of five years? Then i have to do this by providing:

b. A minimum of four references from people who can be contacted by the Board, attesting to your competence to practise as an occupational therapist. At least two of these references must be from occupational therapists who hold an approved qualification listed on the
Board’s website, and two from either employers or supervisors. - i don’t know anyone who has an approved qualification - and the only way to get this is to work in austalia i presume.

d. Copies of position descriptions certified by your employer and describing the nature of qualifications or knowledge required, skills required, duties performed and duration of employment. – Can i use all my hse job contracts to prove this.

e. Four de-identified case studies which illustrate your clinical occupational therapy practice with clients. – i can manage this, but not looking forward to it.

So it seems the only way that i can pass the registration is by working first, but can i work without being registered?

Where you working are you having a ball??
Hope the wages are better, with seven years experience, four senior, am i a grade 3 or 4?

What kind off a visa did you go out on?

statina

Yeah the practice audit is really confusing and a pain in the ass! For the employers, I would give your referees and send a cover letter explaining your situation that they are not recognised by the board- really what else can they expect you to do??

As regards the job description, my boss did out a specific job description listing my 5 main duties. Is there any possibility of your Supervisor doing this for you? The HSE contracts might work but I'm not fully sure.

Really enjoying working in oz. I went out on a working holiday visa but got sponsored pretty quickly after starting. Most of my ot friends have all got sponsored as well so there should be no issue if that's the route you would like to go.

Not sure about the grades, I would think you would be grade 3 with your experience. Give some of the recruitment agencies (Reed healthcare, Nascent, Your World Medical) a ring and they will clarify it for you.

dodgylegs

Hi Statina,

Thanks, i took your advice and just sent of the CV's.

I'll get the manager to write out the duties, will talk about that when i get my career break!

Glad to hear you are really enjoying it, and hopefully not missing home too much.

Thanks again for your advice

---

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ib/2011/pdf/IB2011_042.pdf - this gives an idea of salary for anybody who's interested

and the following websites offer comprehensive CV/resume writing advice and interview skills including sample resumes and mock interview questions.

www.seek.org.au
www.careerone.com.au
www.careers.curtin.edu.au

statina

Hey
Ive been doing a bit of investigating about the practice audit and getting a job. As it stands, APHRA have said you are supposed to have the practice audit completed before you can get a job (which seems completely ridiculous because you cant start the practice audit until you have a job!!).

It seems the only way of getting around this issue is to apply for an occupational rehab job. You dont need to have registration to work in this area and then you can complete the practice audit when you there- enabling you to apply for other OT jobs down the track.

dodgylegs

hey Statina, you are so good putting the time into looking into that for me.

I eventually got correspondence from AHPRA:
When I have completed OTC skills Phase 1, I can apply for jobs as I am Eligible for registration (OTC send this eligibilty to APHRA). When I have a named supervisor (a job) I can commence OTC skills Phase 2, commencing this will give me eligbility "for another registration category with AHPRA". When I have passed the audit my registraiton will be be finalised. Therefore employers should accept that completing of Skills Phase 1, as eligibilty:).

If you are reading below any differently than me, let me know, it might help the next person.

"Thank you for your enquiry to AHPRA regarding a pathway for you to gain registration as an Occupational Therapist in Australia.

You will not be eligible for general registration until you can provide evidence of completion of phase 2 – The Certificate of Practical Completion from the OTC. To enable you to work in Australia please be advised that once you have completed your phase 1 assessment you will need to contact the OTC to arrange the commencement of phase 2.

Once you have commenced Phase 2 with the OTC – this information will allow us to proceed with processing your application and then you will be eligible for another registration category with AHPRA.

In order for you to be eligible to register with AHPRA, you are just required to demonstrate that you have commenced the Phase 2 Practice Audit with the Occupational Therapy Council. Please contact the OTC for information on how to commence this process http://www.cotrb.com.au/contactdetails.htm

I can advise that in order for you to commence Phase 2 with the OTC, you need only to arrange finding an appropriate position and supervisor, who will agree to providing a period of supervised practice. You do not need to be actively working, and indeed you would not be able to gain General Registration if you have not completed your Phase 2 (i.e. hold the Certificate of Practical Completion).

Upon receiving this confirmation from you or the OTC, we can progress your application to the Registration Committee for finalisation. This registration category will enable you to complete the period of supervised practice required for the Practice Audit.

Once you have completed this Phase you will then be eligible for General Registration.

Unfortunately at this stage only general registration forms are available. When you have been in contact with the OTC and are ready to apply for registration please check the website in case the form has been finalised. Otherwise you can apply using the general registration form. Please provide evidence of the commencement of phase 2 with your application and other supporting documents.
http://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/Registration/Forms.aspx
If further information is required from you at any point a Registration Officer will be in contact with you.

You will not be entitled to work as an Occupational Therapist in Australia until you hold registration.

I hope this information provides you with adequate clarification of the pathway to enable your registration. Please do not hesitate to contact AHPRA on 1300 419 495 or via the website if you have further queries.

Kind regards

Belinda Hughes
Registration Officer
NRAS Registration Team

Phone | 1300 419 495
Web | www.ahpra.gov.au"

mel.b

dodgylegs wrote: »

Hi LitteT,

How does the pay scale work compared to the Irish one? Ive 4 years senior experience in Paeds, hoping that would bring me to Grade 4 - am i hoping for too much?

