About OT
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate fully in the activities of their everyday life. It does this by using specific activities to enable people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the physical environment to better support participation.
Occupational therapists help their clients cope with demands, adapt to tasks, and overcome challenges in their everyday lives. They do this by using a person’s usual daily activities and tasks (their “occupations”) in a therapeutic way.
Reflections on Occupation
Occupation is simple and intuitive to the experience of all humans. . .
- the things we do in our life roles
- the things we do to be who we are
- the things we do to create life and world into all it can become
. . . however the finer details reveal there is more to occupation than meets the eye!
Occupation is. . .
Subjectively experienced
- to one person the occupation of "shopping" feels like "a real chore", to another it's "fun", to yet another it's "a chance to relax". Activity can be classified into cultural categories such as "work", but each occupation is experienced as blend of productivity, pleasure and restoration
Situated in time
- the meaning and function of occupation vary according to its location in the stream of time. Consider the meanings of a "shopping" occupation for an individual over time - shopping for lollies as a kid, shopping after a first pay check and shopping with a wheel chair for the first time
Universal
- Time and culture influence which occupations are meaningful and adaptive, however that humans have used occupation to survive, thrive, healing and health promotion is evident since the dawn of time
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Where do occupational therapists work?
Occupational therapists often work as part of an integrated healthcare team. They work with clients in both public and private sectors. You will find occupational therapists working in a wide range of practice settings, including:
- public and private hospitals
- medical rehabilitation units
- community health centres
- home care services
- aged care facilities
- psychiatric clinics, hostels and hospitals
- vocational rehabilitation centres
- schools and education facilities
- independent living and respite centres, and
- private practice.
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Occupational Therapy Australia Code of Ethics
The ethos of the occupational therapy profession and its practice requires its members to
discharge their duties and responsibilities, at all times, in a manner which professionally, ethically,
and morally compromises no individual with whom they have professional contact, irrespective of
that person’s position, situation or condition in society.
The Code of Ethics is founded on the bio-ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence,
honesty, veracity, confidentiality, justice, respect and autonomy.
Click here to download a copy of the Code of Ethics
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Working in Australia
Eligibility to Practice Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists who have trained overseas and wish to migrate and work as occupational therapists in Australia, are required to undergo an assessment conducted by the Council of Occupational Therapy Registration Boards (COTRB).
Click here to view the COTRB assessment of qualifications
This assessment process involves an initial desktop audit where you will need to meet a number of criteria before being able to migrate. Once in the country, you will complete a goal-directed practice audit in your initial employment, designed to ensure that your practice skills develop and that you are able to attain standards required in an Australian work context.
For full details, contact the COTRB directly:
COTRB
Suite 3, 154 Fullarton Road
ROSE PARK SA 5067
Office Hours: 9.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays)
Telephone: (08) 8431 5079
Outside Australia: +61 8 8431 5079
Facsimile: (08) 8333 1569
Outside Australia: +61 8 8333 1569
E-Mail: admin@cotrb.com.au
New Zealand Registered Occupational Therapists
The exception to the above requirement is that occupational therapists who are eligible for registration in New Zealand may be automatically eligible to practice in most states of Australia, except WA due to the introduction of the Trans Tasmania Mutual Recognition Agreement.
If for example, you are a British trained occupational therapist who has sat the NZOTRB exam in New Zealand and are registered to practice in New Zealand – you may be eligible to work in Australia.
Registration for Occupational Therapists in Australia
At present in Australia, occupational therapists must be registered to practise in the states of Qld, SA, WA and the NT. Registration is through the local registration board in those states/territory. To date, registration has not been required in NSW, Tas, Vic or the ACT. However, the Australian Federal Government has legislated that from July 2012, all occupational therapists in Australia must be registered to work in the profession.
If you wish to practice in any of these states you will need to contact the relevant Occupational Therapy Registration Board. In the four states without registration, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania, you are eligible to practice once you have successfully completed the COTRB practice audit.
Click here to view more information on National Registration in 2012
South Australia
Occupational Therapists Registration Board of South Australia
PO Box 229
TORRENSVILLE PLAZA SA 5031
Tel: +61 8 8443 9669
Fax: +61 8 8443 9550
Western Australia
Occupational Therapists Board of Western Australia
PO Box 959
SOUTH PERTH WA 6951
Tel: +61 8 9368 2655
Fax: +61 8 9368 2677
Queensland
Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland
GPO Box 2438
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Tel: +61 7 3225 2532
Fax: +61 7 3225 2527
Northern Territory
Occupational Therapists Board of the NT
GPO Box 4221
DARWIN NT 0801
Tel: +61 8 8999 4157
Fax: +61 8 8999 4196
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What do occupational therapists do?
Here are some examples of the kinds of work that occupational therapists do:
Working with children:
- Helping children achieve their developmental milestones such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Educating and involving parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children.
Rehabilitation and aged care:
- Helping clients regain or enhance their daily lives after specific events such as hip replacement or stroke.
- Assessing and modifying clients’ home and community environments to improve their safety and independence.
- Prescibing and educating clients and carers in the use of adaptive equipment to assist function.
Acute care:
- Specialist interventions in various health conditions including surgery, burns, HIV and acute mental health.
- Assessing clients’ cognition, function and psychosocial needs.
- Monitoring clients’ function and progress, prescribing adaptive equipment to ensure safety upon discharge from hospitals.
Injury management:
- Using specialised assessments to determine the functional requirements of various jobs, and clients’ capacity to return to work.
- Designing and coordinating graded return to work programs.
- Educating clients in safe work practices.
- Modifying the work environment to suit the needs of individuals so as to prevent or minimise injuries.
Mental health:
- Designing individual and group programs and activities to enhance clients’ independence in everyday activities.
- Developing coping strategies for clients in overcoming their mental health issues.
- Improving clients’ confidence and self esteem in social situations.
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What is an occupational therapy driver assessment?
Some occupational therapists have additional qualifications in the area of driver assessment. These OTs assess their clients’ ability to safely drive a motor vehicle, especially after a major medical event such as stroke.
For more information on occupational therapy driver assessments in you state or territory, please click here.
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How do I become an OT?
To become a qualified OT, you need to complete an undergraduate course in occupational therapy. Courses are taught at universities throughout Australia.
See a list of universities that offer undergraduate OT courses.
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What is an Accredited Occupational Therapist (AccOT)?
The Accredited Occupational Therapist (AccOT) program helps and encourages occupational therapists to continue professional education and active involvement in the profession.
The program is the Association's response to expectations of Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments that professional bodies demonstrate a high level of accountability for members’ standards of practice.
The program is coordinated by Occupational Therapy Australia through it's national office. Find out more.
