What occupational therapy roles in Australia look like
Australian OT roles span public hospitals, community health, NDIS providers, aged care, private practice, schools, and occupational rehabilitation. The setting shapes the caseload: hospital roles lean towards discharge planning, equipment prescription, and acute rehabilitation, while community roles involve home visits, functional capacity assessment, and coordination with support workers.
Most positions sit under an award or enterprise agreement, so pay, leave, and supervision are more predictable than in some other markets. A typical week combines direct clinical time with report writing, case conferences, and travel between sites. Ask each employer how those non-clinical hours are counted before you compare offers.
OT salaries and career progression in Australia
New graduate OTs commonly earn around $75,000 to $88,000, experienced clinicians $90,000 to $115,000, and senior clinicians, team leaders, and clinical specialists $115,000 to $140,000 or more. Locum and contractor roles can pay higher day rates but usually exclude paid leave, professional development, and other employee benefits. Regional and remote roles often add incentives or accommodation support.
Salary packaging, paid professional development, fleet vehicles, and flexible hours can add several thousand dollars of real value. Career progression is not only managerial: many OTs build specialist clinical careers in paediatrics, hand therapy, neurology, mental health, or assistive technology, and combine clinical work with supervision, education, or research.
Choosing your next OT role
The questions that matter most are rarely in the job ad. Ask how often you will receive supervision, what billable targets apply, how caseloads are capped, who covers admin and bookings, and whether travel time is paid. For a first role, a structured onboarding period and access to a senior clinician are worth more than a small salary difference.
Listings on OTJobs.au come from OT employers and job ads across Australia, and expired roles are removed so you are not applying to closed positions. Use the specialty and state pages to narrow the search, or create a job alert to hear about new roles in your area.
