Graduate Occupational Therapist

Starting your first occupational therapy role is a big step, and we don’t believe every graduate should be expected to follow exactly the same pathway.

At Occupational Therapy Services Group, we take an individualised approach to helping graduates become confident, capable occupational therapists and build careers that reflect their strengths, interests and goals.

We usually only welcome a small number of graduates into the team at a time. Keeping each intake small allows us to provide genuine access to experienced therapists, practical support and the time to invest in your development.

Many of the occupational therapists who joined us as graduates have gone on to become some of our longest standing team members, with graduates staying with OTSG for an average of more than five years.

We are not looking for you to arrive knowing everything. We are looking for graduates who are genuinely interested in community occupational therapy, want to keep learning and are ready to become part of a team that will support and challenge them as they develop.

What your early career journey may include

Your support and development will be tailored to you, supported by an established and flexible early career framework that includes:

• a structured orientation and meet and greet with the team

• opportunities to shadow colleagues across different service areas

• weekly mentoring and supported buddy visits

• fortnightly clinical supervision

• monthly clinical development workshops

• an individual therapist development plan and regular goal setting

• practical internal and external learning opportunities

• support to build professional networks and relationships with suppliers

• ongoing social events and connection with the wider OTSG team.

Your caseload and responsibilities will build gradually, with consideration given to your confidence, existing experience, learning needs and the areas of practice you would like to explore.

You will work alongside experienced occupational therapists supporting people with disability, older adults and people experiencing health related changes in their homes and communities.

The role may involve assessment, intervention, rehabilitation or capacity skill building, equipment and assistive technology, home and environmental modifications, liaison with families and other professionals, and the preparation of clear and practical reports. You will be supported to understand not only what to do, but why you are doing it and how your recommendations can make a meaningful difference in someone’s everyday life.

As your skills and confidence grow, there may also be opportunities to explore areas such as assistive technology, home modifications, driving assessment and rehabilitation, functional assessment, skill building and other areas of community occupational therapy.

You will not be expected to specialise immediately. Our broader team structure gives you the opportunity to develop strong foundations and clinical depth in community practice while gaining exposure to different clinical pathways and programs, while learning from colleagues with varied areas of experience.

What we offer

• an OT-owned and led organisation that is invested in providing quality services, which means we investing in the people who provide our services

• access to experienced occupational therapists with diverse clinical expertise

• structured mentoring and supervision adapted to your individual needs

• a gradual and supported approach to building your caseload

• an annual professional development budget

• OT Australia membership

• mileage allowance and opportunities for career growth

• EAP and wellbeing supports

• flexible working arrangements where suitable

• a strong social and peer support culture

• opportunities to develop specialist skills and longer term career pathways

• access to practical learning environments, equipment, resources and established professional networks

• the opportunity to work within a recognised, experienced and connected OT specific team

• regular opportunities to contribute ideas, participate in team initiatives and become involved in the broader OT community.

We understand that sustainable practice is about more than clinical supervision. It also means having approachable colleagues, responsive operational support, manageable development expectations and people around you who understand the realities of community-based occupational therapy.

Our work is community based, with therapists working from our Bentley or Malaga offices, in clients’ homes and in the community. Flexible work from home arrangements may be available where appropriate, while ensuring graduates remain connected with their team and support network.

Therapists are generally allocated work within practical geographic areas, helping to reduce unnecessary travel and support stronger connections with local clients, referrers, suppliers and community services.

As a community occupational therapist, no two days will be exactly the same. You may spend time meeting with a client in their home, collaborating with another health professional, trialling equipment, attending a team development session or completing reports from one of our offices surrounded by experienced practitioners.

About you

You may be completing your occupational therapy degree, recently graduated or preparing to begin your first professional role.

We are looking for someone who:

• is passionate about occupational therapy and the difference it can make in people's lives

• values thoughtful, person centred and evidence informed practice

• is willing to ask questions, seek feedback and continue learning

• enjoys working collaboratively as part of a team

• is organised, reliable and comfortable working in community settings

• holds, or will be eligible to obtain, registration with AHPRA

• holds a current driver’s licence and has access to a suitable vehicle

• communicates warmly and professionally with clients, families and colleagues

• is willing to take increasing responsibility as their confidence and capability develop

• can work independently when ready, while recognising when to seek guidance or support

• is open to working with people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities and life experiences.

