Who we are

The MJD Foundation works alongside Aboriginal families living with Machado Joseph Disease to live stronger for longer. We are a charity that works in partnership with Aboriginal & Torres strait Islanders, their families and communities living with Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7) to provide specialist supports, engage in research and provide hope for the future.

We are currently recruiting for a fulltime Occupational Therapist to provide therapeutic care to MJDF clients as a member of a new team within the MJD Foundation.

Our Way

From grassroots on Groote Eylandt, and under the guidance of remarkable leadership from senior Aboriginal community members, we developed ‘Our Way’. ‘Our Way’ is a self-determination approach based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of experiencing the world and preferred practices.

‘Our Way’ governs all that we do in research, education, clinical and community services as well as the MJD Foundation’s governance. ‘Our Way’ means we are family and client led.

Two-way Approach

To deliver health and disability services effectively in a non-dominant culture displaced for centuries, it is critical to prioritise and genuinely value the cultural and social issues that may constitute barriers to accessing these services.

This requires a ‘two-way’ approach, where staff members from different cultures (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) work side-by-side and learn from each other, partnering and sharing skills and knowledge to develop solutions tailored to meet the needs of people living with MJD and SCA7.

Therapy program and vision

The MJD Foundation is embarking on an exciting journey to establish a dedicated therapy program that will support people living with MJD in the NT access specialist multidisciplinary allied health care.

Our vision is that in partnership with families living with MJD and SCA7, the therapy team will work towards a shared mission of providing specialist knowledge and therapeutic supports so that people living with MJD and SCA7 can live stronger for longer and have a hopeful future. We acknowledge the resilience and strength of families living with MJD and SCA7.

Our clients are experts in MJD and SCA7 and continue to teach us about their lived experience. We will work in ‘our way’ – working side by side, learning from each other, to build our knowledge about best practice based on shared experiences, cultural preferences, personal preferences and robust research. We will use and share this knowledge to provide innovative, flexible, strength based, best practice therapeutic care – growing in capacity together as we support each other to stay strong on the inside and outside.

The Position

The Occupational Therapist (OT) role is an exciting opportunity for a clinician who is keen to challenge themselves, learn, is open minded and keen to share their knowledge and experience with others.

Living on community or at home with family and being supported to engage in meaningful activities and life roles is a priority for many of the clients of the MJD Foundation. The OT on the team plays a central role in supporting clients to achieve these goals.

The OT role within the MJD Foundation therapy team provides an OT with the opportunity to journey with clients across their lifetime as their function changes. Working closely as a member of a multidisciplinary team, you will work alongside physiotherapists and speech pathologist to collaboratively provide comprehensive assessment, therapeutic intervention, assistive technology prescription and education.

The therapy program will deliver support honouring the ‘Our Way’ approach; enabling our clients to be the effective drivers of our service, with their needs and priorities reflected in the programs developed and the way that they are implemented.

This position is based in Darwin and will require travel to remote communities.

Selection Criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in Occupational Therapy
• Minimum of three years of experience working as a qualified therapist.
• Demonstrated ability to independently apply professional knowledge and judgment when performing routine tasks.
• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective.
• A commitment to person and family centred practice and working within the MJD Foundation ‘Our Way’ approach.
• Willingness to learn, be challenged and innovate in a unique work environment.
• Commitment to multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral working.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a (cross cultural) team.
• Highly developed ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated experience with a range of computer software and good computer skills.

What we offer:

• A supportive and inclusive work environment with opportunity to learn;
• Above award level pay rate for the right person;
• Tax free fringe benefit up to $15,900 p.a, plus meal entertainment benefit up to $2,650 per annum;
• 6 weeks annual leave;
• One day paid wellbeing day and gift;
• A holistic workplace that offers flexibility (hours/where you work).
• Relocation package for the right candidate

The MJD Foundation values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We welcome unique contributions and perspectives of all people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities we work with and live in. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information have a look at the position description attached below or contact Alison Grootendorst, Therapy Team Manager at [email protected] using the subject line: Occupational Therapist enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0477 883 007.