OT Coaching Confidential

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, Alyce is joined by Bobby, an occupational therapist in the process of returning to paediatric practice after spending eight years overseas working across health coaching, strength and conditioning, and other roles outside occupational therapy. After allowing his registration to lapse, Bobby made the decision to return to Australia and to OT but quickly discovered that coming back to the profession involved far more than simply submitting a registration application. Over the past several months, he has invested heavily in professional development, completed extensive shadowing and mentoring, navigated the AHPRA re-registration process, and approached his return with a clear goal: not simply to become registered again, but to become the best therapist he can be. Together, we explore what it really looks like to return to occupational therapy after significant time away, how much the profession and employment landscape have changed, and why taking ownership of your own professional development matters at every stage of your career. We explore: Returning to occupational therapy after eight years away from the profession Navigating AHPRA re-registration, recency of practice requirements, and the uncertainty within the process The time, financial investment, professional development, and shadowing involved in preparing to return Why starting the registration process earlier can make a significant difference Finding your way back into professional networks and learning when you have been disconnected from OT for years Using mentoring, professional development, shadowing, and professional communities intentionally Choosing your next OT role based on values, supervision, support, and opportunities for growth Looking beyond recruitment language to understand what a workplace actually values What meaningful supervision and support can look like for a returning therapist Taking responsibility for your own professional development rather than expecting your workplace to provide everything Curiosity, lifelong learning, and knowing your scope as foundations for becoming an exceptional therapist Why access to skilled clinicians, observation, and therapeutic role models matters Recognising when a plateau might actually mean you need a new challenge or opportunity to grow Key takeaways: If you are considering returning to OT, start exploring the registration process early, it may take considerably longer than expected Returning after time away does not mean starting from zero; experience from other roles and stages of life can shape the therapist you become You do not need to accept the first role available simply because you are returning to practice, take time to understand what support, supervision, and workplace culture actually look like Ask prospective employers what a typical day or week looks like and what separates therapists who thrive in their organisation from those who do not Good supervision needs to be more than a promise; look for clarity around frequency, structure, joint sessions, and how support will change over time Professional growth requires personal responsibility, workplaces can support your development, but they cannot own it for you Exceptional therapists remain curious, recognise what they do not know, seek out people who know more, and become increasingly confident about the boundaries of their own scope Learning how you learn best helps you invest your professional development time and money more intentionally You do not need to know exactly where your career is heading before taking the next step; curiosity, connection, and intentional action can open opportunities along the way Mentioned in this episode: AHPRA and the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia re-registration and recency of practice process Occupational Therapy Australia, including professional development, interest groups, resources, and professional practice advisors The Art of Paeds The OT Coach Hub and professional mentoring The OT Coach Australia's training on choosing your next OT role Michelle Bihary's work around lifelong learning and professional development Recruitment support for allied health professionals Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia. Supporting allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity, and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops, and The OT Coach Academy. If this conversation resonated with you and you would like support as you return to practice, navigate your next career step, or continue developing as a clinician, visit The OT Coach Australia to explore how we can support you. The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I’m joined by Luana, a paediatric occupational therapist who stepped into private practice 12 months ago after almost a decade working across clinical practice, leadership and education. Now running a mobile paediatric practice in a regional community, Luana has gone from wondering where her referrals would come from to managing a full caseload and a growing waitlist. Together, we explore what happens when the challenge is no longer finding enough work, but deciding how you want your service to show up for your community. We unpack different ways of supporting families beyond ongoing one-to-one therapy, creating clearer referral and intake pathways, and valuing your expertise when opportunities arise outside traditional clinical work. We explore: Moving from managing a waitlist to thinking about how you want to service your community Creating referral pathways that gather the right information before families reach your waitlist Rethinking weekly and fortnightly therapy as funding models change Assessment pathways, one-off consultations and other alternatives to ongoing therapy Designing a caseload around the way you actually want to practise Using parent education, workshops and school consultation to support your broader community Deciding when offering your expertise for free is worthwhile and when it needs to be paid Moving beyond the NDIS hourly rate when pricing consultation and professional learning Using daily, half-day and consultation rates to value your time more intentionally Thinking about pricing from the top down: how much you want to work, what the business needs to earn, and what your services need to cost Key takeaways: A growing waitlist doesn’t automatically mean you need to fit more one-to-one clients into your week Families sitting on a waitlist are not yet active clients, and your systems need to reflect that boundary Asking better questions at referral can reduce administration while helping you identify the right clients for your service Families may benefit from an assessment, one-off consultation or practical recommendations without immediately entering ongoing therapy Service delivery should be based on what is clinically indicated, rather than simply continuing the weekly or fortnightly models we have become accustomed to Free professional opportunities can still have value when you are clear about the intention and return, whether that is community connection, marketing, referrals or professional fulfilment Consultation and training are different service offerings from therapy and do not need to be priced at the same hourly rate Knowing what you want your business to earn and how much you want to work can help you price services more sustainably Mentioned in this episode: My Murphy’s Single Session Therapy approach and training Community and parent education as an alternative way of supporting families Regional grants to fund community education initiatives The Sole Trader Hub at The OT Coach Academy Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia. Supporting allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity, and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops, and The OT Coach Academy. If this conversation resonated with you and you would like support through supervision, business mentoring, or reflective practice, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you. The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by John, an occupational therapist who made the move from vocational rehabilitation in New Zealand to complex psychosocial NDIS practice in Australia, and who is now stepping into leadership as an OT team leader. After seven years as