Qualified in Australia or New Zealand

Occupational therapy is not a registered profession in New South Wales. To work as an occupational therapist you need to have undertaken your occupational therapy studies at a World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) accredited institution in Australia or New Zealand. Most employers stipulate eligibility for membership of OT AUSTRALIA NSW as an essential criteria for positions vacant.

Qualified in Another Country

Qualifications
To work as an occupational therapist you need to have undertaken your occupational therapy studies at a WFOT accredited institution in addition to the following:

Visa
It is recommended that you visit the Australian Embassy in your country to enquire about conditions and visas required for working in Australia. Increased restrictions have recently been placed on migrant access to social security benefits in Australia.

Visitors
If you have a twelve month visitors work visa you can seek employment in a locum position for up to three months. Some employers stipulate eligibility for membership of OT AUSTRALIA NSW which requires fulfilling the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (COTRB) criteria.

Permanent Residents
You would be required to fulfil the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (COTRB)criteria to qualify for locum or permanent occupational therapy positions. You will also require the appropriate working visa.

The Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (COTRB)
COTRB is now responsible for assessing the qualifications of overseas-educated (except from New Zealand) occupational therapists wishing to work in Australia.

The assessment process involves an initial desktop audit where intending migrants need to meet a number of criteria before being able to migrate.

Once in Australia 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 further information on the assessment process, visit the COTRB website.

Working in
New South Wales

OT AUSTRALIA NSW maintains a job bank which includes a list of locum positions available and also a list of therapists seeking locum positions. OT AUSTRALIA NSW will only place your name on the list once you have arrived in New South Wales and are ready to commence work.

Permanent positions are advertised in the Occupational Therapist newsletter and on this website.

You may have particular difficulties securing a position from November through to May, when newly graduated New South Wales occupational therapists seeking positions enter the job market.