For occupational therapists in aged care, the daily rhythm is often a mix of rewarding moments and real challenges. Supporting a resident to reclaim independence in their morning routine, navigating complex family dynamics around dementia care, or adapting assessments on the spot for clients with diverse needs.
These experiences highlight the heart of the job, but they also underscore the need to stay confident and supported. With the Ahpra registration deadline approaching on 30 November 2025, many OTs are turning their attention to the mandatory 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
It is a professional obligation that can feel pressing amid busy schedules, yet it is also an opportunity to refresh skills, protect client safety, and build the confidence that makes a tangible difference on the floor.
Why does this requirement matter so much? At its core, CPD ensures occupational therapists maintain and expand their knowledge and expertise, keeping pace with evolving best practice in areas like aged care.
It is not just about ticking boxes for registration; it is a safeguard for client safety, ensuring that the care you provide is contemporary, evidence-based and aligned with your scope of practice, whether that involves clinical interventions or collaborative team roles. Of the 20 hours needed annually, at least five must be interactive, fostering direct engagement that sparks real insights.
Reflective practice is also essential, encouraging you to pause and consider how your learning sharpens your competence, from assessing functional cognition to creating inclusive environments. In aged care, where demands such as rising dementia rates and holistic client support continue to grow, structured development empowers you to respond with greater ease, reducing stress and enhancing outcomes for everyone involved.
Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) understands these realities. As the peak body for OTs, they position their CPD as a partner in your professional journey. Their CPD offering is flexible, relevant and crafted by OTs for OTs, with formats ranging from quick on-demand webinars to deeper eLearning modules.
Unlike broader health training that may skim the surface, OTA’s offerings dive directly into occupation-focused strategies, making compliance feel like a meaningful investment in your capability.
Whether you are early-career and building foundations, mid-career and balancing complex caseloads, or returning after a break, these resources support both interactive and reflective components while strengthening practice confidence.
Consider how OTA’s aged care-focused CPD turns those hours into practical empowerment. The courses emphasise real-world application, drawing on the latest research and OT-specific models to address everyday aged care scenarios, such as managing behavioural symptoms or partnering with carers.
Below are some standout options that align with Ahpra standards, offering interactive elements like Q&A sessions and case discussions, along with reflective prompts to deepen learning.
Practice Essentials: Working with Older People (5 interactive eLearning modules)
This foundational suite, aligned with OTA’s Capability Framework for Occupational Therapists Working with Older People (Aged Care), covers aged care systems, assessments, common conditions, client-centred interventions and multidisciplinary collaboration. Each module includes case-based learning, reflective tasks and feedback prompts to help integrate learning into daily practice while meeting the interactive hour requirement.
Functional Cognition Explained
These on-demand sessions explore functional cognition in older adults, clarifying what it is and why it underpins independence in daily activities such as meal preparation or mobility. You will gain tools to assess it effectively using both standardised and non-standardised approaches, while considering environmental and subtle cognitive factors. Case examples encourage reflection on how to enhance intervention planning and strengthen competence in aged care assessments.
Managing Behaviours Associated with Dementia: The Role of OT (2-part recorded webinar series)
This series highlights the OT’s unique, non-pharmacological role in supporting people living with dementia. It covers behavioural presentations, assessment tools including the ABC model and NPI-Q, and how to develop individualised Behaviour Support Plans. Interactive case studies prompt reflection on applying evidence-based strategies to reduce reactive care and foster meaningful engagement in residential care settings.
Enabling Environments for People Living with Dementia
Focused on how physical spaces influence wellbeing, this webinar equips you to evaluate environments for strengths and barriers, such as sensory cues and navigation supports. Reflective exercises help translate knowledge into practical environmental adaptations that promote independence, reduce confusion and enhance safety.
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practice for Aged Care Services (4-module eLearning)
Developed with ACON, this interactive course builds cultural competence for working with older LGBTQ+ adults. It includes real-world scenarios, historical context, and reflective exercises aligned with aged care quality standards. It supports more respectful and person-centred care, building trust and better outcomes.
Rounding out the lineup is Practice Spotlight: Partnering with Carers – Using a Functional Cognitive Approach in Dementia, an on-demand webinar that shares strategies for supporting families and care workers. It offers coaching techniques and guidance for inclusive communication, helping reduce stress for carers and improving continuity of care.
What sets OTA apart is its commitment to OT-specific depth. Content is evidence-informed, grounded in OT models such as Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO), structured for reflection, and flexible enough to fit into demanding schedules.
For employers, including Chief Allied Health Officers and department leads, investing in OTA CPD supports a more confident, resilient workforce, improving safety, retention and outcomes across care settings.
As the November deadline approaches, remember that CPD is not a hurdle. It is a practical bridge to empowered, confident practice. OTA makes the process achievable and meaningful, helping you meet your obligations while strengthening the skills that matter every day.
Explore CPD options at otaus.com.au/cpd and take your next step toward your 20 hours. You are already making a difference. This is about equipping you to do it even better.
