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Hand Therapists are qualified health professionals who help their patients manage and recover from injuries, disease, and deformities of the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, and hands. They carry out patient assessments and then develop treatment plans that include physical exercise, orthotic fabrications, and environmental modifications.
As a Hand Therapist you could be assessing a new patient who has suffered a stroke and has limited mobility in their left arm, fabricating wrist orthotics for a client with a deformity, teaching pain management techniques to a client with arthritis, assessing the home of a young amputee and proposing environmental changes, or just making some detailed notes on patient records.
There are no clear salary figures for Australian Hand Therapists. Increase your earning capacity by obtaining post-graduate qualifications, undertaking specialist training, and joining professional associations such as the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
There are no clear employment figures for Hand Therapists working in Australia at this time. They generally work in private practice but may also be employed by large hospitals, community healthcare organisations, and government agencies.
Accredited Hand Therapists are fully qualified Occupational Therapists (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy) or Physiotherapists ( Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy)) who have completed specialist training in hand therapy. Suitable courses include: Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Advanced Open Trauma, Advanced Closed Trauma, Orthotic Fabrication Mobilisation, Arthritis Course, Fracture Management, and Pain Management Course.
For more detailed information about this career path, we recommend contacting the Australian Hand Therapy Association.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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Here are some potential career pathways within allied health and occupational therapy. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
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