How to become an Occupational Therapist

Assesses functional limitations of people resulting from injuries, illnesses and disability, and provides therapy to enable people to perform their daily activities and occupations.

Main tasks

• Assesses clients' emotional, psychological, developmental and physical capabilities using clinical observations and standardised tests
• Assesses clients' functional potential in their home, leisure, work and school environments, and recommends environmental adaptations
• Plans and directs programs using vocational, recreational, remedial, social and educational activities for individuals and groups
• Provides education to family members, carers, employers and teachers about adapting clients' home, leisure, work and school environments
• Provides recommendations for assistive technologies that allow clients to increase their independence and perform daily activities
• Provides education regarding restorative or compensatory strategies
• Collaborates with other Health Professionals in overall case management of clients
• Collaborates with other Professionals to provide specialist advice to client groups such as those requiring driver rehabilitation, third-party compensation and medico-legal representation
• Monitors and records clients' progress and maintains professional relationships in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and ethical guidelines

Ways in

• University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $99,476 a year
• About 31,300 people work in this job group now, and about 41,600 are projected by 2035. (+33.1%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Chiropractor
• Exercise Physiologist
• Exercise and Sports Scientist
• Physiotherapist
• Podiatrist
• Speech Pathologist

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Occupational Therapist?

Ways in include: Allied Health degrees.

How much does an Occupational Therapist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $99,476 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Occupational Therapist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 33% by 2035, from about 31,300 to about 41,600 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Occupational Therapist?

Usually. 98% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Occupational Therapist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04