Senior Occupational Therapist

Welcome to St John of God Health Care

St John of God Health Care is one of the largest private providers of health care services in Australia, employing more than 16,000 employees (caregivers). We operate 26 hospitals and services comprising more than 3,300 hospital beds, including home nursing, disability services and social outreach programs.

As a Catholic, not-for-profit group, we invest all profits to the communities we serve by updating and expanding our facilities and technology; expanding existing services and developing and acquiring new services; and providing Social Outreach services to people experiencing disadvantage to improve health and wellbeing.

Your role at St John of God Midland Hospital

The Senior Occupational Therapist (Geriatrics) works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver senior clinical occupational therapy services to clients in the geriatric speciality. This role ensures that practice aligns with the Occupational Therapy Australia Code of Ethics, as well as St John of God Health Care (SJGHC) policies and guidelines.

The Senior Occupational Therapist is expected to work autonomously and demonstrate a high level of specialist knowledge and depth of experience. The role involves initiating and participating in teaching, training, research, and quality improvement activities. The therapist will also supervise students and provide guidance and mentorship to junior caregivers. A key focus of this role is to manage the main ward including the speciality POD of dementia patients (following a Montessori framework) as well as the providing a rehab service to the GEM patients.

The Position

• Provision of an innovative approach to Occupational Therapy services within a Geriatric speciality.
• Completion of comprehensive patient assessment (e.g. assessment of personal care, domestic and community ADLs, assessment of the home environment, cognitive and functional physical assessment as required).
• Provision of a comprehensive treatment intervention and appropriate progression treatment to match functional goals to manage complex patients.
• In conjunction with the Manager and other Occupational Therapy caregivers, develop processes for the evaluation of both inpatient and outpatient Occupational Therapy programs.
• Patients/clients plans and outcomes are regularly monitored through attendance at and participation in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• Strive for high satisfaction levels of patients/clients and external agencies.
• Responsible for completing appropriate administrative duties. This requires liaison with the administration team, reporting of statistical data and completion of progress notes.
• Provide written and verbal reports as required.
• Referrals to external agencies are initiated in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates consolidated, current knowledge of research, evidence-based practice in Occupational Therapy and related clinical areas.
• Required to exercise independent professional judgment on routine matters. They may require direct professional supervision from more senior caregivers when performing novel, complex or critical tasks.
• Leads and contributes to undergraduate student programs and training.
• Leads and develops junior staff within the team.
• Acts as a role model for staff in promoting professional values and ethics.
• Represents the profession either clinically or in relation to service development as require. Initiates and participates in working parties, committees and internal forums at a discipline and divisional level as required.

Position Requirements

The successful applicant will hold a tertiary qualification in Occupational Therapy and hold a current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You will be able to demonstrate a minimum of 4 years clinical experience within the geriatric speciality area in the acute hospital/community healthcare and/or disability care settings. The role requires the ability to provide professional supervision and mentoring to junior staff, supporting their professional development and maintaining high standards of clinical practice and service development.

The successful applicant will also have a proven ability to develop evidence-based and innovative clinical practices, along with experience in initiating and conducting quality improvement activities.

Above all, patient care will be at the core of everything you do committing to and supporting our Mission and Values.

We can offer you

• Salary: $126,487 to $134,871 per annum, plus 12% superannuation
• Permanent full time position up to 76 hours per fortnight
• Discounts on hospital services & private health insurance
• Salary packaging up to $18,550 on a range of benefits such as mortgage, rent, meal entertainment, holiday accommodation or other everyday living expenses as well as options to salary package benefits above the FBT cap on items such as:
• Novated leasing
• work related expenses
• self-education and

• additional superannuation

• Free on-site parking

• Access to fitness and wellbeing benefits through Fitness Passport
• Innovative Professional Development opportunities
• A welcoming and supportive culture
• A healthy work-life balance through flexible work options, additional purchased leave & well-being programs

All applicants are asked to submit a covering letter (of no more than two (2) pages) demonstrating how you meet the above position requirements

At St John of God Health Care, we celebrate diversity and warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Our commitment is to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children and vulnerable individuals in our care and proactively take steps to protect them from abuse, ensuring their safety and well-being. Our inclusive culture fosters an environment that is respectful and secure, welcoming, and accessible, and unified through our diverse community.

If we identify a surplus of suitable candidates for this role, you may also be invited to a candidate talent pool list where you could be offered an alternative position.

For enquiries contact Jenni French, Occupational Therapist Manager, on