Australian Occupational Therapy Jobs; Requirements and Benefits 

In Australia, several individuals resort to occupational therapists when there’s a shift in their well-being that makes efficient delivery in the area of work or other endeavors difficult. Such therapists do not just assist their care recipient in tackling daily occupational demands, but they also provide supportive measures that may aid recovery from whatever caused the limitation in care recipients’ effectiveness.

The Broadness of Occupational Therapy Job and Demand

As much as there are occupations, there could be a need for occupational therapists. The occupations in the world are so vast that they may prove uncountable. The occupational therapy job is a huge market in Australia as several occupations and individuals patronize such therapy.

It is also important to note that while occupational therapists may not be medical doctors or partake in advanced medical procedures like surgery, there is a connection between such therapy and the health industry, “the demand for an occupational therapist usually springs from health challenges”. Such challenges may be physical, mental, or even emotional. From here, one can see that jobs that may require such therapists are those requiring physical, emotional, or mental stability. 

In most cases, when such stability is impaired,  victims may be subjected to some healthcare. As healthcare progresses, at some point such individuals need to either get back to their jobs or get their jobs done one way or another. At such a point of recovery where full abilities in conducting occupational demands are not regained, the therapist may be helpful. This indicates that indirectly, the health sector is the biggest employer of occupational therapists; however, the therapy itself may not be related to the recipient’s health but the occupation or needs.

Eligibility criteria for occupational therapists in Australia

Usually, occupational therapists work independently. Since it is mostly connected to a healthcare scenario, even as independent as the occupation can be, eligibility criteria apply. This is also especially given that to qualify and practice occupational therapy requires obtaining approval in Australia. Such licenses are usually issued to potential practitioners who meet the stipulated educational and other requirements.

The eligibility criteria listed below refer to the qualities needed to become an occupational therapy practitioner in Australia. They include:

• Attain educational requirements: Occupational therapy needs individuals who are sophisticated and able to adapt to the occupation of their care recipients easily. It usually requires advanced education as it is not just about the patient’s health but also about adequate assistance that makes effective discharge of care recipient’s duties or occupation possible. In Australia, to qualify as an occupational therapist, interested individuals must have undergone an occupational therapy study in a credible university and obtain a degree. 

Those who have undergone a degree study program in a related field may proceed to a Master of Occupational Therapy study. After that, they may qualify to practice in Australia. Although individuals attaining a university degree in unrelated fields may be eligible for the Master of Occupation Therapy studies, additional subjects may be required in such a scenario.

• Obtain practicing approval: Practicing occupational therapy in Australia requires the therapist to be part of the country’s occupational therapist board. Potential practitioners or even practicing ones can register or renew their registration here.
• Possess versatile knowledge and abilities in diverse occupations: Whether practicing as an independent therapist or attached to a healthcare facility, helping people back to their occupation requires knowledge in such a sector.

Given that people of all occupations may develop a shift in their abilities to conduct their occupation, a therapist can envisage demands in almost all walks of life. The ability to assist or be useful in such a situation requires the understanding of the care recipient’s occupation.

• Be goal-oriented: Occupational therapy involves accomplishing set goals. Such goals could be attaining job objectives. Planning out a period and approach to work will help both therapist and care recipient actualize objectives and arrive at a mutual-win situation.
• Possess Quick learning abilities: It is not in all situations that a therapist already has effective knowledge or skill in an occupation where assistance is needed. Sometimes, the therapist may have to gain substantial knowledge in a field within a short time.
• Be motivated: Occupational therapists may work with individuals facing different challenges. On several occasions, they are not just a means of getting the job done but motivating their care receiver to get back and be effective in their job. Remember, it is not just about the occupation but also about the all-round well-being of the individual under care.
• Patience: Incapacitation requiring a therapist mostly arises due to health complications. Individuals may need such therapists on the road to recovery. Therapists must be aware that effectiveness may be limited and things can happen slowly.

Sometimes care recipient may need to relearn their occupation. This may include even having to relearn how to use their hands, legs, or even their minds. Such healing and effectiveness takes time and while in the process, several other things like cognition and motor abilities can be slowed, this is why therapists must be individuals who can wait through delays.

• Compassion: Your care recipients may go through a series of emotional, mental, or physical phases, it is nothing unusual; a therapist should be able to understand these phases and be supportive. It takes compassion to be genuinely concerned.

Things become more effective when assisting individuals in their occupations if the desire to see your care recipient succeed and get back to their occupation or accomplish their goals is genuine.

• Gain knowledge of healthcare through a mandatory clinical internship: It is not just about helping people get back to their occupations, it is also about regaining wellness. Occupational therapy requires individuals who can understand the health condition of their care recipient. In Australia, this usually involves clinical participation. This is to enable practitioners to understand the occupational limitations of the patients and know how best to help within and outside the healthcare facility settings. Also, assistance may include observation of patient to ensure that they don’t take occupational actions that may further endanger their health.

Recovery and regaining of occupational abilities may take a different toll on patients. There are times when patients may misunderstand or exaggerate their recovery thereby taking occupational steps that may be counterproductive to their health. It is part of the duty of the therapist to ensure that adequate recovery has been attained before patients begin to conduct more demanding tasks.

• Experience: Whether a therapist is to work in a health facility, other establishments, or independently, experience is a treasure in the field. Before subscribing to your therapy or being hired by a healthcare establishment or other facility, the employee’s or therapist’s record needs to be excellent, there should be a history of individuals that such therapists have helped get back to effectiveness in their occupation.

Benefits

• Independence: Therapists may sometimes be attached to a healthcare facility; even in such cases, there is some level of independence to the occupation. Most times, practitioners are not attached to a healthcare facility but in a kind of self-employed arrangement.
• Insurances: Several occupational therapists in Australia are attached to a healthcare facility. It is common practice for most healthcare jobs in the country to have vital insurance subscriptions. For such practitioners attached to a facility, their occupational benefits may include health insurance coverage. For independent therapists, private insurance coverage can be arranged.
• Humanity: Occupation is not just a provider of means; to several people, it is a source of joy. When one helps one get back and accomplish occupational goals, one inspires and improves such individuals’ lives in many ways. It is about the revival of hope. It is beyond an occupation; it is humanity.
• Skill acquisition: You are not just getting people back to their occupation, you are also acquiring several skills on the go. Therapists need to attain some level of efficiency in a focus field to be of assistance to care recipients. This exposes therapists to diverse skill acquisition chances.
• Healthy interpersonal relationship: Sometimes human occupations are only but an extension of our social nature. Most jobs bring interaction. Helping individuals to attend to their occupations without fixing the communication and interaction is just one side of the solution.  Therapists need to connect with their care recipients on a social level through quality interaction. Such effective communication can give rise to healthy interpersonal relationships that may outlast the care phase.
• Good revenue or salary: Revenue for occupational therapists can be observed from two perspectives. To determine the revenue, it is important to understand whether the therapist is attached to a healthcare or other facility or independent.

It is easier to determine the earnings of employed therapists. For such therapists working in healthcare or other facilities as employees, the average salary is about $36 (AUD) per hour. For independent therapists, earnings can be unpredictable.

Note for international Occupational therapists hoping to work in Australia

There’s a huge demand for occupational therapists in Australia; foreigners can take advantage of occasional shortages in local supply. To work in Australia as a foreign occupational therapist, understand that a work visa may apply. Also, foreigners desiring to work in Australia as occupational therapists must undergo an assessment by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia.