Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists are professionals who help individuals with physical disabilities and those recovering from illness and injury.

Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.

Occupational therapists work in a number of different health industries. Occupational therapists help children achieve their developmental milestones such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They also help with educating and involving parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children. Occupational therapists also work in rehabilitation and aged care, helping clients regain or enhance their daily lives after specific events such as hip replacement or stroke. Acute care therapists are able to conduct specialist interventions in various health conditions including surgery, burns, HIV and acute mental health. Occupational therapists working in injury management use specialised assessments to determine the functional requirements of various jobs, and the client’s capacity to return to work.

Qualified occupational therapists have completed an undergraduate course in occupational therapy. Courses in occupational therapy are taught at universities throughout Australia. National Registration for all occupational therapists started on July 1, 2012. All occupational therapists will need to be registered with the Registration Board (AHPRA).