Nikkidylan

Not sure if there are  OTs who have recently moved and looking for work but aren't AHPRA registered yet - Found this ad on Seek - they are looking for OTs and are willing to provide sponsorship so if you are already in Australia without registration they should be able to take you on as well. 

https://www.seek.com.au/job/50192584?type=standout#searchRequestToken=40c22134-5bf1-4cf7-8d51-01881b026e7e

If anyone is in the AHPRA registration Catch 22 of needing to be registered to apply for a job but needing a job before you can fully register ,I found an ad on Seek that is looking for OTs/PTs with limited registration

https://www.seek.com.au/job/38153642?searchrequesttoken=d808cf15-cb18-43d9-a2fb-ad394424261b&type=standout

Thanks NikkiDylan. I have contacted all involved and there appears no way round this. The locum agencies have been really good but it appears all employers want full registration and cant be faffed with the paperwork involved. Im that close to heading back to the UK as this is just ridiculous. Im assuming you are an OT?? If so, did you take up a non clinical role and if so, in what area? Thanks for the feedback BTW.

It is ridiculous - something they haven't thought through at all. And Aussies as you'll find out are sticklers for rules over common sense sometimes! I am an OT- I was lucky to have started working last year before the July 1st start of national registration so I was able to get provisional registration while doing my practice audit. I wish you the best of luck and really hope it works out for you. The practice audit was a bit of paperwork but like I said before did not affect my day to day job. It was a bit weird to do it to be honest as I've been an OT for 8 years and it felt like going back to being a student for a while. If I come across anything that may be helpful (I'm in Melbourne) I'll pass that along.

That is a rather silly situation. Have you considered an agency that would specifically recruit in the UK- they would know of others in the same position and how they solved their issue

http://www.aussielocums.com.au/australia/professions/occupational-therapy

I also went to the OT council website and under their FAQs

http://otcouncil.com.au/?page_id=23

it states

Yes, you are able to do this.

Would a way around it being looking at a non-clinical role for the practice audit - they would not be as stringent on the registration aspect, get the audit done and then look at clinical positions? A bit of a roundabout way of doing it, but may work

If all else fails, have you contacted the OT Board under AHPRA directly with your situation and see what response you get?

Please contact the OTBA in the first instance for all questions and concerns related to registration to practice as an occupational therapist in Australia.

Occupational Therapy Board of Australia

GPO Box 9958, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

Telephone: +61 3 8708 9001

Website: http://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au

Good luck- you will get there, it must be really frustrating being under this catch-22.

Occupational-Therapy-Board---Form---Application-for-limited-registration-for-supervised-practice.pdf

Occupational-Therapy-Board---Form---Application-for-limited-registration-for-supervised-practice.pdf

This is the form for your registration which will allow you to be do the supervised practice audit. If the attachment doesn't work, the link is

http://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/Registration/Forms.aspx

and you'll find it under the Limited Registration heading

Occupational-Therapy-Board---Form---Application-for-limited-registration-for-supervised-practice.pdf

More information from the AHPRA website which gives the new link to OT council who must have processed your desktop audit for immigration

[h=2]Overseas qualified practitioners[/h]Internationally-qualified occupational therapists wanting to practise in Australia are currently required to undertake an initial assessment in compliance with the requirements specified by the Occupational Therapy Council (OTC). This assessment comprises:

• Stage 1 - desktop audit
  
• Stage 2 - Supervised practice audit
  

These initial assessment processes will then qualify internationally-trained practitioners for registration by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Please visit the OTC website for further details on the initial assessment processes.

In addition, further information is provided at the Board’s website comprising of facts sheets detailing information on:

• Demonstrating English language skills for overseas qualified practitioners
  
• Grandparenting - pathways to practise transitional arrangements for overseas qualified practitioners
  

[h=1]The following information is on the OT Australia website

http://www.otaus.com.au/about/requirements-for-overseas-trained-occupational-the You should be able to get conditional AHPRA registration with the requirement that you have to complete a practice audit. It is a lot of paperwork, but doesn't affect your day to day working conditions.

Requirements for overseas-trained occupational therapists[/h]Occupational therapists who have trained overseas and wish to migrate and work as occupational therapists in Australia, are required to undergo an assessment conducted by the Occupational Therapy Council (OTC) previously known as Council of Occupational Therapy Registration Board (COTRB).

Click here to view the OTC Information Leaflet

This assessment process involves an initial desktop audit where you will need to meet a number of criteria before being able to migrate. Once in the country, you will complete a goal-directed practice audit in your initial employment, designed to ensure that your practice skills develop and that you are able to attain standards required in an Australian work context.

For full details, contact the OTC directly:

OTC

Postal Address:

PO Box 959

South Perth WA 6951

Street Address:

Suite 7, Level 2, 23 Richardson Street

South Perth WA 6151

Telephone: 08 9368 2655

Fax: 08 9368 2677

E-Mail: admin@cotrb.com.au

Website: http://www.cotrb.com.au