OT Coaching Confidential

All four episodes in one conversation: four paediatric OTs on making a difference beyond their own caseloads.

For OT Week, with host Rachel Davis. Featuring Alyce Svensk (The OT Coach Australia), Jackie Sikic (Kid Link OT), Dave Jereb (MoveAbout Therapy Services) and Rebecca Lockyer (Little TheraPeas).

Happy OT Week! See you at POTCA in Brisbane on 19–20 November, in person or online.

 This episode of OT Coaching Confidential is part of our special OT Week series, The people behind a professional life, five conversations with professionals who support the lives and careers of occupational therapists.

In this episode, Alyce is joined by Toni Knight, a psychotherapist and presenter specialising in helping professional women prevent burnout. Over the past 11 years, Toni has supported hundreds of occupational therapists and developed her program, Stop Burnout, Be Brilliant.

Together, they explore why OT work can leave therapists vulnerable to burnout, from demanding work environments and limited resources to the pressure to keep giving more. Toni explains why burnout isn’t an individual failure, and why support needs to reflect each person’s circumstances.

They discuss the demands of early career practice, recognising when stress becomes persistent, and finding strategies that help you meet your needs throughout your career. They also consider the pressures facing business owners, including caring for a team while navigating uncertainty and making difficult decisions.

A central thread runs through the conversation: work can bring meaning, satisfaction and income, but it cannot meet all our human needs. Building a sustainable professional life means making room for the person behind the therapist.

In this episode, we discuss:

The workplace and wider systems that contribute to burnout.

Over-performing, perfectionism and self-sacrifice.

Toni’s three Ds: depletion, disengagement and declining performance.

Supporting early career OTs through demanding periods of learning.

Why boundaries and burnout strategies need to be individualised.

Recognising unmet needs and seeking support.

Professional identity and creating a satisfying life beyond work.

Delegation and prioritising wellbeing as a business owner.

Connect with Toni Knight

Explore Toni’s burnout recovery resources:
toniknight.co/burnout-recovery

Connect on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/toniaknight

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.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

 This week’s OT Coaching Confidential is part of our special OT Week series: five conversations with the people who stand behind a working professional life. The goal is to help you understand what questions to take to your own professional, wherever you are in your career.

In this episode, Alyce is joined by Norelle Pratt from HR for Health Leaders, an HR consultant who combines fifteen years of corporate HR experience with firsthand experience co-owning an allied health clinic.

Together, they explore the employment questions that matter to both therapists and practice owners: what an award means, what to look for before signing an employment contract, and why the details of salary, allowances and workplace expectations deserve a closer look.

The conversation also covers when to seek HR support, when a question needs legal advice, and how to approach performance concerns with clearer communication and documentation. To finish, Alyce and Norelle discuss asking for a pay rise and why career progression can include developing clinical expertise as well as taking on leadership responsibilities.

In this episode:

Understanding workplace awards, minimum pay, overtime and allowances.

Employment contracts and the details that can create unexpected costs.

Keeping contracts, policies and procedures practical for your business.

Coaching, performance improvement plans and support people.

Comparing employed and contracting roles beyond the headline pay rate.

Preparing for salary and career development conversations.

This episode discusses employment matters in general terms and does not provide personalised HR or legal advice. Requirements can change and vary according to your circumstances. Seek advice relevant to your own situation.

Connect with Narelle:
Website: HR for Health Leaders
Instagram and LinkedIn: HR for Health Leaders

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.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

This week’s OT Coaching Confidential is part of a special OT Week series, five conversations with the people who stand behind a working professional life, whether you’ve ever spoken to them or not. The goal isn’t to make you an expert in any of these fields. It’s so that after listening, you know exactly what questions to take to your own professional.

In this episode, Alyce is joined by Chris Antartis, founder of Rebel Recruitment, who works with allied health professionals and employers across Australia. They explore what a recruiter actually does, how to work out what you need from your next role, and why a difficult workplace experience doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the wrong profession.

The conversation moves through choosing between salary, flexibility, caseload and support, being honest about a bumpy employment history, and asking better questions in interviews. For new graduates, there’s a particular focus on looking beyond the promise of “support and supervision” to understand what that will actually look like. For practice owners, Chris explains why retention starts with recruitment, and why finding the right person involves much more than receiving a CV.

In this episode:

What recruiters do for clinicians and employers

Separating a poor workplace fit from a poor fit with the profession

Understanding your priorities before choosing your next role

Weighing salary against opportunities to build clinical skills

Being transparent about difficult previous roles

How Chris’s recruitment fees work and who pays them

Asking questions, staying professional and planning a transition between jobs

Why retention starts with recruitment

Mentioned in this episode:

Rebel Recruitment

Rebel Radio, Chris’s podcast

Chris’s monthly livestream with business consultant Tristan Conway

SEEK and LinkedIn as places to research recruiters and opportunities

Connect with Chris:
 

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.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

Beyond Tax Returns: Why Every OT Needs an Accountant on Their Team

When should you speak with an accountant, and what support should you expect beyond your annual tax return?

In this episode of our OT Week special series, The people behind a professional life, Alyce Svensk chats with her accountant, Michelle Jardine, BCom, CPA, about the financial questions OTs face as employees, sole traders and business owners.

With 28 years of public practice experience, Michelle shares why early conversations, clear records and a trusted accounting relationship can help you make informed decisions throughout your professional life.

In this episode, we explore:

Work-related expenses, allowances and reimbursements, and why keeping your own records matters.

When to engage an accountant before starting a private practice.

Choosing a business structure that fits your circumstances and future plans.

Preparing for tax obligations when you move into working for yourself.

Whether you need accounting software and how organised records can save time.

The difference between lodging a tax return and proactive tax planning.

Understanding accounting fees, packages and who will support you.

Finding an accountant you feel comfortable with, and changing providers when needed.

Bringing your accountant into conversations about hiring, purchases and business growth.

Speaking up early when deadlines or payments become difficult.

Whether you’re employed or running a practice, this conversation encourages you to ask questions, understand the advice you receive and plan ahead.

About Michelle

Michelle Jardine is a public practice accountant with 28 years of experience helping individuals and small businesses with their accounting and taxation needs. Through Michelle Jardine CPA, she supports clients with clear explanations and practical conversations about their financial obligations and business plans.

Connect with Michelle Jardine CPA

Website: michellejardine.com.au — under construction at the time of recording
LinkedIn: Michelle Jardine

This episode provides general information about accounting and taxation. Rules and eligibility may change. Seek personalised advice from a registered tax agent about your circumstances.

This week's OT Coaching Confidential is part of a special OT Week series, five conversations with the people who stand behind a working professional life, whether you've ever spoken to them or not. The goal isn't to make you an expert in any of these fields. It's so that after listening, you know exactly what questions to take to your own professional.

In this episode, Alyce is joined by Andrew Jacobs, a mortgage broker who specialises in lending for allied health practitioners, and a former osteopath himself. Most of us went into allied health to help people, not to think about money, and for a lot of us that turned into not thinking about money at all. This conversation moves through what that gap actually looks like at each stage of a career, as an employee, as a sole trader, and as a business owner, and the practical things worth knowing at each one that nobody tells you until you're already trying to buy a house or grow a business.

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode covers general lending information, not personal financial or lending advice. Speak to a broker or accountant about your own circumstances.

Connect with Andrew:

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.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.

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:

Key takeaways:

Mentioned in this episode:

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:

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:

Key takeaways:

Mentioned in this episode:

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.