Occupational formulation is an emerging practice skill that helps OTs make sense of complex client information and turn it into a clear, defensible, and uniquely occupational plan. Instead of jumping straight from assessment to goals, an occupational formulation guides therapists to articulate why the client is experiencing occupational difficulties and what specifically needs to change to enable engagement, participation, or independence.

A high-quality occupational formulation becomes the “missing link” between assessment and therapy. Occupational formulation links theory, assessment, goal setting and therapy planning. It strengthens clinical reasoning, improves communication with clients and teams, and supports measurable, occupation-focused goal setting. It also helps OTs stay grounded in their scope of practice, especially in contexts like NDIS, where therapists are often expected to justify decisions, funding requests, or intervention pathways.

Occupational formulation is a step in the occupational therapy practice process that links assessment and therapy, resulting in the creation of a written document that guides goal setting and treatment planning. The approach supports collaboration between therapists and clients and allows therapists to clearly communicate their therapeutic reasoning, offering a uniquely occupational perspective to the client and team.

This two-part workshop is designed to take you from “I’ve heard of it, but I’m not sure what it really is” to confidently using occupational formulations in day-to-day practice.

This is a 2-part online event (1.5 days)
 

Day 1 – Thursday 19^th March 9:00am- 4:30pm AEDT

Part One of this interactive workshop covers foundational knowledge in occupational formulation and setting measurable occupational goals, with opportunities to apply concepts and plan for use in practice.

Day 2 Thursday 23^rd April 9:00am – 12:30pm AEST

Part Two provides an opportunity to recap key concepts and discuss and troubleshoot implementation experiences. Participants will use the Occupational Formulation Quality Checklist to review their occupational formulations.

Session Learning Objectives:

• Describe occupational formulation, its features and purpose
• Identify the components of three-part occupational formulations and measurable, occupational goals
• Draft an occupational formulation and measurable occupational goals
• Use a quality checklist to review and refine occupational formulations

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The workshop is suitable for occupational therapists, occupational therapy academics or educators from any practice area, and students in the second half of their course.

 

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

DATE: 
Day 1 - Thursday 19^th March 2026
 

TIME:
9:00am – 4:30pm   | NSW | ACT | VIC | TAS |
8:30am – 4:00pm   | SA |
8:00am – 3:30pm   | QLD |
7:30am – 3:00pm   | NT |
6:00am – 1:30pm   | WA |

 

Day 2 – Thursday 23^rd April 2026

TIME:
9:00am – 12:30pm  | NSW | ACT | VIC | TAS | QLD |
8:30am – 12:00pm  | SA | NT |
7:00am – 10:30am  | WA |

This is an online event. Please login to Zoom 10 minutes before the scheduled presentation time. You will receive a Zoom link 1-2 days before the event.

 

CPD HOURS:
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 10 hours

Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.

 

RECORDING ACCESS:

This session WILL NOT BE RECORDED as it is an interactive workshop. Participants will receive course materials online in their OTA account.

 

REGISTRATION FEES & INCLUSIONS

EARLY BIRD FEES: Register on or before 5^th February 2026

OTA Member: $495
Student New Graduate: $450
Non Member: $650

^{(All pricing is inclusive of GST)}

STANDARD FEES: Book on or after 6^th February 2026

OTA Member: $550
Student New Graduate: $495
Non Member: $725

^{(All pricing is inclusive of GST)}

*Registrations close at 11:55pm AEDT on 17^th March 2026

Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.

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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