CONSUMER INFORMATION

The Board has produced a brochure entitled "Consumer Information" which provides information on:

• Occupational Therapists
• Professional Recognition
• The Board
• Registration
• Your Rights as a Consumer
• Concerns
• Notification of Complaints

Download Consumer Information [3 pages]


POLICY - ANNUAL REPORT RECORDING - COMPLAINTS   (adopted 18 October 2000)


1.   Complaints against Registered Practitioners or Service Providers/Disciplinary Inquiries

1. Unsubstantiated
   Only the category of unprofessional conduct, the allegations made and Committee/Board findings should be reported, not the identity of the practitioner or service provider concerned.
   
   
2. Substantiated (suspension and above)
   The allegations, detailed findings of the Board of Inquiry (including penalty and costs awarded) and the name of the practitioner or service provider concerned should be reported in the Annual Report.

   In both cases above the names (or identities) of notifiers and witnesses would not be recorded in the Annual Report.


2.   Prosecutions Under the Act

1. No Prosecution or Unsuccessful Prosecution
   The event is reported, but not the name of the person concerned.
   
   
2. Successful Prosecution / Conviction Recorded
   The event, allegations, Court finding (including penalty) and the name of the person should be reported in the Annual Report.

POLICY - RELEASE OF POSTAL ADDRESS LABELS  (adopted November 2003)

All requests for postal address labels must be for professional, educational or research reasons and approved individually by the Board.

All requests to the Board must:
  (a)  provide an explanation of the proposed use for the labels;
  (b)  be accompanied by a copy of all the documentation to be circulated to occupational therapists; and
  (c)  give an undertaking that the labels will be used once only for the express purpose given.

The Board in its absolute discretion will decide whether or not to accept any request for address labels. Requests will not be accepted for commercial purposes or if the Board deems that the information is not appropriate to be circulated via the Board to the profession.


POLICY - REGISTRATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WORKING IN POSITIONS NOT IDENTIFIED AS "OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST"  (adopted April 2006)

The Board has been concerned that some occupational therapists who are working in positions not identified as an “occupational therapist” are not applying for registration and thus their practice is not being monitored by the Board and the public do not have an avenue for complaint.

Section 33 of the Occupational Therapy Practice Act 2005 carries a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine, or imprisonment for six months, for an unregistered person holding out as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy student.

The growth of non-traditional positions in the health, disabilities and vocational rehabilitation sector has contributed to this issue and caused confusion whether or not the occupational therapist should hold registration and an annual practising certificate.

The following guidelines for practitioners and employers have been endorsed by the Board on the recommendation of the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Australia and New Zealand) Inc. (COTRB) for the purpose of determining whether or not the practice of an occupational therapist falls within the scope of “holding out as an occupational therapist” and thus registration/practising certificate is required.

Registration/Practising Certificate is required:

(a)   If the job title is “occupational therapist”.
(b)   For any position where the selection criteria stipulates that an occupational therapy qualification is an essential requirement.
(c)   If an occupational therapy qualification is listed as one required qualification and the occupational therapist obtains or occupies the position.
(d)   In circumstances where the position’s occupant signs correspondence, purports to provide an occupational therapy service, or otherwise depicts themselves as an occupational therapist, even if the job title or selection criteria do not suggest that the person requires an occupational therapy qualification.


POLICY - ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY  (adopted May 2006)

The Board has adopted a policy regarding English language proficiency, and this policy has been included in the "Guidelines on Registration" booklet. To view the policy on this website, please click on the following link: Download Policy on English Language Proficiency


POLICY REGARDING ASSISTANTS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE  (adopted July 2006)

The Board has adopted a policy for registered occupational therapists regarding assistants in occupational therapy practice. To view the policy on this website, please click on the following link: Download Policy regarding Assistants in Occupational Therapy Practice

POLICY - ENTRY OF ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ON THE REGISTER  (adopted February 2007)

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the entry of additional qualifications on the Register. To view the policy on this website, please click on the following link: Download Policy on Entry of Additional Qualifications on the Register