New Graduate Occupational Therapist – Paediatrics

Centre for Developing Children – Bankstown NSW

Start Your OT Career Somewhere That Invests in You

Your first year as an Occupational Therapist matters.

At Centre for Developing Children (CFDC), we don't expect new graduates to walk in on Day 1 with all the answers, carry a full caseload and simply figure it out as they go.

We believe great clinicians are developed through strong mentoring, supported clinical experience, reflective practice and gradual exposure to complexity.

That's why we've developed a structured New Graduate OT Pathway designed to support your transition from university into confident paediatric practice.

If you're graduating in 2026 or have recently started your OT career and know that paediatrics is where you want to be, we'd love to meet you.

About CFDC

At Centre for Developing Children, we do occupational therapy differently.

We are a growing paediatric occupational therapy practice supporting children and young people aged 0–25 years through evidence-based, child-led and strengths-based intervention.

Our therapists work collaboratively with children, families, educators and other professionals to create meaningful outcomes that translate beyond the therapy room into everyday life.

Our clinical practice includes:

- Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI)
- Sensory processing and regulation
- Motor coordination, postural control and praxis
- Emotional regulation and participation
- Self-care and functional independence
- School readiness and participation
- Developmental and relationship-based approaches
- Parent, educator and capacity-building supports
- Individual and group-based intervention

You’ll have access to purpose-built therapy spaces and sensory integration equipment, alongside opportunities to work with children across clinic, education and community environments.

The CFDC New Graduate Pathway

We know the transition from student to clinician can feel enormous.

You won’t be expected to know everything.

You will be expected to be curious, reflective, open to feedback and committed to becoming an excellent clinician.

We’ll support you to get there.

Your development pathway will include:

Structured onboarding

Your first weeks are about learning, not filling a diary.

You’ll be introduced progressively to CFDC’s clinical frameworks, systems, documentation standards, assessment processes, intervention approaches and ways of working with families.

Gradual caseload progression

We don’t believe in handing a current graduate a full caseload in Week 1.

Your caseload will build progressively as your confidence,



clinical reasoning and independence develop.

Regular clinical supervision

You’ll receive ongoing supervision with experienced paediatric Occupational Therapists, with opportunities to discuss clients, clinical reasoning, assessments, intervention planning and professional development.

Mentoring beyond supervision

Sometimes you don’t need a formal supervision session — you need someone available to help you think through what just happened in a session.

You’ll work within a team where asking questions is expected and learning is part of the job.

Shadowing and supported practice

Your early development may include opportunities to observe experienced clinicians, participate in joint sessions and receive practical support as you develop your own therapeutic style.

Assessment development

You’ll progressively build experience across paediatric assessment, clinical observation, goal setting, interpretation and report writing — with support rather than being expected to figure it out alone.

Clinical reasoning

We don’t want to teach you a collection of activities.

We want you to understand why you’re doing what you’re doing.

You’ll be supported to develop strong clinical reasoning and connect assessment findings, sensory‑motor development, participation, relationships and functional outcomes to intervention.

Professional development

You’ll have opportunities to develop your knowledge across areas relevant to CFDC’s clinical practice, including sensory integration‑informed intervention, regulation, motor development, functional participation and developmental approaches.

Our goal is simple:

By the end of your graduate year, we want you to look back and recognise how much you have grown — not just in confidence, but in the depth of your clinical reasoning.

What You’ll Do

As your caseload develops, you will:

- Provide occupational therapy to children and young people aged 0–25 years
- Support sensory processing, regulation, motor development, praxis, self‑care, independence and participation
- Complete assessments and contribute to comprehensive clinical recommendations
- Develop meaningful, participation‑focused goals with children and families
- Deliver individual and group‑based intervention




- Work across clinic, school, early childhood, home and community environments
- Collaborate with parents, educators and other professionals
- Develop your skills in clinical documentation and report writing
- Participate in team meetings, supervision, professional development and reflective practice
- Contribute ideas to a growing and evolving paediatric practice

Who We’re Looking For

We’re less interested in how many paediatric courses you’ve already completed and more interested in how you think, learn and connect with people.

You may be a great fit if you:

- Are graduating in 2026 or are an early‑career Occupational Therapist
- Know that working with children and families is where you want to build your career
- Are curious and genuinely interested in understanding the why behind intervention
- Are reflective and receptive to feedback
- Value evidence‑based, strengths‑based and child‑led practice
- Build genuine relationships with children and families
- Are comfortable asking questions when you don’t know something
- Want mentorship rather than simply a workplace that gives you a caseload
- Are excited by the opportunity to grow alongside a developing organisation

Essential Requirements

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy
- Eligibility for or current AHPRA registration
- Working With Children Check
- National Police Check
- NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willingness to obtain
- Driver’s licence and access to a vehicle

Students completing their final OT placement or awaiting AHPRA registration are encouraged to apply.

Why Start Your Career at CFDC?

Because your first job should give you more than a caseload.

At CFDC, you’ll have access to:

- A structured New Graduate OT development pathway
- Regular supervision and clinical mentoring
- Gradual caseload progression
- Shadowing and supported clinical learning
- Purpose‑built paediatric therapy spaces
- Sensory integration equipment and clinical exposure
- Assessment and report‑writing development
- Individual and group intervention opportunities
- Work across clinic and education/community environments
- A collaborative team where clinical discussion is encouraged
- Professional development opportunities
- Exposure to experienced paediatric clinicians
- Opportunities to grow as CFDC continues to develop

Most importantly, you’ll be joining a workplace that expects you to still be learning.

We aren’t looking for a finished clinician.

We’re looking for someone with the right foundations who wants to become an exceptional one.

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📌 New Graduate Occupational Therapist – Paediatrics (City of Canterbury-Bankstown)
🏢 Centre for Developing Children
📍 City of Canterbury-Bankstown