An Occupational Therapist is a rehabilitation professional who assists people who experience functional limitations as a result of an injury, illness or disability by teaching skills and techniques needed to perform activities to optimise independence.
Occupational Therapists work in a variety of industries and settings including hospitals, rehabilitation units, occupational rehabilitation centres, retirement or nursing homes, psychiatric clinics or community centres, paediatric community centres or clinics and private practice.
Occupational Therapists work with both children and adults who experience a wide range of disabilities including physical and intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Occupational Therapists can assist people in the workplace to gain and maintain employment by:
- conducting assessments of a job seeker's abilities and assessing the effect that their disability may have on their capacity to perform certain jobs
- conducting comprehensive job site evaluations
- providing recommendations for workplace modifications and adjustments
- helping to make changes to the work environment to ensure the workplace is safer for an employee with a disability and for co-workers
- creating customised treatment programs to improve a person's ability to perform activities
- providing information about adaptive equipment and usage training
- guidance to employers or co-workers if needed.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance towards the costs involved in modifying the workplace, or purchasing special or adaptive equipment for eligible employees with disability.
For more information about workplace assessments under the Employment Assistance Fund or assessments in the workplace, see the following links:
References
Occupational Therapy Australia 2007, Occupational Therapy Australia Ltd., Canberra, viewed 12 April 2011, http://www.otaus.com.au/.