Community occupational therapy involves independence, flexibility and problem-solving, but you will not be expected to navigate it alone. We are looking for someone who is willing to contribute to the team around them as well as make use of the support available.

You do not need to have your career mapped out already. Part of our role is helping you discover where your strengths and interests may take you in occupational therapy.

Placement, employment, volunteering and lived experience can all contribute to the person and therapist you are becoming. We are interested in hearing about what you have learned, how you approach people and what matters to you - not simply how much experience you already have.

About OT Services Group

Occupational Therapy Services Group is a Western Australian, OT owned and led organisation providing community occupational therapy services across five specialty areas: Home, Assistive Technology, Driving, Skill Building and Consultancy.

You’ll join a team of experienced occupational therapists supporting people of different ages and needs across Perth and regional Western Australia. Our focus is on supporting safe, active and independent living for our people in the community while supporting our therapists to do purposeful work and build sustainable careers.

Our team works across disability, aged care, DVA, motor vehicle injury, workplace injury and private services. This provides graduates with exposure to different people, funding environments and approaches to occupational therapy, supported by colleagues who understand the complexities of each area.

We are an established, family-owned organisation with a strong history in community occupational therapy. We have grown by developing specialist services, responding to unmet community needs and supporting our therapists to build expertise over time.

Our services are delivered from our Bentley and Malaga locations and throughout the community across metropolitan Perth, with selected regional services also provided in the Wheatbelt and South West.

Alongside our clinical services, our team contributes to professional education, student development, community initiatives and the ongoing development of occupational therapy practice. We are proud of our nationally recognised culture, but most importantly, we aim to create a workplace where people feel known, supported and able to do meaningful work.

The graduate roadmap also emphasises access to varied clinical expertise, networking, flexible work, practical workshops and longer-term pathways into areas such as driving, complex home modifications and complex assistive technology.

Interested?

We would love to hear a little about you, what has drawn you to occupational therapy and what you hope to find in your first role.

Please submit your resume and answer the short application questions.

You are also welcome to apply if you are approaching graduation but are not yet ready to commence. This allows us to begin a conversation and consider whether a future intake may align with your graduation and registration timeframe.

Please note that we recruit only a small number of graduates at each intake, and applications may remain open so that we can connect with suitable candidates ahead of our next mid-year or start-of-year intake.

Because our graduate positions are limited, we are not simply looking for the applicants with the most experience. We are looking for people who are likely to benefit from—and contribute positively to—our particular working environment. We can support you to develop your clinical potential; what matters most is your approach, your willingness to learn and your commitment to the people you work with.

The technical bits

This position is available full-time or part-time, based from our Bentley or Malaga clinics with services provided primarily to NDIS, My Aged Care and DVA participants in their home or out in the community. There is opportunity to progress into supporting our Specialised Services - supporting our Driving Services or Complex Home Modification Services. You will be required to provide a current Police Clearance & NDIS Worker Screening Clearance. A Drivers Licence and your own vehicle is essential.

Occupational Therapy Services Group is a family-friendly, flexible workplace. We value our staff and are committed to providing an enjoyable work environment and a great place to work!

Occupational Therapy Services Group has recently undergone a significant transformation, and we are looking to continue our growth. We need great people to join us. We empower our staff to help shape our future and take us to the next level.

How can you apply?

If you believe you are the person we are looking for, then what are you waiting for? Apply with your resume and a short cover letter outlining why you need to be our next Occupational Therapist!

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. While we are looking to establish (only a couple) of therapists at this time, we are also planning future opportunities to support our diverse services in the future as well!

Occupational Therapy Services Group is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from everyone.

Unfortunately, we will not be accepting applications from recruitment agencies at this time.

Find out more and view our new graduate pathway here...
View some of our teams recent achievements here..

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