Occupational therapy

An occupational therapist is a rehabilitation professional who assists individuals to compensate for functional limitations as a result of an injury, illness or disability by learning skills and techniques needed to perform activities to optimise independence. Occupational therapists can be useful for a job seeker in the following capacities:

• 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 disability and for co-workers.
• Creating customised treatment programmes 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.

Panel of workplace assessors

The workplace assessors listed in the Workplace Adjustment Tool are part of a panel of assessors formed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations as part of the Employment Assistance Fund.

The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. Under the Fund, the JobAccess Advisers will assess the need for a workplace assessment and organise the assessment, at no cost to the employer or employee, with one of the professionals listed in the panel. 

Alternatively, an employer can approach a panel member independently for a paid assessment.

For more information about workplace assessments under the Employment Assistance Fund, call the JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800.

• Employment Assistance Fund

Links to workplace assessors for occupational therapy

• Occupational therapy