Occupational therapists equip people facing challenges with the skills they need to participate in everyday life
What is an OT?
An occupational therapist (OT) works with people to improve their physical and mental health, often
after injury or illness. An OT assists in regaining skills and independence.
Occupational therapists also work with people with developmental and other disabilities to enable participation in daily living tasks like dressing, bathing, eating, and activities like play and recreation.
Areas you would work in:
- Hospitals and healthcare
- Community-based work
- Schools and education
- Aged care
- Private practice
- Workplace health and ergonomics
- Research and academia
- Public health and policy
- International opportunities
Show me the money
According to SEEK, the average annual salary for an occupational therapist ranges from $85,000 to $100,000.
Dream degree
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at ACU will equip you with the skills you need to perform competently and safely. At ACU, their unique difference is that they prepare the next generation of OTs to understand the context and the complexity of humanity.
Throughout the degree you’ll learn how humans function, as well as how to collaboratively set client goals, analyse and assess occupational performance, apply and evaluate interventions and work and communicate
effectively with clients, their families and colleagues.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
All about you
You’ll love this career if you…
- Want to be in high demand
- Are passionate about making a positive impact
- Would like to work with people of all ages
- Like the idea of working in a variety of settings
Job growth
There is a 16.9% projected increase in occupational therapist employment in Australia in the five years from 2023 to 2028.
That’s good news because currently there’s a shortage of OTs in every state and territory of Australia. Jump on this study path now and all the career opportunities are bound to come your way once you graduate!
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia
The inside word: We asked OT student Mariah Bourakis what life is like at ACU!
Q: Hey Mariah, what’s the best thing about studying OT at ACU?
A: As the OT and allied health cohorts are quite small, it’s easier to build strong connections with peers and staff, who genuinely know you and who are always open to supporting us with any questions or feedback we may have. We also share some units with speech pathology students, which provides valuable insights for future working relationships and delivering the best care for prospective clients.
Q: What’s a typical day on campus like?
A: Uni life brings so much variety – no two days are the same! But typically, my day looks a little something like this:
- 9:00am: Arrive at uni and begin independent study, including reviewing lecture material, completing preparation activities and readings for my tutorials or working on assignments.
- 11:00am: Catch up with OT friends to go over study content and clarify anything we’re unsure about, followed by a lunch break together to fuel up for the rest of the day.
- 1:00pm: Go to my first tutorial class where we engage in collaborative group work providing a practical and in-depth understanding of content and real-life case scenarios.
- 3:00pm: Head to my second tutorial class.
- 5:00pm: Home time!
How to become an OT
Step 1
Enrol in an OT degree – ACU’s Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is a great option!
Step 2
Get experience while you study. At ACU, you take on 1,000 hours of work placement as part of your degree, starting from first year.
Step 3
Once you’ve graduated, you’ll need to register as a practising occupational therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and can join Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA).
This article was first published in the Occupational Therapist Job Kit in partnership with Australian Catholic University.
