- Mental Health Occupational Therapy Knowledge and Practice

Demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in the provision of Occupational Therapy services to children and/or young people with complex mental health, emotional regulation, behavioural and wellbeing needs, including an understanding of how sensory, environmental, psychosocial and functional factors can influence a student's participation, engagement and behaviour.

- Assessment, Intervention and Student Re-engagement

Demonstrated ability to undertake relevant assessment, identify barriers to participation and develop, implement and evaluate evidence-informed Occupational Therapy interventions that support emotional regulation, behaviour, wellbeing, school engagement and successful participation in classroom and learning environments. This may include individual intervention, small-group programs, environmental modifications and classroom-based strategies.

- Capacity Building and Collaborative Practice

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, families/carers, teachers, Education Support staff, Allied Health professionals, Wellbeing staff and relevant external services, including the ability to translate clinical knowledge into practical strategies, coaching and professional learning that builds the capacity of school staff to support students within their everyday environments.

- Initiative, Autonomy and Program Development

Demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively. Effectively manage a caseload and referral priorities, and identify emerging areas of student or school need. Demonstrated capacity to use initiative and clinical reasoning to develop innovative interventions, therapeutic programs, staff training and/or whole-school approaches that improve student mental health, regulation, engagement and participation.

- Evidence-Based Practice, Evaluation and Professional Development

Demonstrated commitment to evidence-based and reflective Occupational Therapy practice, including the ability to establish meaningful intervention goals, evaluate student and program outcomes, reflect on professional performance and modify intervention accordingly. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional learning relevant to mental health, disability, regulation, behaviour and contemporary Occupational Therapy practice.

- Communication, Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Practice

Demonstrated high-level written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex clinical information clearly and practically to students, families and staff. Maintain high-quality professional documentation and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary decision-making.

Selection Criteria

- Mental Health Occupational Therapy Knowledge and Practice

Demonstrated knowledge,



skills and experience in the provision of Occupational Therapy services to children and/or young people with complex mental health, emotional regulation, behavioural and wellbeing needs, including an understanding of how sensory, environmental, psychosocial and functional factors can influence a student's participation, engagement and behaviour.

- Assessment, Intervention and Student Re-engagement

Demonstrated ability to undertake relevant assessment, identify barriers to participation and develop, implement and evaluate evidence-informed Occupational Therapy interventions that support emotional regulation, behaviour, wellbeing, school engagement and successful participation in classroom and learning environments. This may include individual intervention, small-group programs, environmental modifications and classroom-based strategies.

- Capacity Building and Collaborative Practice

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, families/carers, teachers, Education Support staff, Allied Health professionals, Wellbeing staff and relevant external services, including the ability to translate clinical knowledge into practical strategies, coaching and professional learning that builds the capacity of school staff to support students within their everyday environments.

- Initiative, Autonomy and Program Development

Demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively. Effectively manage a caseload and referral priorities, and identify emerging areas of student or school need. Demonstrated capacity to use initiative and clinical reasoning to develop innovative interventions, therapeutic programs, staff training and/or whole-school approaches that improve student mental health, regulation, engagement and participation.

- Evidence-Based Practice, Evaluation and Professional Development

Demonstrated commitment to evidence-based and reflective Occupational Therapy practice, including the ability to establish meaningful intervention goals, evaluate student and program outcomes, reflect on professional performance and modify intervention accordingly. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing qualified learning relevant to mental health, disability, regulation, behaviour and contemporary Occupational Therapy practice.

- Communication, Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Practice

Demonstrated high-level written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex clinical information clearly and practically to students, families and staff.



Maintain high-quality professional documentation and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary decision-making.

Role

Ballarat Specialist School is seeking a motivated and innovative Mental Health Occupational Therapist to join our multidisciplinary Mental Health and Wellbeing Team.

This is an opportunity to work differently.

Rather than operating from a traditional clinic-based model, you will work directly within the environments where students experience challenges – classrooms, playgrounds, therapy spaces and across the broader school community.

Your focus will be on understanding the factors impacting a student's regulation, behaviour, engagement and participation, then working alongside the student, their family, teachers, Education Support staff and other professionals to create practical supports that help them successfully engage in school.

A significant focus of the role will be supporting students experiencing complex mental health, behavioural and wellbeing needs , including students who have become disengaged from learning or are experiencing difficulty accessing the classroom environment.

Why you'll love working with us

We want to provide our Occupational Therapists with the time, resources and professional autonomy to do great work.

This role offers the benefits and security of working within the Victorian Government school system, combined with a level of clinical autonomy and resourcing that allows you to genuinely develop your practice.

Competitive Victorian Government salary

The position will be classified at Education Support Class, Level 1, Range 4 (ES 1-4) under the applicable Victorian Government Schools Agreement, with salary determined according to the successful applicant's classification and experience.

School-based working hours

Enjoy working predominantly within school hours, providing greater consistency and work-life balance than many traditional community, NDIS or private-practice caseloads.

Generous leave and paid school holidays

Enjoy the leave entitlements available through the Victorian Government school system, including paid school holiday periods, providing a working calendar that is difficult to match in many clinical settings.

Dedicated therapy spaces

You’ll have access to dedicated spaces for individual therapy, small-group interventions, assessment, planning and collaborative work – while still having the flexibility to work directly within classrooms and other school environments.

A generous operational budget

We want our clinicians to have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. You’ll have access to a generous operational budget to support the development of therapy programs, resources, equipment and new initiatives.

Work as part of a genuine multidisciplinary team

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📌 Mental Health Occupational Therapist (Ballarat)
🏢 Government schools
📍 Ballarat