Occupational Therapist

Government schools; Mildura; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development budget

Dedicated therapy spaces

Job summary

Red Cliffs Primary School in the Victorian Government school system invites applications for an Occupational Therapist to support students with diverse learning, sensory, and physical needs within an educational setting. You will work in a multidisciplinary team, with dedicated therapy spaces and school-hours-based practice.

The role offers clinical autonomy, access to professional development, and opportunities to impact whole-school inclusive practices and student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in providing high-quality evidence based occupational therapy assessment and intervention in educational settings.
• Strong communication and collaboration with students, families, teachers and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct occupational therapy assessments identifying sensory, motor, self-regulation and participation needs affecting learning.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individual and group intervention programs using evidence-based practice.
• Provide recommendations and adjustments to improve student participation in classroom and play environments.
• Support sensory regulation strategies, environmental modifications and assistive technology where appropriate.
• Collaborate with teachers, school staff, families and external agencies to create coordinated support plans.
• Contribute to IEPs and Student Support Group meetings.
• Build staff capacity through coaching and professional development.
• Maintain accurate records and reports, manage OT resources, and contribute to whole-school inclusive practices.
• Work within the school's multidisciplinary wellbeing and inclusion team.

Skills

Evidence-based OT

Collaborative relationships

Staff development delivery

Caseload management

Job description

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated experience in providing high-quality evidence based occupational therapy assessment and intervention to support children with diverse learning, sensory, physical needs within an educational or paediatric setting.

SC2 Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive collaborative relationships with students, families, teachers, external agencies and multidisciplinary professionals within a school.

SC3 An ability to build staff capacity through the development and delivery of professional development on relevant Occupational Therapy theory for whole school wide programs and individualised staff training in response to student needs.

SC4 Excellent organisational and time management skills, including the ability to manage a varied caseload, prioritise demands, maintain accurate records and contribute positively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Role

Why you'll love working with us

We want to provide our Occupational Therapists with the time, resources and professional autonomy to do great work.

This role offers the benefits and security of working within the Victorian Government school system, combined with a level of clinical autonomy and resourcing that allows you to genuinely develop your practice.

Competitive Victorian Government salary

The position will be classified at Education Support Class, Level 1, Range 4 (ES 1-4) under the applicable Victorian Government Schools Agreement, with salary determined according to the successful applicant's classification and experience.

School-based working hours

Enjoy working predominantly within school hours, providing greater consistency and work-life balance than many traditional community, NDIS or private-practice caseloads.

Generous leave and paid school holidays

Enjoy the leave entitlements available through the Victorian Government school system, including paid school holiday periods, providing a working calendar that is difficult to match in many clinical settings.

Dedicated therapy spaces

You’ll have access to dedicated spaces for individual therapy, small-group interventions, assessment, planning and collaborative work while still having the flexibility to work directly within classrooms and other school environments.

Work as part of a genuine multidisciplinary team

You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team of Mental Health, Wellbeing and Education professionals, with opportunities for regular collaboration, shared problem-solving and multidisciplinary intervention.

Dedicated professional development support

Continued professional growth is important to us. You’ll have access to a professional development budget to support relevant training, courses and development opportunities.

Autonomy to create and innovate

This isn't a role where every hour of your week is dictated by billable appointments.

You’ll have the autonomy to manage your caseload and referrals while identifying opportunities to develop new programs, staff training, group interventions, resources and whole‑school initiatives that improve outcomes for our students.

Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will:

• Conduct occupational therapy assessments to identify sensory, motor, self-regulation, functional and participation needs affecting student learning.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individual and small-group intervention programs using evidence-based practice.
• Provide recommendations and reasonable adjustments to improve student participation within classroom and playground environments.
• Support the implementation of sensory regulation strategies, environmental modifications, movement programs and assistive technology where appropriate.
• Collaborate with teachers, Education Support staff, school leaders, families and external agencies to develop coordinated support plans.
• Contribute to Disability Inclusion Profiles, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Student Support Group meetings.
• Build the capacity of school staff through coaching, professional learning and modelling effective strategies to support inclusion.
• Maintain accurate assessment records, case notes and reports in accordance with professional and departmental requirements.
• Manage occupational therapy resources and contribute to the ongoing development of whole‑school inclusive practices.
• Work collaboratively within the school's multidisciplinary wellbeing and inclusion team to improve educational and wellbeing outcomes for students.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via*******@education.vic.gov.au

Applicants seeking part‑time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case‑by‑case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

Location Profile

Red Cliffs Primary School was established in 1924. It is one of 21 schools in the Sunraysia area of the North Western Victoria region. It is the largest primary school in the Red Cliffs township. Red Cliffs PS has been classified a "High" performing school in 2024 & 2025.

Red Cliffs Primary offers a comprehensive education for its Prep-Year 6 student. Red Cliffs Primary school has - 1 Principal, 12 Teachers and 14 Education Support Staff.

We aim to develop a successful partnership between students, parents and staff to help all students realise their potential.

Students are encouraged to "Do Better Today than Yesterday", take pride in their work, show respect for fellow students, staff and parents and develop self-discipline practices which foster self-esteem, self-confidence and tolerance. The development of high-level speaking and listening skills remains a priority. Friendly, sincere communication with others is a goal for all.

The school places great emphasis on the acquisition of strong literacy and numeracy skills. The development of the whole child is an ongoing focus. Our classrooms are calm and focused. High expectations for student attitude, behaviour and achievement are explicitly articulated to the entire school community. Non-attendance is monitored daily and is a shared responsibility with the Student Welfare Officer, teachers and parents. Parents are contacted when students are away and the school is not informed of the reasons for their absence.

Red Cliffs Primary School provides its students with a friendly, safe attractive and stimulating learning environment. Our classrooms are modern and spacious. We provide Filipino LOTE, art and science classes and have a successful Out of School Hours Care program with TheirCare.

We are proud of our school and the relationship it enjoys with its families and the Red Cliffs community.