Working in corporate occupational health

A corporate occupational health career

Overview

Embarking on a journey as an osteopath within corporate occupational health offers a distinctive blend of challenges and rewards, carving out a unique niche in the healthcare landscape. This field merges the principles of osteopathy with the dynamic needs of the corporate world, aiming to enhance overall employee well-being, reduce workplace-related injuries, and foster a culture of health and productivity.

What it's like to be an osteopath working in corporate occupational health

Working in corporate occupational health enables you to help businesses protect their workers from workplace hazards and provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment for their employees. You will need to be aware of a wide range of safety regulations and policies to prevent injuries, illness and disease. You will perform various tasks, such as pre-employment and functional capacity evaluation assessments, and provide training and advice to employers and employees on topics such as ergonomics or manual task risk assessment and training. You may also be asked to complete onsite osteopathic consultations and additional services such as job task analysis or job dictionary creation.

Pros and cons

Pros

Variety: these roles present a large variety in the work you complete and skills you use.
Flexibility: some roles will allow you to work from home and be flexible in your working hours
Travel: if employed as a consultant, you will often be required to travel to different businesses, potentially around the state.
Clinical: you may be requested to provide hands-on clinical treatment or intervention enabling you to utilise your osteopathic training and experience.

Cons

Travel: you may be required to see multiple clients in different locations.
Clinical: you may not provide hands-on clinical treatment or intervention using your osteopathic skills and training.
Multiple stakeholders: you will often be working with multiple businesses, so you will need to juggle priorities and expectations.

Typical tasks and duties

Perform risk assessments
Perform job task analysis and job dictionaries
Perform pre-employment functional and functional capacity assessments
Provide ergonomic assessments and training
Create and implement injury prevention and management plans
Manual handling techniques and training
Manual tasks risk assessments
Create and implement health-related programs and services
Promote engagement with programs
Liaison and communication with stakeholders, including customer engagement

Skills and experience needed

Allied health background
Knowledge of safety regulations and policies
Knowledge of ergonomic principles
Good written and verbal communication skills
Good organisational skills
Administration skills
Risk and hazard identification skills
Ability to work effectively on an independent basis.
Positive and client-centred professional
Good teamwork and working collaboratively with others.
Developing and maintaining positive relationships with clients, stakeholders, and team members.

How to become a corporate occupational health osteopath

As with any area of practice, building a foundation of knowledge and skills is important through professional development and experience. From here, you can choose to make occupational health services a part of your private practice, see patients for pre-employment checks, or build relationships with businesses that provide services. Alternatively, you can approach a corporate occupational health organisation that hires osteopaths as consultants, visiting other businesses to provide services.

Further qualifications, training or requirements

Not all occupational health roles require further qualifications; however, many employers expect that you have expanded your skill set by undertaking some professional development. This could include short courses in areas such as ergonomics and TAFE courses in Work Health and Safety (WHS).

Often, the qualifications or requirements employers are looking for may include the following:

Tertiary qualifications in osteopathy
Willingness to undergo a National Criminal History check
Generally unrestricted Australian working rights
A current driver's license is frequently needed
Professional Indemnity insurance (some employers provide)

Salary ranges

Hourly rates will vary depending on the contracted arrangement. Business owners could make from $120-200 + GST per hour. If contracting as a consultant, you could earn $40-120 + GST per hour, depending on experience. Your rate as an employee within a business could vary depending on experience and the employer.

Who employs an occupational health consultant?

Large corporations
Occupational health clinics
Health and wellness consulting firms
Government departments
Insurance companies
Corporate health startups

Usual career trajectories or pathways

A career in occupational health and wellness can provide you with a range of career opportunities, from working as an independent practitioner to a consultant or a business owner. Gaining experience and knowledge in the sector will allow you to diversify your opportunities, providing the choice to run an occupational health and wellness business where you can hire other providers and directly work with businesses. You may also choose to develop courses and professional development in this area to train other practitioners.

Usual career trajectories or pathways

The career trajectory for an occupational health specialist typically involves several stages of growth and advancement, depending on the individual's qualifications, experience, and the specific needs of their employer or industry. Here's a general outline of the career path:

Entry-level position: starting as an occupational health technician or assistant, gaining hands-on experience in workplace safety, health policy implementation, and risk assessment.
Certification: gaining professional certifications, such as osteopathy, is crucial. In addition, certifications like Certified Occupational Health Nurse or Certified Safety Professional are often required for higher-level positions and demonstrate a professional commitment to the field.
Mid-level positions: roles such as Occupational Health Advisor or Manager, where responsibilities might expand to include leading safety audits, developing training programs, and managing compliance with health and safety legislation.
Senior-level positions: Advancing to roles such as Senior Occupational Health Manager, Director of Occupational Health, or Corporate Health and Safety Director. These positions involve strategic planning, policy development, and senior leadership responsibilities.
Specialisation and consultancy: some occupational health specialists specialise in specific areas such as ergonomics, industrial toxicology, or public health. Another avenue is becoming a consultant, offering expertise to various organisations on a contractual basis.
Leadership and policy development: experienced professionals might move into roles that influence public health policy, work on international standards, or lead major public health initiatives.

A combination of further education, professional certifications, and practical experience largely influences career advancement. Networking within professional bodies and contributing to influential projects can also significantly impact career growth. This trajectory can improve workplace health and safety and significantly impact public health policy and corporate wellbeing strategies.