Stop Burnout: The Foundations
A complimentary member resource offering a thoughtful, evidence-informed recorded session exploring what burnout really is, why OTs are at heightened risk, and how to begin preventing or recovering from burnout.
Program Overview
RECORDED WEBINAR SUMMARY
Occupational therapists are navigating one of the most demanding periods the profession has faced in recent memory. Significant sector-wide reforms including changes to the NDIS, aged care, and broader health system funding are placing extraordinary pressure on OTs across all practice settings, adding layers of uncertainty, increased administrative burden, and professional strain to an already challenging role.
It is in this context that burnout has never been a more pressing concern for our community.
To support members through this particularly challenging time, OTA is pleased to offer this session as a complimentary member resource - your wellbeing matters to us, and we hope this resource provides you with practical, meaningful support right now.
In this foundational session, burnout specialist Toni Knight provides an evidence-informed exploration of what burnout truly is, why occupational therapists are at heightened risk, and what you can begin doing right now to prevent or reverse it. Drawing on her extensive experience, Toni unpacks the systemic forces behind burnout with clarity and warmth.
What This Session Covers:
- Why burnout matters and what it is and why acting early makes all the difference
- How to recognise burnout in yourself including signs, symptoms, stages, and how to build your own personal early warning system
- The biology of burnout: why it is so insidious, why it escalates, and why holidays and "work-life balance" alone won't resolve it
- Compassion fatigue exploring what it is, how it differs from burnout, and why OTs are particularly vulnerable
- Practical strategies for safety, self-agency and sustainability combined with guided reflective activities to support you to take meaningful, targeted action
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Define burnout and distinguish it from compassion fatigue and general workplace stress
- Identify your personal burnout risk factors, warning signs, and current stage
- Understand the biological and systemic drivers that make burnout self-reinforcing
- Begin applying practical strategies to support your self-care and stop burnout
Who should attend?
This session is suitable for occupational therapists at any career stage, whether you are already experiencing burnout and seeking a path forward, or you are proactively building resilience before burnout takes hold. With more than 50% of the healthcare workforce affected, and OTs at even greater risk, this content is relevant to everyone in the profession.
ACCESS:
This is a recorded webinar available on demand. You can pause it, reflect, and engage with the content at your own pace.
Participants will be able to access the course materials online in their OTA account for12 weeks from date of registration.
CPD HOURS:
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 45 minutes
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.
REGISTRATION FEES & INCLUSIONS
This webinar is provided as a complimentary resource for OTA members.
*Registrations close at 11:55pm on 31st October 2026.
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
Not already an OTA member? Sign up today here to enjoy great savings on CPD courses, events, conferences and unlimited access to local and international research publications, special offers from our partners and more!
DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions and changes.
All workshop resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/ or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or at info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here
CONTACT US
Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By
Toni Knight
Toni Knight is a psychotherapist, author and presenter who specialises in anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue and trauma. She has a degree in psychology, a lively private practice in Newcastle, NSW and 20 years of experience helping people to live values-centred lives. She regularly consults with private practices of professional caregivers and regularly collaborates with Occupational Therapy Australia. Toni believes that professional caregiving is of utmost importance to our community and our nation. She feels that it is therefore imperative that we value the health and wellbeing of the people that perform this vital work.