Brighter Beginnings Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Northern Sydney Local Health District; Sydney; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 79,000; Part time

Job summary

Northern Sydney Local Health District is hiring an Occupational Therapist (Level 1/2) to join the Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks Preschool Team. You will deliver developmental surveillance screening for preschool children across ECEC services in a structured service model, collaborating with educators, families and a multidisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes pre-screening to post-screening activities, with responsibilities for screening assessments, observation of

Qualifications

• Bachelor or postgraduate degree in Occupational Therapy enabling registration in Australia.
• Demonstrated clinical assessment, goal development and evaluation with a client- and family-centered approach.
• Ability to apply clinical reasoning within scope of practice and seek guidance when needed.
• Understanding of developmental surveillance and screen-and-refer services versus ongoing therapy.
• Strong communication with families and Early Childhood educators about developmental observations.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team within a high-volume service.

Responsibilities

• Deliver developmental surveillance screening for preschool children in ECEC settings.
• Conduct screening assessments and observe developmental indicators.
• Contribute to outcome classification and referral pathways within scope of practice.
• Provide timely clinical assessment and group-based intervention when required.
• Operate within the pre-screening, screening and post-screening phases of the service model.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Client-centered care

Education

Bachelor or postgraduate degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Help children and their families get the right support before starting school. Join the Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks Preschool Team, part of the Northern Sydney Local Health District Child, Youth and Family Community Health Service. You’ll be a key member of an interdisciplinary team delivering developmental surveillance screening in early childhood education settings, working alongside experienced colleagues and in partnership with educators and families. It’s a collaboration between NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education, supporting the NSW First 2000 Days Framework. Employment Type: Permanent Part Time Position Classification: Occupational Therapist Level 1/2 Remuneration: $40.05 - $57.14 per hour Hours Per Week: 32 Requisition ID: REQ701081

Who we are:

We are a health service that touches thousands of lives across the Northern Sydney Local Health District, together as a team of like-minded people. We are passionate, driven and have the skills and knowledge to care for our patients whilst creating the best services possible. Our teams have meaningful, interesting and rewarding work everyday. We challenge and nurture each other, sharing our knowledge and experience so that we can deliver better care for everyone There’s a real sense of belonging here because we value and respect our patients, employees, and teams’ voices. You’ll feel a real privilege being a trusted caregiver in our patients, their families, their carers, and our communities’ lives.NSLHD is proud of our diverse and inclusive workplaces, a place where health care professionals can thrive and feel they belong. We are committed to ensure that all our people feel respected and participate safely within a work environment without aggression, sexual harassment, discrimination and racism.

Where you're working:

Royal North Shore Community Health Centre as part of the Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks Team

What you'll be doing:

As an Occupational Therapist (Level 1/2), you’ll be a member of the interdisciplinary Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks in Preschool Team, within the NSLHD Child, Youth and Family (CYF) Community Health Service. You’ll help deliver developmental surveillance screening for preschool-aged children in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services across Northern Sydney. BBHDC is a collaboration between NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education. Its purpose is early identification of children’s health and developmental needs before school entry. The role operates within a structured service model across pre-screening, screening, and post-screening phases, with primary responsibility for conducting screening assessments, observing developmental indicators, and contributing to outcome classification and referral pathways within their scope of practice. When required, the role also provides timely clinical assessment and group-based intervention for children identified through developmental surveillance screening.People of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.

Candidates will need to meet the following criteria:

• A bachelor or postgraduate degree in Occupational Therapy which provides eligibility for membership of Occupational Therapy Board of Australia Australia.
• Demonstrated clinical experience in Occupational Therapy assessment, goal development and evaluation, with a client- and family-centred approach.
• Demonstrated ability to apply clinical reasoning within scope of practice, including recognising when to seek guidance or escape.
• Please describe your understanding of developmental surveillance and how a screen-and-refer service differs from an ongoing therapy service.
• Demonstrated effective communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully with families and Early Childhood educators about developmental observations, including when views differ or concerns are sensitive.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, and to manage workload and prioritise tasks in a structured, high-volume service with minimal day-to-day supervision.

For role related queries or questions contact Apichaya Bushell on [e-mail]. This is a NSW Health Category A position which requires immunisation and screening for certain diseases. The full list of requirements are outlined in the NSW Health OASV Policy (Page 11). You will be required to complete the OASV Undertaking/ Declaration Form and TB Assessment Tool during the recruitment process. Please upload this with your application along with any other vaccination evidence that you may have. NSW Health is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards. The team enriching health in millions of ways every day.

Applications Close: 2 November 2026 Tentative Interview Dates: 17th and 24th November 2026