an occupational therapist and one year in a leadership role, John reflects on the transition from being a confident clinician to supporting others to grow. Together, we explore the challenge of teaching skills that have become second nature, balancing clinical work with leadership responsibilities, and discovering that authentic leadership isn't about becoming someone else, it's about becoming more intentional in how you lead. We explore: Transitioning from clinician to team leader while continuing to grow clinically Why being an excellent OT doesn't automatically prepare you for leadership Helping therapists develop clinical reasoning by making your own thinking visible Time management, billable hours, and supporting sustainable ways of working Creating systems that improve report writing, supervision, and professional development Leading former peers while finding your own authentic leadership style Supporting staff wellbeing alongside quality clinical outcomes Continuing your own professional development while mentoring others Key takeaways: Leadership is a separate professional skill that deserves intentional development The knowledge that feels instinctive to experienced clinicians often needs to be unpacked before it can be taught Authentic leadership creates stronger supervision relationships than trying to imitate someone else's style Time management and billable practice are professional skills that can be learned and supported Good supervision helps therapists understand why they make clinical decisions, not just what to do Sustainable leadership balances staff wellbeing, clinical quality, and organisational needs Professional growth doesn't stop when you become a leader, it simply shifts focus Mentioned in this episode: Michelle Bihary's Reflective Supervision and Leadership Training Sarah's Billable Time Workshop (Verve OT Learning) The Reflective Competence Model (available in The OT Coach Resource Library) The OT Coach Professional Development Planning Resources Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia. Supporting occupational therapists and allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity, and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops, and The OT Coach Academy. If this conversation resonated with you and you'd like support through supervision, leadership mentoring, reflective practice, or professional development, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you. The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by Katie, an occupational therapist with a background in acute, rehabilitation and hospital practice who is building a completely new area of occupational therapy in maternal health. After experiencing the transition into motherhood herself, Katie recognised a gap in the support available to women recovering from Caesarean birth. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and lived experience, she's now developing a private practice that combines occupational therapy, education and digital resources to support mothers physically, emotionally and practically through one of life's biggest transitions. Together, we explore what it really takes to build a business around an idea that doesn't yet have a roadmap and the difference between having a great clinical concept and creating a service people can access, understand and value. We explore: Identifying an emerging area of occupational therapy practice through lived experience Moving from hospital practice into private practice and business ownership Building referral networks before asking for referrals Defining an ideal client and positioning a service outside traditional OT pathways Designing a client journey that balances education, therapeutic support and sustainable service delivery Using AI as a strategic thinking partner for business planning, marketing and content creation Creating scalable digital resources alongside one-to-one clinical services The practical foundations of private practice, including pricing, Medicare, business systems and client onboarding Key takeaways: Some of the best business ideas begin by solving a problem you've experienced yourself. Creating a new area of practice requires just as much clarity around service design as it does clinical expertise. Building genuine professional relationships comes before building referral pathways. Confidence often follows action not the other way around. AI can become a valuable thinking partner when used for planning, strategy and idea development, not just content writing. A well-designed client journey helps transform knowledge into a sustainable and valuable service. Building a niche business is about testing, refining and learning not waiting until everything feels perfect. Mentioned in this episode: Sensational Start to Setting Up in Private Practice (Verve OT) – A workshop covering pricing, business foundations, funding pathways and setting up a sustainable private practice. Digital Picnic – Practical training and education for building an intentional social media strategy. Claude AI & ChatGPT – Using AI tools as strategic thinking partners for business planning, marketing and content creation. Ready to Boss Legal – Legal templates and resources for Australian online businesses and private practice owners. Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia. Supporting occupational therapists and allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops and The OT Coach Academy. If this conversation resonated with you and you'd like support through supervision, business mentoring or reflective practice, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you. The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by Harry, an occupational therapist working in paediatrics while also holding a pastoral leadership role within his church community. After taking seven years to complete his occupational therapy degree and spending much of his early adulthood mentoring young people, Harry reflects on the transition into professional practice and the challenge many early career therapists face: knowing they are helping clients, but not yet feeling confident explaining exactly why what they are doing works. Two years into practice, Harry is beginning to recognise that many of the relational skills, instincts, and experiences he brings to therapy are not separate from occupational therapy, they are part of it. Together, we explore what happens when lived experience, therapeutic use of self, and professional frameworks start to come together, and how confidence often grows from learning the language behind work you are already doing well. In this conversation, we explore: Bringing previous mentoring, youth work, and pastoral experiences into occupational therapy practice Understanding therapeutic use of self as a genuine clinical skill Clarifying intervention approaches and helping families understand why particular strategies are being chosen Moving beyond one-off supervision questions and towards intentional three-month therapy planning Identifying how you learn best and seeking supervision and professional development opportunities that align with your learning style Navigating uncertainty about future career pathways, including paediatrics, assistive technology, home modifications, and assessment-focused roles Key takeaways Confidence often develops from recognising and naming skills you already possess Being naturally good at connecting with people is a valuable therapeutic skill, not simply a personality trait Supervision, training, and mentoring serve different purposes, and it is okay to ask directly for the support you need Intentional reflection and short-term planning can make complex caseloads feel more manageable You do not need to decide on your long-term career direction early in practice, curiosity and exploration are part of professional growth Mentioned in this episode The Art of Paeds Training The Client Snapshot Tool Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia. Supporting allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity, and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops, and The OT Coach Academy. If this conversation resonated with you and you would like support through supervision, business mentoring, or reflective practice, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you. The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.