Working at Melba Support Services (Melba)

• We support people with disability to live the life they want.

• We have a Zero Tolerance approach to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

• Every member of the Melba community is committed to The Melba Way Charter, our vision, purpose and values.

• Melba aims to create welcoming and respectful workplaces that promote inclusive and collaborative working relationships.

For over 50 years Melba Support Services has been providing services to people with disability that focus on supporting people to dream big, embrace life and do what they choose and value. Melba is firmly grounded in upholding human rights and recognises that part of living a happy, healthy life is being independent and being able to do the things that bring us joy. Melba won the 2023 National Disability Award for Excellence in Service Quality. 

Why Join Us? 

We are a human-rights, values-based, not-for-profit community organisation committed to providing services that support individuals with disability to lead everyday lives of their choice, if this resonates with you, come join us!

Primary Purpose

The Lead Occupational Therapist (Lead OT) works collaboratively to deliver high-quality, person-centred occupational therapy services that support people with disability to achieve meaningful outcomes in their everyday lives.

The role contributes to the delivery of a sustainable, billable occupational therapy service at Melba by providing evidence-informed assessment, intervention, and capacity-building supports, in line with NDIS and other relevant funding frameworks.

The Lead OT works alongside people supported, families, and multidisciplinary teams to promote participation, independence, and wellbeing.
 

What you’ll be doing (Key accountabilities)

Clinical Practice & Service Delivery

• Deliver person-centred, strengths-based occupational therapy services to individuals with complexed disability across a range of settings, including home and community environments.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments, including functional assessments, assistive technology recommendations, and home modification evaluations.

• Provide and/or design capacity-building interventions to support individuals to develop skills, increase independence, and engage in activities of daily living and community participation.

• Influence and ensure all practice is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with each person’s goals, preferences, and outcomes.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality clinical documentation in accordance with professional, organisational, and funding body requirements.

• Practice in accordance with: AHPRA registration standards; Occupational Therapy Board of Australia codes, guidelines and professional standards; and Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (as applicable in Victoria)

Billable Service Delivery & Caseload Management

• Work towards agreed billable hour targets in alignment with NDIS and other funding requirements while maintaining high standards of therapeutic care. 

• Manage an allocated caseload to ensure timely assessment, service delivery, and review. 

• Balance direct service delivery with non-billable responsibilities (e.g. documentation, supervision)

• Contribute to policy, procedure and service improvement.

Service Contribution & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of occupational therapy practices, tools, and resources within Melba.

• Follow established systems, processes, and workflows that support consistent, high-quality service delivery.

• Engage in reflective practice and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Team Development & Supervision

• As the service grows, participate in recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring new OT staff.

• Provide clinical supervision and guidance to Allied Health Assistants and less experienced clinicians, in line with professional standards, organisational policy, and scope of practice.   

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and supportive team culture.

Quality, Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure clinical services meet all regulatory and accreditation requirements (e.g., AHPRA, NDIS Practice Standards).

• Monitor service quality through audits, client feedback, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Support quality and safeguarding practices by identifying risks, reporting concerns, and contributing to safe service environments. 

• Participate in audits, feedback processes, and quality improvement activities as required.

• Comply with mandatory reporting obligations and organisational safeguarding requirements.

• Always uphold duty of care and professional boundaries

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, including support coordinators, case managers, and other allied health professionals.

• Liaise with external providers, general practitioners, educators, and community organisations to ensure holistic support for people supported.

• Represent the organisation in local networks and sector forums as required.

• Communicate effectively with families, supporters, and key stakeholders in a respectful and approachable way. 

Professional Development

• Stay up to date with contemporary occupational therapy practices, NDIS developments, and sector trends.

• Participate in professional development and reflective practice in accordance with CPD requirements.

Your Background (Skills and attributes) 

• Tertiary qualification in Occupational Therapy and registration with AHPRA.

• Minimum 4 years demonstrated experience delivering occupational therapy services, ideally within disability, community, or NDIS-funded setting.

• Proven ability to deliver high-quality occupational therapy services, including functional assessments, assistive technology, and capacity-building interventions.

• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and build lasting professional relationships.

• A growth mindset and leadership potential, with the capacity to mentor others and contribute to building a high-performing team over time.

• High levels of professionalism, accountability, and resilience, with a commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice.

• Confidence working both independently and within a team, in a dynamic, evolving service environment.

• Strong communication and documentation skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with people supported, families, and teams. 

• A commitment to person-centred, strengths-based, and rights-focused practice.

Requirements 

• A current First Aid and CPR Certificate.

• A current NDIS Worker Screening and Working with Children Check.

• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Occupational Therapist.

• The ability and relevant driver’s license to perform travel to Melba sites. 

• Compliance with OHS&W regulations, legislation, and Policies and Procedures is required.

• Successful completion of pre-employment safety screening checks, mandatory training, and their subsequent renewals is necessary.

Occupation Health Safety and Wellbeing (OHS&W)

• Take reasonable care for their health, safety, and wellbeing and that of others.

• Observe safe systems of work.

• Follow OHS&W policies and procedures.

• Report hazards, near misses and incidents in accordance with the agreed incident reporting system.

• Contribute to a positive culture in relation to OHS&W and participate in consultative structures.

Inclusion at Melba

Melba Support Services recognises the contribution that a diverse workforce makes to continuous improvement and service delivery and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Melba Support Services values diversity and encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. People with disabilities and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are also encouraged to apply. Melba Support Services is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and day-to-day work. As a provider of supports and services to children, Melba is committed to ensuring that every child feels safe and respected. All Melba staff and volunteers have a responsibility to make sure that children’s wellbeing and safety comes first, that they are supported to achieve their potential, respected, and protected from abuse and neglect.