Senior Allied Health Professional – Occupational Therapist

Catholic Education South Australia; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 105,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Education South Australia is seeking a Senior Allied Health Professional – Occupational Therapist to lead school-based OT services across regional South Australia. The role involves travel to regional and remote schools, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, and contributing to the CILAH program to improve student participation and wellbeing.

The successful candidate will have tertiary OT qualifications and AHPRA registration, with strong communication skills and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in occupational therapy and current general registration with AHPRA.
• Experience in allied health in schools and regional settings is desirable.
• Strong communication and collaboration with education teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver school-based occupational therapy services to support student participation, wellbeing and learning.
• Collaborate with school leaders, educators and families to identify needs and strengthen inclusive practices.
• Provide coordinated support with multidisciplinary professionals across regional and remote communities.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement within CILAH.
• Engage in travel across regional SA, with occasional overnight stays.

Job description

Senior Allied Health Professional – Occupational Therapist

$116,160 per annum + super + CEO pool car access

• Commencement Date: Monday 11th January 2027
• Location: Adelaide or Port Pirie negotiable Subject to operational requirements and organisational needs, there may be an opportunity for ongoing employment following the conclusion of the fixed-term period, or an increase in FTE.

The Opportunity

Make a meaningful difference for students and school communities across regional South Australia. This newly created position responds to the growing demand for allied health support across regional and remote schools in the Port Pirie Diocese and Metropolitan Adelaide, providing an exciting opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to help shape the services available to these communities.

As part of the CESA Improved Learning through Allied Health (CILAH) multi-disciplinary program, you will apply your occupational therapy expertise to strengthen student participation, wellbeing and learning. You will work closely with school leaders, educators and families, alongside a collaborative multidisciplinary team including Psychology and Speech Pathology, to deliver practical, evidence-informed support and strengthen inclusive practice.

The role involves regular travel across regional and remote school communities, including occasional overnight stays, with the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with principals and school staff central to your success is a requirement of the role.

For regional applicants: During the first two weeks of the appointment some days will be based at our Parkside office in Adelaide for induction, onboarding and connection with CESA colleagues.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver school-based occupational therapy services that support student participation, wellbeing, and learning.
• Identifying factors that influence student engagement and participation at school and developing practical, evidence-informed strategies to support positive outcomes.
• Partner with school leaders, educators and families to identify needs and strengthen inclusive practices.
• Build educator capability through consultation, coaching, professional learning and implementation support.
• Collaborate with allied health and education colleagues to provide coordinated support for students and schools.
• Contribute to CILAH service development, quality improvement and professional guidance, including peer supervision where appropriate.

About You

We are seeking someone who possesses:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in occupational therapy and current general registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• High level experience identifying factors that influence student participation and success at school, in collaboration with students, families and educators.
• Experience implementing practical, evidence-informed strategies that support student wellbeing, regulation, participation and learning.
• Highly developed communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with educators, families and multidisciplinary professionals.
• A genuine commitment to inclusive education and improving outcomes for students, particularly students with disability.
• The flexibility, independence and resilience to work across geographically diverse regional communities, including regular intrastate travel.
• Make a regional impact: Use your occupational therapy expertise to support students and school communities.
• Help shape growing services: Contribute to the development of CILAH allied health support across regional and remote schools.
• Work collaboratively: Join a multidisciplinary team across psychology, occupational therapy and speech pathology.

About Us

We are Catholic Education South Australia (CESA), with more than 9,500 staff who are Raising Hearts and Minds of over 56,000 students across 101 Catholic schools.

Committed to educational excellence, our schools provide dynamic, innovative and personalised learning in a Catholic context, from Early Years to Year 12 and beyond. Working in partnership with families, we educate and nurture the whole person, supporting students to become thriving people, capable learners and leaders for the world God desires.

Through the CESA Improved Learning through Allied Health (CILAH) program, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists work alongside schools to improve students’ access, participation, wellbeing and learning. CILAH combines direct student-focused support with capacity building, helping school leaders, teachers and education support staff strengthen inclusive practice within their school communities.