Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Qualification Level
Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Occupational therapy is a hands-on career in Australia’s health sector. It focuses on helping people rebuild independence after illness, injury or disability. About 35,600 occupational therapists work across the country. The profession is adding roughly 3,000 new roles each year, a clear sign of steady demand (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).
Day to day, an occupational therapist looks at how a client manages physical and everyday tasks. They then build a plan that supports the client at home, at work or at school. That plan might include practical strategies, home changes or gear such as splints and mobility aids. Therapists often work closely with other health professionals as part of a shared care team.
Formal study is required before you can register. Under the Occupational Therapy Council accreditation system, a course must meet strict national standards. Most students complete a bachelor’s degree. A master’s is also an option if you already hold a related qualification.
For students who want variety and long-term job security, occupational therapy stands out. It offers clear paths into paediatrics, mental health and other specialist areas. It also remains one of the more resilient parts of Australia’s growing health workforce.
Occupational Therapy workers may earn between $65000 and $118000 per year
Occupational therapists in Australia earn median weekly earnings of $1,913, or around $99,500 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).
SEEK’s career advice data (2026) puts the average advertised salary between $90,000 and $105,000 a year. Entry-level roles typically start closer to $65,000 to $75,000, while experienced senior therapists in specialist or leadership roles can earn well over $115,000.
After finishing your OT course, you can step into hands-on roles across health and community settings. Many graduates help clients manage daily tasks with more independence. This might mean support after an injury, a new disability, or an age-related change. Roles you might take on include:
Occupational therapists support people to build or regain the skills they need for daily life. Common parts of the role include:
It is detailed, people-focused work, and the impact is often quick and deeply personal. Many therapists say that seeing real progress in a client’s independence is one of the best parts of the job.
Occupational therapy suits people who enjoy hands-on problem-solving as much as working directly with people. Employers and clients typically look for:
If that sounds like the way you like to work, occupational therapy could be a strong long-term fit. It suits people who want a career with a clear, visible mark on someone else’s life.
The job market for occupational therapists in Australia stays strong. About 35,600 people work in the profession today. Roughly 3,000 new roles are added each year as demand grows across health, disability and aged care services (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).
Much of that growth ties to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Australia’s ageing population and a bigger focus on mental health support also play a part. Together, these trends push demand for occupational therapists well beyond traditional hospital settings.
Graduates can expect openings in hospitals, private practice, schools, aged care and community health organisations. Therapists who build skill in NDIS work, paediatrics or regional practice often find some of the strongest, steadiest demand.
An occupational therapy degree opens the door to a varied career with steady, long-term demand. Graduates work across hospitals, private practice, schools, aged care and disability services, often moving between settings as their skills grow.
Client needs vary widely, from child development to age-related decline, so most therapists later pick an area of focus. Common paths include mental health, hand therapy, brain injury care and paediatrics. Each usually calls for extra study once you are working in the field.
The questions below cover common queries about accreditation, career focus and long-term value.
Yes. It is a registered allied health role in Australia, and OTs work as part of wider health teams. They need formal sign-off from the national OT board.
Yes. Look for a degree backed by the national accreditation system, which checks that a course meets the standard needed for registration. You can check a course’s code through training.gov.au.
Yes. OTs often focus on paediatrics, mental health, brain injury care, hand therapy or aged care, and extra study is usually part of that path.
OTs help boost patient outcomes and cut health costs through early support, discharge plans and hands-on rehab work. This matters most in aged care and disability services.
Yes. Australian OT training is often recognised abroad, most of all in the UK, New Zealand and Canada. Rules still vary by country, so check before you move.
