Occupational Therapist | Dementia & Mental Health | Western Suburbs

This is a unique opportunity to join a six-month, evidence-based pilot program supporting older adults living with dementia and severe and persistent mental illness within residential aged care.

Rather than stepping into a traditional high-volume caseload, you’ll play a key role in assessing complex residents, developing highly individualised interventions, and helping reduce behaviours of concern through meaningful, occupation-based therapy.

This is a 0.8 FTE role across 4 days per week, with the possibility of extension depending on program outcomes.

On Offer:

- Salary starting from $95,000 + super pro rata, depending on experience
- Fixed-term contract with possible extension
- Senior clinical autonomy
- Strong governance and leadership support
- Opportunity to contribute to a new, evidence-based program
- Meaningful work with complex older adult clients
- Genuine scope to influence service design and future growth

This is a unique opportunity to join a six-month, evidence-based pilot program supporting older adults living with dementia and severe and persistent mental illness within residential aged care.

Rather than stepping into a traditional high-volume caseload, you’ll play a key role in assessing complex residents, developing highly individualised interventions, and helping reduce behaviours of concern through meaningful, occupation-based therapy.

This is a 0.8 FTE role across 4 days per week, with the possibility of extension depending on program outcomes.

On Offer:

- Salary starting from $95,000 + super pro rata, depending on experience
- 0.8 FTE, 4 days per week




- Fixed-term contract with possible extension
- Senior clinical autonomy
- Strong governance and leadership support
- Opportunity to contribute to a new, evidence-based program
- Meaningful work with complex older adult clients
- Genuine scope to influence service design and future growth

About the Role:

As the Occupational Therapist, you’ll work across two key clinical streams:

- Dementia and behavioural support
- Older adult mental health

Your focus will be on understanding the person behind the behaviour and developing practical, evidence-based interventions that improve engagement, participation and quality of life.

You’ll work closely with nursing, physiotherapy, lifestyle teams and senior leadership to embed meaningful activity across the resident’s entire week.

What You’ll Be Doing Your role will include:

- Completing comprehensive functional, cognitive and behavioural assessments
- Assessing mental health presentation, occupational history, routines and interests
- Developing individualised care and activity plans
- Delivering 1:1 occupation-based intervention
- Facilitating structured therapeutic groups
- Supporting sensory modulation and behavioural regulation
- Contributing to multidisciplinary case formulation
- Coaching nursing, care and lifestyle staff




- Reassessing client outcomes throughout the program
- Contributing to the program’s 3-month and 6-month evaluation reports

You’ll also have the opportunity to work with evidence-based approaches including:

- Tailored Activity Program
- Montessori-based dementia care
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
- Sensory modulation
- Recovery-oriented practice
- DICE-informed behavioural formulation
- Meaningful-role and activity-based reablement

Why This Role Stands Out:

This role is designed for an experienced clinician who wants to use high-level clinical reasoning rather than simply carry a large caseload.

You’ll have the prospect to influence:

- Client outcomes
- Staff practice
- Behaviour support approaches
- Restrictive practice reduction
- Service development
- The future direction of the program

Work-Life Balance

- 4 days per week
- Fixed-term position with possible extension
- Senior clinical role with strong governance support
- No traditional high-volume community caseload
- Clear focus on quality clinical outcomes

Professional Impact This is an opportunity to contribute to a genuinely innovative service model.

Your clinical outcomes and assessment data will help shape the future business case for ongoing and potentially expanded services.

What We’re Looking For:

This role will suit an experienced OT who is confident managing complex clinical presentations and enjoys working collaboratively across disciplines.

Requirements:

- Bachelor or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy
- Current unrestricted AHPRA registration
- Full Australian working rights

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📌 Occupational Therapist | Dementia & Mental Health | Western Suburbs (Williamstown)
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📍 Williamstown