How do I find work as an Occupational Therapist in Western Australia if I trained overseas?

Prior to seeking work in Western Australia you will need to have your qualifications assessed by the Occupational Therapy Council. 

Occupational Therapy Council (Australia & New Zealand) Inc
Suite 7, Level 2, 23 Richardson Street, South Perth, WA 6151

Mailing Address: P O Box 959, South Perth WA 6951
All correspondence must be directed to the Executive Officer at the postal address above.

Office Hours: 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays)
Phone: (08) 9368 2655 (+61 8 9368 2655)
Fax: (08) 9368 2677 (+61 8 9368 2688)
Website: www.cotrb.com.au  Email: admin@cotrb.com.au

If, after assessing your qualifications, OTC decides that you are eligible to work as an Occupational Therapist in Australia, you would be required in Western Australia to find a position in which your employer would agree that a Senior Occupational Therapist in the organisation would supervise a “Practice Audit” for a period of 6 months full-time work or 12 months part-time work.

The supervisor and yourself would prepare a “Practice Audit Plan” to submit to OTC for approval. This plan would cover areas of weakness in your knowledge of Occupational Therapy practice for Australian conditions.

When OTC approves the Plan, you would be able to apply to the Occupational Therapists’ Registration Board of Western Australia for Temporary Registration, and then you could commence work with your employer. It may take up to 6 weeks for OTC to approve the Plan. In the meantime, before approval is granted, you could work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (with the same employer).

Once you have commenced the Practice Audit, your Supervisor would submit a report to the Registration Board halfway through the Audit, and again at the end of the term. If the Audit were successfully completed, the Registration Board would recommend that OTC should issue you with a Certificate of Professional Competency. With this certificate you would be able to obtain full registration, and practice as an Occupational Therapist in Western Australia independently (unsupervised).

The first step however, is to approach OTC. They will inform you of what you would need to submit for assessment, such as certified copies of your degree and academic transcripts.

For other details on finding work in Western Australia please refer to How do I find work as an Occupational Therapist in Western Australia.