Senior Occupational Therapist Level 3

Southern NSW Local Health District; Sydney; On-site; AUD 84,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern NSW Local Health District is seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist Level 3 to lead recovery-focused OT for adults with complex mental health needs. You will support safe transitions from hospital care to community living, within a collaborative mental health service at Cumberland Hospital, North Parramatta.

You will provide advanced assessments, plan care, deliver group programs, and lead service development while working within a dedicated multidisciplinary team and aligning with

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or higher in Occupational Therapy and registration with AHPRA.
• Proven experience using standardised occupational therapy assessment tools.
• Experience delivering recovery-based programs in mental health settings.
• Clinical work in a multi-disciplinary team with supervision and teaching.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in computer systems and data/documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist, evidence-based occupational therapy to adults with severe mental illness.
• Lead recovery-focused assessments, care planning and transition to community living.
• Design and evaluate individual and group programs promoting participation and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on assessment, planning and transition.
• Lead practice improvement, education and evaluation within the service.
• Build partnerships with consumers, families and external agencies to strengthen supports.

Skills

Assessment tools

Evidence-based care

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Digital literacy

Recovery-focused care

NSW Mental Health Act 2007

Education

Bachelor degree or higher

Registration with AHPRA as Occupational Therapist

Job description

Lead recovery-focused occupational therapy for people with complex mental health needs

Support meaningful transitions from hospital to greater independence in the community

Champion practice change within a collaborative multidisciplinary mental health service

Build recovery, independence and community connections through specialist occupational therapy for people with severe and persistent mental illness.

Employment Type:Temporary Full Time (up to 5th February 2027)
Position Classification:Occupational Therapist Level 3
Remuneration: $61.31 - $63.29 per hour
Hours Per Week:38 (Job Share may beconsidered for part time hours)
Location:Cumberland Hospital

Where you’ll be working

Join Western Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Services at Cumberland Hospital, North Parramatta, and become part of the Pathways to Community Living Initiative (PCLI) team. You’ll work within a service committed to innovative, person-centred and least restrictive mental health care, helping people achieve meaningful outcomes beyond hospital.

Work at NSW’s largest and Australia’s oldest mental health facility, with a strong focus on recovery and rehabilitation.

Join a multidisciplinary workforce supporting consumers across primary, secondary and tertiary mental health services.

Be part of a service undergoing significant transformation, including the major Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead.

Work alongside consumers, carers, families, clinicians and government and non-government partners to create sustainable pathways into the community.

Grow your clinical and leadership capability within a service guided by Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment (CORE) values.

What you’ll be doing

As a Senior Occupational Therapist Level 3 within the PCLI team, you’ll provide specialist, evidence-based occupational therapy to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, supporting recovery, functional independence and safe transitions from long-stay inpatient care to community-based living.

Provide advanced occupational therapy assessment, intervention, care planning and coordination tailored to each consumer’s strengths, needs and goals.

Design, deliver and evaluate individual and group therapeutic programs that promote participation, independence, recovery and wellbeing.

Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to contribute to assessment, case conferencing, treatment planning and transition planning.

Lead practice improvement through service development, quality improvement, education, training, research and evaluation.

Build strong partnerships with consumers, carers, families and external agencies to strengthen community supports and achieve sustainable outcomes.

At NSW Health, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while developing your career in a supportive and progressive environment. Bring your expertise, leadership and passion for recovery-focused care to a role where your work can help transform lives and strengthen pathways from hospital to community.

Qualifications: Bachelor degree or higher level.
Registration: Demonstrated full registration with AHPRA as an Occupational Therapist.

Selection Criteria

Demonstrated skills and experience in occupational therapy specific standardised assessment tools.

Demonstrated experience in evidence-based service provision and commitment to recovery-based program implementation and evaluation.

Proven clinical experience within a multi-disciplinary team with the ability to provide consultancy, supervision, education and training on occupational therapy issues.

Demonstrated advanced written and verbal communication skills.

Computer competence and literacy, including the use of database systems.

Demonstrated ability to collaborate meaningfully with consumers and carers with a commitment and understanding of recovery principles in mental health service provision.

Demonstrated working knowledge of NSW Mental Health Act 2007.

Requisition ID: REQ680405
Applications Close:5th October 2026

For inquiries about the role, contactMilu Francis on [e-mail]

People with disabilities who meet the selection criteria are encouraged to apply; and where required, WSLHD will implement reasonable adjustment consistent with industry standard.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles in NSW Health organisations. For more information, please visit https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/.

Please note: A person who is not an Australian citizen or a permanent resident is only eligible for temporary employment for a period not longer than the duration of their current visa or a period not shorter than the duration of the advertised position.

NSW Health acknowledges the people of the many traditional countries and language groups of New South Wales. It acknowledges the wisdom of Elders past and present, and pays respect to all Aboriginal communities of today.