A woman who earns $180,000 a year as an occupational therapist has revealed there is currently a shortage of workers and the industry is crying out for more staff.
The healthcare professional, who was interviewed on job app Getahead, said she was inspired to pursue it after he went to university when she was 30 before opening her own business after getting divorced.
“My son has autism, he was seeing an occupational therapist (OT) when he was a kid and I was like, ‘That sounds easy, I can do it,'” he said.
The work involves helping people living with disabilities or mental health problems participate in everyday activities such as professional life or education.
The woman said that in her specific role she works with people who have been incarcerated.
“I specialize in mental health and forensics,” he said.
‘I go to prisons… I work with a lot of schizophrenics (and) murderers…’
He added that at the moment “we can’t get enough occupational therapists; if you want to help people, don’t be a nurse, don’t be a physical therapist, be an occupational therapist.”
Commenters on social media, who work as occupational therapists, questioned the woman’s exorbitant salary and said they earn much less (file image pictured)
The interview sparked a flood of interest in the trade on social media.
‘Be an occupational therapist! “Best race of my life,” one person wrote.
‘I started my occupational therapy studies this year at 30!’ wrote a second.
‘I can see my future! “I’m 30 and I’m going back to university next year to study OT,” added a third.
But some who work in the industry questioned the woman’s exorbitant salary.
‘I’m an OT. Nothing about the job is easy and a salary of $180k is unheard of…most jobs will offer a starting salary of $70k to $80k and (a) max of around $120k to $130k,’ one person wrote .
Another said: ‘Is this Australia? I’m a senior OT (and) from what I know, OTs make between $80,000 and $120,000.’
‘As an OT, this is a very different career path than what is typical. “I’m at a higher level and will never see close to $180,000 in my life,” added a third.