If you love working with people and you are somewhat disillusioned with your current job, you might never have considered becoming an occupational therapist. This is a challenging and rewarding career that involves helping disabled people to improve their quality of life. In this short article, we take a look at what is required and involved in pursuing a career as an occupational therapist.
Bachelor degree in occupational therapy
A 4-year course that can be a blend of campus and online learning that equips you with the skills you need to carry out the following:
- Functional Capacity Assessments – Supported disability accommodation assessments, Supported independent living assessments.
- Assistive Technology Assessments – To enable specialised equipment prescription. Mobility devices such as mobility scooters, wheelchairs and walking frames.
- Therapy & rehabilitation – Mental health therapy, stroke & neurological rehabilitation and cognitive assessment. These occupational therapy services are coordinated by an NDIS practitioner; disabled Australians register with the NDIS to receive essential funding and your job includes assessments for prescriptions and services.
- Home Modification Assessments – A disabled person’s living space might need a few improvements to aid mobility and your job involves assessing home modification in order to receive funding.
Choosing an Australian University/College
Of course, it is better if you study at a campus that is near your home; start with a Google search for ‘occupational therapy courses’ to see a list of websites where you can find out more about the course and what it entails. You would be spending a few months working in the field under the supervision of an experienced occupational therapist, plus you can study remotely for a period of time. Click here for ways to boost your career potential.
Care Agencies
Organisations such as Ability Action Australia connect healthcare professionals with disabled Australian citizens, while also providing essential support to occupational therapists. We recommend contacting them at an early stage, as they can help with university admission, plus they can guarantee you employment once you are certified. Check out their website, which contains useful information for those who are contemplating going down the occupational therapy career path. Although the work is challenging, you have the full support of a national carer support outfit, with assistance in vehicle and IT equipment purchase; it is vital that you are fully mobile, as you will be working in many different locations. If you are a lifelong learner, there are so many opportunities for self-development and with the support of a caring organisation, your career will progress.
The satisfaction of helping people
Many occupational therapists comment that the thing they really love about their work is that they are helping others to enjoy improved quality of life. It is a nice feeling to see a disabled person experience success in life planning; a team of experts work together to create a plan for the disabled person, which means you need to work well as a team. Check out the NDIS Website for more information on career development.
