Study Occupational Therapy Courses in Australia

Occupational therapy is a career that is in demand in Australia. With a rising number of elderly people, more professionals are required to meet their needs. The number of OTs required in Australia are increasing to 25,600 required in 2026 (currently 23,600 employed). President of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) said that workforce needs to grow in order to keep up with the increasing demand, and are actively asking the government to make it easier to recruit professionals from overseas.

This means that occupational therapy creates pathways into permanent residency, with many visa types and work opportunities available.

The average salary is $88,000, which is more than the national average income. There are also opportunities to specialise, upskill, niche down, and earn more in senior roles. If you are ready to explore studying Occupational Therapy in Australia as an international student, then contact us now.

Read on for more details on how you can begin your OT journey.

Employment can be found in a huge range of different sectors and facilities:

• Academic institutions / public schools

• Child development centre

• Community health centres

• General practitioner’s offices

• Institutions for the disabled

• International health agencies

• Health and wellness facilities

• Home care agencies

• Hospitals/ clinics

• Long-term care facilities

• Nursing and residential care facilities

• Outpatient facilities

• Private practice offices

• Rehabilitation centres

• Research centres

• Social service agencies

The role may include things like:

• Running treatment sessions for rehabilitation exercise

• Assessing workplace or home environments and suggesting modifications and adaptive equipment as needed

• Developing treatment plans

• Reporting to other agencies as required and working with other health professionals

• Advising family, friends, and carers about actions required

Potential job titles could include:

• Case manager

• Clinical occupational therapist

• Community occupational therapist

• Occupational therapist

• Rehabilitation consultant

• Research and development occupational therapist

• Vocational evaluator

There are three popular pathways into an occupational therapy career in Australia. Please note that English requirements and fees will vary across providers, and this information will be on the learning institution’s website.

Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance HLT43015

This six-to-nine-month course is only available to domestic students. It’s an excellent gateway into those not able to enter into the bachelor course directly. This qualification allows you to assist an occupational therapist. The course is free or highly subsidised. A ACSF Level 4 Literacy and Level 3 Numeracy assessment will be conducted.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

This four-year degree can be completed across a huge range of universities across Australia. It’s the most common way for people to gain entry into the field. Providers should be accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia and the course approved by Occupational Therapy Australia. The course includes substantial hours of supervised clinical practice. Minimum IELTS score must be 7.0 overall. Fees range from $25,000 per annum to $45,000.

Master of Occupational Therapy

Completion of this two-year qualification enables you to work in roles managing or training OTs, in more senior OT roles, and often working between the government/ organizations and the end users. IELTS scores need to be a minimum of 7.0 across all bands. Fees range from $80,000 to $140,000, depending on the institution.

How to Register as an Occupational Therapist in Australia

Once you’ve qualified, you must register with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. This will also require a number of checks, including police screening, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker screening, and a Working With Children check. You must also comply with all Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) policies and standards.

Once approved, you’ll be expected to join Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA), the professional group for occupational therapists. This provides the ability to read industry journals and keeps you up to date with best practices and professional development. You can also join the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

If you intend to come to Australia and work as an occupational therapist with an overseas qualification, you’ll need to sit a skills assessment with the OTC first. This is comprised of a desktop assessment and supervised practice of at least three months’ full time duration. A minimum IELTS score of 7 is required.

Due to the demand for OTs in Australia, there are multiple pathways to permanent residency.

186 – The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa is a permanent visa where you must be nominated by an employer.

189 -The Skilled Independent Visa is a permanent points-tested visa that allows skilled and qualified workers to move to Australia in order to find work. You must be under 45 years of age and must score at least 65 points in order to be eligible to be invited to apply.

190 – The Skilled Nominated Visa is permanent, and allows you to move to Australia if screened in SkillSelect and invited to apply by the government.

407 - The Training Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to two years. It is intended to allow you to complete workplace-based training while you upskill to apply for permanent visa types.

485 - The Temporary Graduate Visa allows recent graduates to stay for up to 18 months. You simply transition from a student visa, and can start applying for OT roles in order to gain permanent employment and visa.

482 – The Temporary Skill Shortage Medium Term Stream Visa allows you to work in Australia for up to four years in an OT role.

494 – The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa is for up to five years, and allows regional employers to hire OTs when they cannot find local workers.

491 – The Skilled Work Regional Visa is for up to five years, and allows you to live and work in Australia in state or territories that require OT roles. You can apply for PR after three years on this visa.

States and territories currently requiring OTs include NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Canberra, And Tasmania.

Get in contact with us at IDP Education. We can help you look for your dream course in Australia, help with your application, and even assist with visa applications. We’ve helped thousands of people get into the university of their dreams, and we can help you too.