Where the Canberra OT jobs are
Canberra occupational therapy roles are spread across Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, and Queanbeyan. Many clinicians work across two or three sites in a week, so a current driver licence and a comfortable commute are common requirements for community, NDIS, and aged care positions.
Canberra has a stable public service, a compact health system, and a growing NDIS and community sector. Some roles support defence, veterans, or Commonwealth programs and may require a security clearance. The mix runs from hospital rehabilitation and discharge planning to private paediatric clinics, aged care, and community caseloads funded through the NDIS.
Who hires occupational therapists in Canberra
Major employers include Canberra Health Services, ACT Health, Aruma, Marymead, and Karralika. Alongside them, smaller private practices, paediatric clinics, and NDIS providers employ a significant share of Canberra OTs, so there is usually more than one route into the local market.
Public health services in ACT generally advertise through central recruitment processes, while private and not-for-profit providers often hire directly. If you want a particular caseload or age group, it is worth approaching clinics before a role is advertised.
OT salaries and conditions in Canberra
Advertised salaries in Canberra typically sit between $82,000 and $115,000 depending on experience, setting, and whether the role is employee or contractor. Public health awards, salary packaging, and paid professional development can add several thousand dollars of value on top of the base figure.
New graduates should compare supervision and onboarding before salary, while experienced clinicians can negotiate for caseload caps, flexible hours, or a clinical specialisation. Always confirm whether travel time, report writing, and training are paid or expected outside billable hours.
Living and working in Canberra
Canberra offers short commutes and strong public infrastructure, while Queanbeyan and the surrounding towns provide more affordable housing. Winter is cold, and the city is car-dependent outside the town centres. Think about how far you are willing to travel between clients, whether you need parking, and whether public transport can get you to the sites you will visit. A trial visit or a conversation with a local clinician can save a lot of second-guessing.
Browse the live Canberra vacancies below, or set up a job alert so new roles in your preferred setting reach you as soon as they are approved. If you are open to regional work, the state page covers roles outside the Canberra metro area.