Occupational Therapist - Facts and Discussion

Occupational therapists work in the Health and Medical industry. They assist a range of people for a range of reasons including accident injury rehabilitation, elderly, sporting injuries and illness related injuries. Their role is to help people become rehabilitated to their former or at least improved states of fitness, mobility and lifestyle.

Occupational therapists are required to have very good social and communications skills because they are often working with people who have limited mobility and may have a state of mind where motivation is low. They are also required to be patient and have a good understanding of sociology and how to read people.

To become an occupational therapist (OT)a university degree is required. In most states the degrees offered to enter the field of OT are a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or a Bachelor of Applied science (Occupational Therapy). This course is usually 4 years. Specialisation is available in areas such as aged care, disability, hospital care, paediatrics and vocational (work related).

Being a specialised medical profession wages for Occupational Therapists are highly competitive. This can range between $61K to $71K per annum depending on specialisation area, sector of the workforce (private/public) and experience. Consulting and freelance OT's are also invaluable for many medical facilities and are compensated accordingly. OT's can move out of the practising field and into an administration role, as with many medical positions, in hospitals, medical centres or other areas of the private sector.

Find a position in Occupational Therapy and more information here.