Occupational Therapy at Early Bird Therapy
Our Occupational Therapists primarily support autistic children and children with developmental delays. Areas of practice commonly include play, emotional regulation, sensory processing, fine motor development, daily living skills, school participation, and parent coaching.
We work in our Fyshwick clinic, as well as in homes, schools, and childcare settings. A typical week may involve direct therapy, parent coaching, collaboration with educators, multidisciplinary planning, report writing, functional capacity assessments, and group programs.
No two Occupational Therapists at Early Bird have exactly the same role.
Early Bird's Occupational Therapy team works from a neurodiversity-affirming and family-centred framework. We focus on supporting meaningful participation in everyday activities and helping children build the skills they need to engage in the things that matter to them.
Your Career, Your Direction
There is no single career pathway at Early Bird.
Some Occupational Therapists enjoy developing expertise in sensory processing, emotional regulation, daily living skills, school participation, functional capacity assessments, or parent coaching. Others prefer the variety that comes with being a generalist clinician.
Some are interested in clinical leadership, supervising students, mentoring newer clinicians, running groups, or developing new programs. Others simply want to become excellent clinicians and spend most of their time working directly with children and families.
There is no right or wrong approach.
Wherever possible, we work with clinicians to create opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and long-term goals.
We trust our clinicians to bring their own strengths, interests, and professional judgement to their work.
Building Expertise Together
Our Occupational Therapy team includes clinicians at different stages of their careers. We place a strong emphasis on learning, collaboration, and supporting one another to continue developing our clinical skills.
Occupational Therapists regularly collaborate with Speech Pathologists, Behaviour Support Practitioners, Psychologists, Therapy Assistants, and our administration team to provide coordinated support. This multidisciplinary approach allows clinicians to learn from colleagues with different expertise while providing more coordinated support for families.
Occupational Therapists also have opportunities to work alongside Therapy Assistants to support implementation of therapy programs and skill development between appointments.
As a team, we're committed to continuing to build expertise in the areas that matter most to the children and families we support. We welcome clinicians who enjoy sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and contributing to the ongoing development of the team.
Support for Every Stage of Your Career
Whether you're a new graduate or an experienced clinician, you'll have access to regular supervision, professional development, and support from an experienced multidisciplinary team.
Occupational Therapists participate in fortnightly individual supervision and monthly group supervision with the Occupational Therapy team. These sessions provide opportunities to discuss clinical cases, share resources, and problem-solve challenges.
Early-career Occupational Therapists also participate in a fortnightly multidisciplinary supervision group facilitated by our Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner, providing additional opportunities to develop skills in areas such as neurodiversity-affirming practice, regulation, behaviour, and working with families.
We provide a generous professional development budget, and clinicians are encouraged to use it in ways that support their individual interests and caseload. Whether you're developing expertise in sensory processing, emotional regulation, daily living skills, assessments, or another area of practice, we want to support your professional growth.
External supervision is also available for clinicians who would benefit from additional support or specialist expertise.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for Occupational Therapists who genuinely enjoy working alongside children and families.
The most important qualities we look for are collaboration, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. We value clinicians who can build strong relationships with families, communicate openly with colleagues, and contribute positively to a team environment.
Experience is always valued, but it isn't everything. We welcome applications from clinicians at all stages of their careers, including new graduates.
Essential:
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Eligibility to work in Australia
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Qualification in Occupational Therapy and eligibility for AHPRA registration
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Current Working With Vulnerable People registration (or ability to obtain one)
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Driver's licence and access to a vehicle
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills
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Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
Highly Valued:
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Experience working with children and families
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Experience supporting children with developmental differences and disabilities
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We're currently well staffed, however exceptional clinicians are hard to find.
If Early Bird sounds like the kind of place where you would enjoy working, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you're a student approaching graduation, a new graduate looking for support, or an experienced clinician considering a change, we welcome expressions of interest.
Both part-time and full-time opportunities may be available. While we have a preference for clinicians working three or more days per week, we are open to discussing arrangements from two days per week for the right person.