Probably a little late answering this but will do so for others for future reference. A grade 4 position in Australia would be almost entirely management and generally then in a large hospital. You would most likely be classed as a grade 2 probably around incriment 3 or 4 on the salary scale.

dodgylegs

Hey Mel.b,

It's such a small world, I met you a couple of months ago in six mile bridge, when we were doing the 100k cycle, didn't know you were an OT aswell. Did you do the ring of Kerry?

Thanks for that, Grade 2 would seem right for me :-). Salaries and grading seem to be different across different states, which is confusing. I've attached information from W.A. and figure I'm a 2.2 grade. It looks like WA salary is higher than other states??

Do you know any websites where i could get information on how salary & grading works for all states?

Thanks

magh

Really great info about registration!
I am an OT awaiting recognition from OTC, seems to be taking a long time! Ive heard the same, that employers understand that we cannot really start the process of registration. one if the agencies told me that registration comes through in about 4 weeks of application so employers not fretting too much about it, so hope that is really the case!!

I have to go on a sponsored Visa as Im moving with my partner and daughter, I have been working with a couple of agencies about getting sponsored but not sure if I should just start seeking myself? Anyone any ideas of possible sponsored jobs, Im not a bit fussy on location! I have two years OT experience! I have sent CV to a lot of jobs on seek.au and indeed but hearing nothing... maybe its just because I dont have my OTC assessment through yet. Would love to know if anyone knows if any hospital/ clinic wants an OT to sponsor!:)

Happy to hear there is a good force of OT's out there, yay!!:D

mel.b

dodgylegs wrote: »

Hey Mel.b,

It's such a small world, I met you a couple of months ago in six mile bridge, when we were doing the 100k cycle, didn't know you were an OT aswell. Did you do the ring of Kerry?

Thanks for that, Grade 2 would seem right for me :-). Salaries and grading seem to be different across different states, which is confusing. I've attached information from W.A. and figure I'm a 2.2 grade. It looks like WA salary is higher than other states??

Do you know any websites where i could get information on how salary & grading works for all states?

Thanks

Argghhh, i had a big long post and then lost it, cutting and pasting! It is a small world isn't it:)

I'm actually an SLT not an OT but don't hold that against me:p i never ended doing the ring...gutted, but i hurt my back a few weeks before and wasn't able for it.

Wages are different for each state. I've attached a couple of award agreements that i can find. They also detail the skills / expextations for each major grade. You then just move up a level in that grade every 12 months like you do here.
Grade 1 isfor new grads, grade two for more experienced therapists and then grade 3+ management or specialist skills etc

VIC
http://www.lrh.com.au/home/DocumentManager/humanresources/awardsagreements/683846508

NSW
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ib/2007/pdf/IB2007_059.pdf

Good luck with it

I'll see if i can find one for QLD and you have one for WA

Edit: found QLD
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ib/2007/pdf/IB2007_059.pdf
You would start at HP level 3 in QLD maybe level 4 if you have a masters.

Also check out each states health page for jobs
Health.vic.gov.au
Heath.qld.gov.au

Etc

dodgylegs

Hey Magh,

Couple of places you might want to check out:

http://www.otaus.com.au
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au
http://www.wjobs.com.au/
http://www.tr7.com.au
http://www.jobs4medical.co.uk
http://www.jwhealth.com.au
https://www.reedglobal.com
http://www.sugarmangroup.com.au
http://westjobs.com.au
http://jobsearch.careerone.com.au

I sent off a bundle of applications last week, i've just got indication from them that they received applications. Some of the recruitment agencies, just said they wouldn't be able to do anything with my application, until i was registered!

One of the applications that I sent off on 26/06/2012, sent me a message today asking if i was in australia already or when I was coming out - so i'm taking that as a positive

Let me know if you have any luck

dodgylegs

Mel B,

Sorry you didn't get to do the ring of Kerry, i'll watch out for you on the next local one. I wont hold the whole SLT thing against you, LOL!

Thanks so much, I would have been forever sussing all that out - The only ones i could find were the WA, and the QLD one, and the difference in salary was massive, so i was really confused.

Are the salaries in each state the same for hospital & community services?
There seems to be alot of private peadiatric jobs about, would the salary be similar to public services?

mel.b

Hospital and community should be the same. If you look at the vic ones it will tell you which organisations are part of the agreement - not sure if it does for the other states. Organisations such as Scope, which are funded through charities would be different. If you work for dept of education (don't know if there are any ot jobs in dept of ed) would also be different...i know slt salary is lower in the dept of ed.

Private practice it all depends. Some will put you on salary and others on a percentage of what you bring in or an hourly wage which can be very good ( have seen slt up to $80-100p/hr in the past ) However in those cases you are generally only paid for face to face contact so report writing, admin etc is not paid.

dodgylegs

Hi MelB,

Your class,

Looking there it seems that WA, pay higher salaries, i'm hoping to go to Perth, so thats good :-)

QLD
http://www.qirc.qld.gov.au/resources/pdf/certified_agreements/cert_agreements/2011/ca_106_2011.pdf

statina

would u mind attaching the perth payscale? iv tried to find it myself but am getting lost in the world of google!

dodgylegs

statina wrote: »

would u mind attaching the perth payscale? iv tried to find it myself but am getting lost in the world of google!

Hi

http://www.health.wa.gov.au/awardsandagreements/docs/HSU_PACTS_Industrial_Agreement.pdf,

Statina, where are you working?

statina

Thanks for that, yikes- theres a big difference in the wages in Perth!! Im in Sydney, in a non for profit organisation

dodgylegs

.... and its about 50 - 80 % increase NETT from the wages i'm on in ireland !