Are you ready? New competency standards for occupational therapists take effect on 1 January!

04 Dec 2018

The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (the Board) is reminding occupational therapists to be ready and familiarise themselves with the new Australian occupational therapy competency standards (the competency standards) now before they come into effect on 1 January 2019.

The Board has developed the new competency standards to acknowledge changes in the profession since occupational therapists became nationally regulated for the first time on 1 July 2012.

The new competency standards replace the Australian competency standards for new graduate occupational therapists which were previously developed by Occupational Therapy Australia.

‘We appreciated the level of engagement by occupational therapists from around Australia during the development of the competency standards. We carried out an extensive consultation process with a broad range of stakeholders to clearly benchmark the expected standard of practice for the profession,’ said Board Chair Ms Julie Brayshaw.

‘The competency standards take effect in less than one month. We are asking practitioners to take the time now to understand and familiarise themselves with the new standards before 1 January 2019,’ Ms Brayshaw added.

The competency standards focus on four conceptual areas of occupational therapy practice: professionalism, knowledge and learning, occupational therapy process and practice, and communication. The competency standards specifically acknowledge the need for occupational therapists to enhance their cultural responsiveness and capabilities with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The new standards also include reference to the integration of evidence, reflective practice, digital literacy and the use of appropriate assistive technology.

The competency standards come into effect on 1 January 2019 and apply to all occupational therapists whether they work in research, education, management or a role that may not involve direct care.

The Board has published the new competency standards, including resources that can be used within practice settings on its website, see www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/competencies.

For more information

For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 2 9275 9009 (overseas callers).