Occupational Therapist Cover Letter: Example, Template + How to Write One in Australia

Struggling to capture your clinical expertise and genuine passion for helping people regain independence in a way that convinces healthcare managers you’re the right fit for their team? This challenge is incredibly common among occupational therapy professionals. The difficulty lies in balancing your clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice skills, and therapeutic relationship abilities while demonstrating your understanding of diverse client populations and healthcare settings. Your cover letter needs to showcase not just your qualifications and registration, but also your ability to deliver measurable outcomes, work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, and adapt to various practice environments. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to craft an occupational therapist cover letter that highlights your clinical competence, client-centred approach, and commitment to improving quality of life for people with disabilities, injuries, or health conditions. Whether you’re a new graduate entering the profession, an experienced OT seeking new challenges, or considering a transition between practice areas, you’ll learn proven strategies to stand out in Australia’s growing healthcare sector, informed by standards from Occupational Therapy Australia.

Occupational Therapist Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

How to Format an Occupational Therapist Cover Letter

• Length: Max 1 page (3–5 paragraphs)
• Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman (10–12pt)
• Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• File format: PDF

What to Include in an Occupational Therapist Cover Letter (Australia)

Writing an effective occupational therapist cover letter requires demonstrating both your clinical expertise and genuine commitment to improving clients’ functional independence and quality of life.

1. Contact Details: Include your full name, professional mobile number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and any professional portfolio that showcases your clinical work and continuing professional development activities.
2. Salutation: Address the letter to the director of allied health, OT department manager, or hiring manager. Research the organisation’s structure to find the appropriate contact person’s name and correct professional title.
3. Opening paragraph: Connect with the organisation’s values, recent achievements, or service areas, mention specific programs or client populations you admire, state the position you’re applying for, and highlight your key qualifications including degree, AHPRA registration, and relevant specialisations.
4. Middle paragraph(s): Showcase your most relevant clinical experience with specific client outcomes and measurable improvements, demonstrate expertise in assessment tools and intervention approaches, highlight experience with diverse populations and practice settings, mention evidence-based practice and research involvement, and show collaborative skills with multidisciplinary teams.
5. Closing paragraph: Express enthusiasm for contributing to their clinical team and client outcomes, mention your availability for clinical discussions or case presentations, and include a professional call to action requesting an interview opportunity.

Right vs Wrong Example

Entry-Level Occupational Therapist Cover Letter Tips

Starting your occupational therapy career in Australia requires strategic positioning that emphasises your clinical education, fieldwork experiences, and commitment to evidence-based practice.

• Focus on educational achievements and clinical placements: Highlight university clinical rotations, fieldwork supervisor feedback, successful completion of competency assessments, research projects, and any specialised training or certifications completed during studies
• Highlight relevant experience and volunteer work: Showcase disability support work, aged care experience, volunteer work with health organisations, peer mentoring, or any experience that demonstrates understanding of health conditions and therapeutic relationships
• Show professional commitment: Demonstrate serious career intent through OTA student membership, attendance at professional development workshops, participation in research projects, or involvement in university OT society activities

Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Occupational Therapist

Top Mistakes to Avoid in an Occupational Therapist Cover Letter

• Repeating your resume word-for-word: Your cover letter should provide insight into your clinical reasoning and therapeutic approach while demonstrating professional communication skills, not duplicate your CV
• Not addressing the organisation’s specific client population: Generic applications that don’t reference their service areas, client groups, or clinical specialisations show lack of research and genuine interest
• Using overly clinical language: While demonstrating clinical knowledge is important, ensure your letter remains accessible and shows your ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders
• Focusing only on clinical skills: Balance therapeutic expertise with demonstration of teamwork, cultural competence, professional development commitment, and understanding of healthcare systems
• Ignoring evidence-based practice: Not mentioning research involvement, outcome measurement, or commitment to continuous learning shows limited understanding of contemporary OT practice

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad

• Use appropriate clinical terminology: If they mention “community-based rehabilitation” or “assistive technology,” incorporate these terms when describing your relevant experience and interests
• Mirror the organisation’s focus and values: A private practice will value different qualities than a public hospital or community health service
• Mention specific requirements if listed: Highlight experience with particular client populations, assessment tools, intervention approaches, or additional certifications they specify
• Research their service model: Reference their programs, recent initiatives, or clinical approaches to demonstrate genuine understanding of their work and client needs

How to Sign Off Your Occupational Therapist Cover Letter

• Use “Yours sincerely,” “Kind regards,” or “Best regards” for professional, respectful closing
• Include full name, phone number, and email address for easy contact
• Add AHPRA registration details and relevant certifications
• Consider mentioning portfolio availability to showcase your clinical work and professional development activities

Cover Letter Signature Example

How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia

• Always attach as a PDF (unless instructed otherwise) to maintain professional formatting across different healthcare systems and devices
• Label file professionally (e.g. DavidKim_CoverLetter_OccupationalTherapist.pdf) for easy identification by busy healthcare recruitment teams
• If submitting via health job boards or hospital portals, include a brief professional message highlighting your AHPRA registration and key clinical competencies
• Follow submission requirements precisely – healthcare organisations often have specific compliance requirements for recruitment processes
• Include academic transcripts and references as separate attachments when requested, clearly organised and labeled with current contact details

Final Tips for Writing a Great Occupational Therapist Cover Letter

• Make every sentence clinically relevant – focus on specific interventions, assessment tools, and client outcomes that demonstrate your therapeutic expertise
• Use professional healthcare language that reflects your clinical training and ability to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Proofread with clinical precision – attention to detail in your application reflects the accuracy required in clinical documentation and patient care
• Match tone to organisational culture (formal for major hospitals, more personal for community services, collaborative for disability providers)
• Quantify clinical achievements – mention improvement percentages, goal attainment rates, client satisfaction scores, or other measurable outcomes
• Show holistic understanding – demonstrate awareness of social determinants of health, cultural competence, and person-centred care principles

More Resources for Job Seekers

Complete your application with our comprehensive Occupational Therapist Resume Examples that showcase your clinical experience and professional achievements effectively. For complex healthcare roles and government positions, our Selection Criteria Templates will help you address detailed requirements with evidence-based responses. Prepare for clinical interviews and case study discussions with our detailed guide to Common Interview Questions including ethical scenarios and clinical reasoning challenges you may encounter.

Your cover letter serves as the first demonstration of your professional communication skills and clinical understanding to potential employers across Australia’s diverse healthcare landscape. By following these guidelines and adapting our examples to reflect your unique clinical experience and the specific organisation or role you’re targeting, you’ll be well-positioned to secure interviews with leading hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health services, and private practices throughout the country. The occupational therapy profession continues to evolve with new evidence-based interventions, technology integration, and expanded scope of practice creating opportunities for skilled practitioners who can adapt to changing healthcare needs. According to the Australian Government Department of Health, demand for qualified occupational therapists remains strong across acute care, rehabilitation, mental health, and community settings. Ensure your cover letter positions you as both a competent clinical practitioner and a collaborative team member who understands how occupational therapy contributes to improved health outcomes and quality of life for diverse client populations in Australia’s evolving healthcare system.