Working in the disability sector

Working within the disability sector

Overview

Embarking on a career as an osteopath within the disability sector in Australia presents a unique blend of challenges and rewards, offering professionals an opportunity to impact the lives of individuals living with disability profoundly. Osteopaths in the disability sector use a person-centred, whole-body approach to support individuals with disabilities, focusing on improving their functional abilities, mobility, and quality of life. This often involves working within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), addressing needs related to physical coordination, muscle control, movement integration and more.

What it's like to be an osteopath in the disability sector

Disability care osteopaths collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, families, and carers to help clients achieve functional and capacity goals. Each patient presents unique challenges, making the work diverse and fulfilling.

Pros and cons

Pros

Significant demand: working in disability as an osteopath could ensure a consistent client base by recognising the significant market demand. In Australia, one in six people live with a disability, and 646,449 people are receiving National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding (stats correct as of December 31 2023) National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) The NDIS in Each State. 2024. [cited 2024, May 05]. Available here.
Impactful work: support clients in meeting their functional goals and improving their quality of life.
Long-term connections: building fulfilling professional trusting relationships with clients and their families and carers.
Diverse client base: people living with disability are as unique as their goals, meaning that no two days are the same when working in the disability sector as an osteopath. Each client brings new challenges, offering a range of engaging learning opportunities and experiences.
Multidisciplinary care: collaborate with a diverse range of members in an individual's multidisciplinary team, including other service providers, plan managers, support coordinators, and local area coordinators, to help participants meet their functional capacity-building goals.
Continuing professional development: the diverse and complex nature of working in the disability sector fosters continuous learning opportunities that can contribute to extensive professional growth and development.
Contribute to accessibility and inclusion: make musculoskeletal care more accessible and inclusive for individuals with a disability, promoting equal opportunities for quality care for all Australians.
Job satisfaction: witness the positive impact of osteopathic interventions on the lives of individuals living with a disability.
Travel: some roles may require travelling to different locations and/or clients.
Flexible work options: mobile practice can offer autonomy and reduced overhead costs.

Cons

Challenges associated with managing NDIS participants without a line item: while osteopaths can support self-managed and approved plan-managed participants, it can be challenging to gain approval from plan managers, especially given recent reforms and changes introduced by the NDIS Commission.
Funding limitations: accessing funding for disability services due to current limitations on registration and without a dedicated line item can make it challenging to secure work.
Complex service delivery: individualised care can be challenging due to diverse client needs and funding arrangements.
Administrative load: high paperwork and compliance requirements can be bureaucratic and complex.
Variable workload and income: workloads and income can fluctuate due to referral rates and demand for services in the disability sector.
Challenges in travel: home visits can present logistical challenges, including travel time between appointments, unfamiliar environments and limited access to resources.

Typical tasks and duties

Conduct functional assessments and develop individualised therapy plans to support clients in reaching their functional goals.
Provide manual and movement-based therapy, exercise prescriptions, and education on mobility.
Liaison with key stakeholders, including the NDIS and other healthcare professionals.
Completion of high-level report writing and Service Provider Agreements, including assessment documentation, treatment planning, progress tracking, multidisciplinary communication and NDIS compliance.

Skills and experience needed

Clinical skills: ability to perform a functional capacity assessment that evaluates the client's movement to understand how their disability affects daily activities; musculoskeletal assessment to assess joint mobility, strength, and structural alignment; neurological assessment understanding neurological conditions that can affect the musculoskeletal system, identify motor deficits, reflex abnormalities and coordination issues. Clinical skills are not just about having the ability to examine a participant but also adaptability to modify your approach based on their primary diagnosis. For example, assessing (or treating) someone with MS would be significantly different to assessing (or treating) a participant with high-level ASD, sensory sensitivities, and dyspraxia due to poor coordination. It’s essential to take the individual’s disability into account and have a thorough understanding of how each condition impacts them, enabling the examination or treatment to be tailored to their specific needs.
Communication skills: adaptive communication skills based on the client's abilities, impairments and preferences. You will demonstrate active listening and understanding of each client's concerns, experiences and goals.
Empathy and compassion: creating a supportive and trusting therapeutic relationship that acknowledges and validates the client’s feelings and perspectives
Cultural competence: understanding and respecting cultural differences that may influence beliefs and preferences around treatment.
Collaborative goal setting: establishing, reviewing and adjusting goals with clients, considering their priorities, aspirations, progress and feedback.
Multidisciplinary collaborative care: collaborating with other members of the client’s team, including other health professionals and service providers, plan managers, support coordinators, local area coordinators, and NDIS and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff.
Knowledge of assistive technology: familiarity with various assistive technologies and equipment commonly used by people living with disability. Incorporating knowledge of assistive technology into treatment plans to enhance mobility and functional capacity.
Perform a variety of assessments: this depends on your area of clinical expertise. This could include functional capacity evaluations or activities of daily living assessments.
Develop a customised plan: suited to the needs of the participant
Keeping accurate records: of clients' progress and reporting on outcomes through high-level reports.

How to become an osteopath working in the disability sector

Qualification: obtain a degree in osteopathy from an Australian university.
Registration: secure registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia.
Ensure yearly compliance: Keep up to date with your yearly registration standards
Experience: gain experience, focusing on building clients' functional capacity, through placements or roles in multidisciplinary teams.

Further qualifications, training or requirements

The NDIS website has a range of provider compliance and allied health provider information required prior to working with NDIS participants.

Osteopathy Australia has developed a series of CPD modules on osteopathy in the NDIS (modules one, two, and three). These modules will help osteopaths work with NDIS participants and ensure they stay up-to-date with sector changes.

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

Tertiary qualifications in osteopathy
Full Aphra registration
A current Working with Children check
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

As the disability community in Australia continues to grow, there are substantial opportunities for osteopaths. Service agreements and formalised contracts are established between participants and osteopaths to ensure a clear framework for service provision. This structured approach facilitates a professional and mutually beneficial relationship, emphasising the potential for significant earnings potential in this expanding sector.

Osteopaths currently practising under the NDIS as an Other Professional in Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training can charge up to $193.99 per hour in most states and territories Ref National Disability Insurance Scheme Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25 Released 1 October 2024

Who employs a disability osteopath

Private practice clinics will employ healthcare providers in the disability care team.

Key employers in this area include Cerebral Palsy Alliance, epic and United Supports.

Usual career trajectories or pathways

Start with general osteopathic practice before focusing your work on disability care.
Moving into related areas, such as osteopathic education or research on disability support.

This career pathway is not just about working with participants with disabilities but also about enhancing their quality of life, promoting independence, and supporting the dignity of people with disabilities. This role requires a blend of scientific knowledge, technical skill and deep compassion.