Occupational Therapist (Level 4) - Acute Team Leader

Sydney Local Health District; Sydney; On-site; AUD 132,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Allocated Day Off

Parental leave

Annual leave loading

Salary Packaging

Novated Leasing

Free courses and coaching

EAP counselling

Flu vaccination

Fitness Passport

Telehealth nutrition resources

Job summary

Sydney Local Health District invites applications for an Occupational Therapist Level 4 in the Acute Team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. This senior clinical and leadership role balances an acute caseload with supervision of the OT team to deliver high-quality patient care.

The successful candidate will provide clinical leadership, supervise staff, guide evidence-based practice, and work with senior leaders on planning and quality initiatives within a quaternary hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Current AHPRA registration as an occupational therapist.
• Extensive acute care experience with advanced clinical reasoning.
• Demonstrated clinical leadership including supervision and mentoring of staff.
• Ability to initiate and lead change in a fast-paced hospital environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a clinical caseload in the acute setting with complex patients.
• Provide clinical leadership to the acute OT team and supervise staff.
• Collaborate with senior leaders on planning, quality improvement and service planning.
• Lead change initiatives and ensure fair, transparent decision-making.
• Foster a positive team culture focused on patient-centred care.

Skills

AHPRA registration

Acute care experience

Clinical leadership

Mentoring staff

Change management

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Evidence-based practice

Team collaboration

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time; 38 hours per week

Position Classification: Occupational Therapist Level 4

Remuneration: $131,585 - $134,775 per annum + Superannuation

Location: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Requisition ID: REQ703838

In Sydney Local Health District our vision is Excellence in health and healthcare for all. Join the team at one of the leading public health organisations in Australia!

About The Role

The Level 4 Acute Team Leader is a senior clinical and leadership position within the Occupational Therapy (OT) department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), a quaternary referral hospital within Sydney Local Health District. This role combines a clinical caseload in acute care with clinical leadership and supervision of the acute OT team.

• Maintain a clinical caseload in the acute setting, working with complex, high‑acuity patients and modelling best‑practice occupational therapy.
• Provide clinical leadership to the acute team, supporting evidence‑informed practice, clinical reasoning and consistent service delivery.
• Supervise and support senior and junior staff, fostering professional development, accountability and a positive team culture.
• Partner with the Head of Department and other senior staff in planning days, quality improvement initiatives and team and service planning.
• Initiate and lead change, and work collaboratively with staff to make sound clinical and departmental decisions.

The successful applicant will be a confident and discerning leader who can balance clinical expertise with people leadership. You will be comfortable having challenging conversations, including addressing underperformance, and making difficult decisions with fairness, transparency and respect, always in the interests of patient care and a high‑performing team.

For more information, please view the Position Description.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced occupational therapist with a strong background in acute care and a genuine commitment to leading others. You will bring the clinical credibility to guide a team in a complex, fast‑paced quaternary hospital, and the people skills to bring out the best in the team you lead.

• Current AHPRA registration as an occupational therapist and eligibility for Occupational Therapy Australia membership.
• Extensive acute care experience, with advanced clinical reasoning and the ability to manage a complex caseload.
• Demonstrated clinical leadership, including experience supervising, mentoring and developing both junior and senior staff.
• The ability to initiate, lead and discern: you make sound, timely clinical and departmental decisions in collaboration with others.
• Confidence and integrity in managing performance, including holding challenging conversations and making difficult decisions fairly and respectfully.
• Experience contributing to quality improvement, service planning and change initiatives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and in partnership with senior leaders.
• A commitment to evidence‑based practice, professional development and the values of Sydney Local Health District.

You are a collaborative, resilient and self‑aware leader who is energised by supporting others to grow, and who keeps patient care at the centre of every decision.

Benefits

• Allocated Day Off (ADO) each month, paid parental leave and annual leave loading.
• Additional public holiday during the end of year period.
• Opportunity for extra tax savings through Salary Packaging and Novated Leasing. For more information visit SalaryPackagingPlus.
• Access to free courses, qualifications and coaching via Sydney Education.
• Access to confidential EAP counselling for staff and their families.
• Because we care about your health: Free annual influenza vaccination, discounted Fitness Passport membership, and free telehealth nutrition and wellness resources from qualified professionals.

For more information about other benefits, please visit SLHD Benefits.

This recruitment may be used to create a talent pool for similar future roles that may arise over the next 18 months.

Working for Sydney Local Health District - NSW Health

This is a Category A position. To be employed by NSW Health you are required to provide evidence of vaccination to comply with the NSW Health Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases Policy (PD2026_004).

SLHD is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability are encouraged to apply for all internal and externally advertised positions. If you require assistance, please advise the contact person at the time of your application.

Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles within NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/.

Sydney Local Health District is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards.

For more information about SLHD, please visit Working with Us.

To further connect with us, check us out on LinkedIn.

For further information, please contact the Head of Occupational Therapy, Joshua Yeung via email at [e-mail] or on 0448 350 688.

Applications Close: 16 November 2026

For applicant support and information, visit Applicant Information.