Occupational Therapists are in short supply in Australia. Australian cities and outlying communities are constantly being renovated and thanks to a growing economy, there has never been a higher demand for Occupational Therapists in Australia.
Australia is one of the most popular nations in terms of employing foreign talent, with a high need for qualified professionals in the healthcare industry. Australia provides some of the highest-paying jobs in the world to skilled foreign nationals. This article aims to discuss the need for Occupational Therapists in Australia.
Demand
Occupational Therapists are in limited supply in Australia, as they work to close the skills gap.
Occupational therapists help their clients with their health and well-being requirements. An occupational therapist's primary purpose is to enable patients to engage in everyday activities.
It goes without saying that an occupational therapist is critical to every country in the world, and Australia, in particular, is slipping behind in terms of the number of professional, trained occupational therapists on Australian soil.
This urgent demand for healthcare professionals has prompted Australia to seek out foreign talent.
Pathways Available
There are a few avenues to migrate to Australia for Occupational Therapists.
- Visa Subclass 189
- Visa Subclass 190
- Visa Subclass 491
- Visa Subclass 485
- Visa Subclass 482
- Labour Agreement
- Visa Subclass 186
- Visa Subclass 49
Qualifications and Experience Required
Candidates have the following minimum qualifications to immigrate to Australia as an Occupational Therapist.
- A Bachelor's Degree
- A Master’s Degree
It is also noted that candidates have a minimum of three to five years of experience in occupational therapy.
Tasks and Duties
Construction Project Managers are responsible for the following tasks and responsibilities, and an understanding of at least 80% of them is required to apply for a skills assessment.
- Assessing clients' emotional, psychological, developmental and physical capabilities using clinical observations and standardised tests.
- Assessing clients' functional potential in their home, leisure, work and school environments, and recommending environmental adaptations to maximise their performance.
- Planning and directing programs through the use of vocational, recreational, remedial, social and educational activities on an individual and group basis.
- Providing advice to family members, carers, employers and teachers about adapting clients' home, leisure, work and school environments.
- Providing adaptive equipment, such as wheel chairs and splints, to assist clients to overcome their functional limitations.
- Working with other Health Professionals in overall case management of clients.
- Working with other professionals in providing specialist advice to specific client groups such as those requiring driver rehabilitation, third-party compensation and medico-legal representation.
- Recording clients' progress and maintaining professional relationships in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and ethical guidelines.
Expected Earnings
According to PayScale, an Occupational Therapist with at least three years of post-qualification experience may expect to earn a total remuneration of AUD 70,240. The average total remuneration for an Occupational Therapist with 8 years or more of qualified work experience is AUD 87,048.
Next Steps
It is strongly advised that you contact an immigration consultancy so that a consultant can determine whether you qualify for one or more of the visa processes listed above. New World Immigration is fully prepared to assist you with the visa application procedure for one or more of the visas listed.