The Opportunity
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of your clients? Do you thrive in a supportive, collaborative environment where you can build meaningful, long-term relationships and see the lasting impact of your work? We’re looking for an enthusiastic, passionate and fun Occupational Therapist to join our close-knit, experienced and multidisciplinary team.
About Us
Therapy and Education Support Services (TESS) is an early intervention service that is managed by Lifetime Connect, which is a not-for-profit community-based organisation that specialises in providing services to local communities across the Port Macquarie, Kempsey-shire council, Nambucca Valley, Bellingen Valley and Coffs Harbour local government areas. This position is for the Port Macquarie area and surrounds. With over 50 years supporting our local communities, our Lifetime Connect team of passionate professionals continues to grow. To find out more about the amazing work our people do, visit our website!
About the Position
Our service prides itself on working alongside families and children using a family-focused, client-centred, and strengths-based approach. The clientele will include a range of disabilities, developmental delays, learning difficulties and more. We welcome applicants who are passionate about paediatrics, cultural inclusivity, continuous professional development, and providing client-centred therapy.
Applicants will be:
- Empowering children and families to achieve their goals through an integrated approach to therapy.
- Working with children and adolescents aged 0-15 years 1:1 And in groups
- Mobile working in a range of settings including homes, preschools and schools – making each day unique and rewarding
- Collaborating and working alongside clients, their families, therapy teams, teachers and support networks to develop and achieve therapy goals
- Developing long-term client relationships
- Conducting functional capacity assessments for private-paying and NDIS participants
- Completing comprehensive reports to support NDIS reviews, families seeking a diagnosis and to provide summaries and recommendations for a child’s functioning
- Collaborating with our multidisciplinary team across the Port Macquarie and Macksville offices
- Having direct input into how their therapy is delivered, the resources available to them and who they work with
- Supported by Administration to manage calendars, book appointments and manage client invoicing, so that you are able to focus on your clinical practice
- Offered regular 1:1 mentoring and supervision, with the opportunity to shadow the Senior OT in session, or to have their support in initial sessions with clients
- Given a professional development budget, as we prioritise best-practice
- Given a flexible and autonomous timetable, which will include a daily expectation of four billable hours, involving supporting three to four clients each day as a new graduate. Billable hours are dependent on qualifications, experience, and skill level.
Benefits
- Orientation: A 4-week structured induction program to ease you into your caseload and give you that critical insight and roadmap to your new career.
- Supportive Environment: We offer an ongoing individualised mentoring and supervision structure tailored to your learning needs. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of highly experienced therapists and be supported by Administration to manage calendars and appointments. We engage in fortnightly Caseload and Staff Collaboration Meetings, as well as monthly Staff Meetings.
- Team Culture: We are a small, close-knit team from diverse backgrounds that care for and look out for one another. Staff development days are also great fun.
- Variety of Work: You will be supported to work with a diverse range of clients and families. You get a say in what referrals you take on and which demographic of clientele you believe you would work best with.
- Opportunities for growth: You will be supported to pursue special areas of interest, which can include the creation and implementation of projects or programs you are passionate about.
- Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements to suit your lifestyle, personal commitments and work. You will be able to work from home, work in an office space once a week and have input into how you’d like to structure your calendar. We highly value work-life balance.
- Resource Access: We have a wide range of therapy tools and equipment but are always looking to expand our resources based on recommendations from staff.
- Ongoing Professional Development: Excellent internal and external professional development opportunities including access to a Professional Development Allowance, a personal development day and a resource budget. Ongoing CPR and First Aid training is included.
- Leave Entitlements: Including annual leave, parental leave, study leave, and generous sick/carers leave.
- Pay: A competitive pay package based on relevant qualifications and experience. There are also tax-effective salary packaging opportunities including $15,899 each year tax free, increasing the value of your take-home pay.
- Insurance: Professional Indemnity Insurance included.
Essential criteria
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy
- Current membership/ registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Valid Working With Children Check clearance number
- Applicants must successfully undertake a pre-employment police check
- Current Drivers License
- Valid drivers licence and access to a car/vehicle with comprehensive insurance
Desired
- Passion for working with children and adolescents in a community setting
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Commitment to providing neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based and client-centred practice
- Time management and organisational skills
- Paediatric Occupational Therapy experience
- Previous experience working with NDIS clients
- Private practice experience
- Experience conducting OT assessments
- Understanding and knowledge of sensory processing
Note: previous experience is not required for the role but is welcomed
Lifetime Connect welcomes applications from culturally and linguistically diverse candidates, suitably qualified people who may have a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
We encourage you to submit an application today. We will be actively shortlisting applications as they are received. Lifetime Connect reserves the right to close this role to new applications prior to the advised closing date, should suitable candidates be identified for this opportunity.
