Occupational Therapist | Graduate Program

Avina; Penrith City Council; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Avina is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist Graduate Program in NSW, based in Penrith. The role offers a structured 9-week onboarding, gradual caseload ramp-up and regular supervision, with opportunities to learn across community and clinic settings.

You’ll develop clinical identity, work within an MDT, and gain experience in NDIS documentation and safe practice as you grow your capabilities across paediatric and adult contexts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master of Occupational Therapy completed or nearing completion.
• AHPRA registration or eligible to obtain registration.
• Interest in disability and community-based practice.
• Curiosity, initiative, willingness to learn and openness to feedback.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle.
• NDIS Worker Screening Check and Working With Children Check, or willingness to obtain them.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-informed, person-centred Occupational Therapy services across community, clinic, home and school environments.
• As capability grows, take on greater ownership of a real caseload.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to client outcomes.

Skills

AHPRA registration

Disability & community practice

Strong communication

Organisational skills

Driver's licence

Willingness to learn

NDIS/WCC checks

Education

Bachelor or Master of Occupational Therapy

Job description

Occupational Therapist | Graduate Program

• Structured 9-week onboarding and gradual caseload ramp-up
• Regular discipline-specific supervision, shadowing and supported practice
• Peer connection, multidisciplinary learning and room to build confidence

Starting your first role as an Occupational Therapist is a big transition. You should not have to arrive with all the answers. At Avina, our 12-month Graduate Program is designed to give you structure, people to turn to and the practical experience to become the clinician or practitioner you want to be.

Avina is a national allied health and behaviour support organisation, delivering community and clinic-based support to people across the lifespan, with 400+ clinicians across QLD, NSW, VIC and SA.

Everything we do is guided by our values:

Progressive | Curious | Respectful | Collaborative | Informed | Purposeful.

Your Graduate Year at Avina

Someone has your back

Your first year as an Occupational Therapist is about developing your clinical identity and building confidence in your own practice.

When you start with us, your first weeks are about learning, observing, asking questions and gradually taking on more.

The program begins with a structured 9-week onboarding and caseload ramp-up, supported by:

• Shadowing with experienced clinicians
• Reverse shadowing and supported sessions as you transition into independent practice
• Regular discipline-specific clinical supervision
• Case consultation, report review and clinical feedback
• Working collaboratively within an MDT
• Peer learning and connection with other graduates
• Communities of Practice and broader professional development opportunities

What You'll Learn

Become the clinician you want to be

Across your graduate year, you'll be exposed to a broad range of Occupational Therapy practice, learning alongside experienced clinicians, discipline peers and other graduates.

You'll have opportunities to build your capability across a range of Occupational Therapy practice areas, including:

• Functional assessment and capacity building
• Daily living, participation and independence
• Sensory, motor and emotional regulation
• Assistive technology and equipment

Alongside your clinical caseload, you'll also build broader professional skills, including:

• NDIS documentation and report writing
• Clinical risk and safe practice

What You'll Be Doing

You’ll deliver evidence-informed, person-centred Occupational Therapy services across community, clinic, home and school environments.

As your capability grows, you’ll take on greater ownership of a real caseload. The aim isn’t to make you "productive" as quickly as possible, it's to help you become safe, thoughtful and confident in work that makes a real difference.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor or Master of Occupational Therapy completed or nearing completion
• AHPRA registration or eligibility to obtain registration
• Interest in disability and community-based practice
• Curiosity, initiative, willingness to learn and openness to feedback
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle
• NDIS Worker Screening Check and Working With Children Check, or willingness to obtain them

Meet Your Team - Western Sydney

You’ll be based out of our Penrith office, working across Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Nepean and Hawkesbury regions. Caseloads here span a genuine mix of paediatric and adult clients, working across home, school, clinic and community settings.

It’s a team known for staying, many clinicians have been here for several years, well suited to someone curious, collaborative and keen to keep growing professionally.

Graduate Opportunities

• Alstonville - 30 minutes from Byron Bay
• Armidale - New England region
• Dubbo - in Central West NSW
• East Maitland - 30 minutes from Newcastle
• Goulburn - Southern Tablelands
• Gosford - an hour north of Sydney
• Inner Sydney
• Orange - Central West NSW
• Port Macquarie - on the Mid North Coast
• Wollongong

Other Occupational Therapy graduate opportunities we're recruiting for can be found on our Indeed page: https://au.indeed.com/cmp/Avina/jobs

If you're keen to build skills across a varied caseload, with real supervision and a team that actually has your back, we'd like to hear from you.