Early Career Occupational Therapist

Early Career Occupational Therapist - Division of Rehabilitation, Aged & Palliative Care

Join Southern Adelaide Local Health Network as an Early Career Occupational Therapist, where you'll launch your healthcare career in a supportive, collaborative team environment. This full-time, long-term contract position offers exceptional professional development opportunities alongside experienced clinicians. Make a meaningful impact on patient lives while building your expertise with SA Health, South Australia's largest employer and leader in healthcare innovation.

About the role: 

Reporting to the Director Occupational Therapy, this role is responsible for providing Occupational Therapy services to inpatients and outpatients, which result in safe and timely discharge, and improved independence and occupational outcomes for patients.  This position is rotational and will provide services across subacute services depending on roster, including rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care services. Rotations may be located at Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital or Repat Health Precinct. 

This opportunity is open to graduates with less than 6 months of clinical experience. 

Duties for the role will include:

• Assessing the client’s occupational abilities, problems and needs using a variety of formal and informal assessments,
• Planning and implementing intervention programs,
• Collaborating in team meetings and case conferences to ensure holistic patient centred care, 
• Documenting assessment findings and interventions in a timely and accurate manner,
• Engaging in performance appraisal process, reflective practice and professional supervision to foster professional growth 

About you:

• A degree or equivalent qualification which entitles registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia,
• Ability to provide sound professional judgement and clinical reasoning to situations and the management of patients, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team,
• Ability to undertake assessment and intervention with clients with a range of illness and disabilities across various clinical settings
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities,
• Effective time management and organisational skills

Why SALHN?

• Develop and grow professionally: You will be offered opportunities for ongoing education tailored to individual disciplines and tailored to your needs as an individual – leading to more relevant and effective outcomes
• Join a supportive team: Increase your job satisfaction by working in a friendly, collaborative team with access to approachable, flexible, and supportive colleagues and managers who respect and value your contribution, expertise and knowledge
• Team Culture: Be part of a supportive team culture which will actively seek your ideas and feedback on systems and practices, contributing to the new models of care and provision of services. 
• Our Mission: To build a thriving community by consistently delivering reliable and respectful health care for, and with, all members of our community. 
• Health and Fitness Benefits: Staff access to pool and gym 

Please see the attached Role Description for additional information.

Want To Know More? Contact: Amanda Smith, Director Occupational Therapy, 0421 098 136, Amanda.Smith3@sa.gov.au

Application Closing Date: 11.55 pm Sunday 20 September 2026

Attachments:

• Early Career Occupational Therapist- Role Description
• Australian applicant guidelines
• International applicant guidelines

Applicant Information:

• We also offer salary sacrifice benefits which provide the opportunity to save money by paying for some of your everyday expenses from your salary before it is taxed. Click here to find out more about salary packaging.
• The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
• Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and Immunisation compliance as indicated on the Role description.
• SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply.  Job ref: 949413