Moving to Australia as a New Zealand occupational therapist

If you hold current registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and a current practising certificate, you can apply for general registration in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act. There’s no exam or portfolio. NZ citizens don’t need a visa to live and work in Australia. If you’re registered in NZ but not an NZ citizen, you’ll need an Australian visa; see the working holiday guide and speak to a migration agent.

Registration

• With a current NZ practising certificate: apply to Ahpra for general registration through the Trans-Tasman arrangements.
• Without a current practising certificate: you can’t use Trans-Tasman. Check with Ahpra which route applies to you. Keep your NZ practising certificate current until your Australian registration comes through.

Pay: Health NZ vs Queensland Health

The NZ allied health agreement ratified in February 2026 gave 2.5% from December 2025, with a further 2% due in December 2026. It isn’t clear whether the advertised range above includes these increases. Convert at today’s rate before comparing. Australian employers also pay superannuation on top of salary.

Healthcare

NZ’s reciprocal agreement with Australia covers public hospital care and some PBS medicines only, not GP visits or other out-of-hospital Medicare services. That’s the cover for visitors. If you’re an NZ citizen moving to live in Australia, check your own Medicare eligibility with Services Australia once you arrive.

What changes when you cross the Tasman

• Funding: much private paediatric and disability work in Australia is funded through families’ NDIS plans, with reports written for those plans.
• Pay by state: public health pay differs between states, and private practices set their own.

If you’re an NZ citizen you don’t need sponsorship, so you can choose an employer on fit: the supervision, the caseload and the team.