Description

• Three-year Fixed Term Contract
• Reporting to Chief Executive Officer, Occupational Therapy Australia
• Honorarium and Entitlements offered

About OTA
Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) represents and supports the continually evolving occupational therapy profession. Its vision is to support the profession so that people and communities are engaged in occupations that bring meaning and purpose to their lives, fostering health, wellbeing participation and inclusion.
OTA champions occupational therapists to support their community.  As Australia's professional association for occupational therapy with over 12,000 members across Australia, OTA fosters evidence-based practice, enables lifelong learning and promotes the future of occupational therapy. 

Our Purpose Protecting and progressing Occupational Therapy in Australia. 
Our Vision Empowering OTs and their communities.
Pillar Values Progress: Pride: Empowerment: Connection

About Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal is the official journal of Occupational Therapy Australia and a leading international peer reviewed publication presenting influential, high quality innovative scholarship and research relevant to occupational therapy.

The journal publishes empirical studies, theoretical papers, reviews, policy and practice innovations. The journal is a leader in the dissemination of scholarship and evidence to substantiate, influence and shape policy and occupational therapy practice locally and globally.

Role Responsibilities & Accountability
The Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has expertise in and enthusiasm for the publication of a peer reviewed scholarly journal of high quality and relevance to the Association membership. The primary responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief are to foster a culture that supports high-quality scholarship and informed readership, while overseeing the effective dissemination of information to readers and members. The role also ensures compliance with best-practice standards for publishing integrity and ethics and is accountable for safeguarding and enhancing the journal’s overall quality, credibility, and processes.

What we need in the role
The role of the Editor in Chief for the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (AOTJ) plays a pivotal role leading and shaping the journal’s content, maintaining its quality, and promoting its growth and development. Leadership and Strategic Direction: The Editor in Chief is expected to provide leadership, guidance, and strategic direction for the journal's activities. This includes guiding the overall strategic direction of the journal in consultation with the Association and the Publisher.

• Editorial Policies and Quality Control: The role involves implementing and applying the editorial policies of the journal, ensuring a high level of quality in the manuscript review and editing process, and maintaining publishing integrity and ethical standards.
• Engagement and Communication: The Editor in Chief is responsible for engaging members of the Editorial Board, including Associate Editors, to solicit and acquire suitable contributions to the journal. They must also ensure appropriate and timely communication with authors and convene regular meetings of the Editorial Board.
• Journal Development and Submissions: The role includes identifying and implementing strategies to ensure the continued development of the journal, increasing the number of quality manuscripts submitted, and upholding publishing integrity and ethical principles.
• Manuscript Review and Production: The Editor in Chief monitors the quality and timeliness of the peer review process, undertakes the review of manuscripts when required, and ensures the final determination of manuscript acceptability for publication.
• Promotion and Representation: The role involves representing and actively promoting the journal among colleagues and at conferences to generate submissions, as well as encouraging Associate Editors to solicit suitable manuscripts. The Editor in Chief must be a member of OTA.
• Ethics and Best Practices: The Editor in Chief must adhere to ethical principles and best practice guidelines, including the Code of Conduct for Journal Editors set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 

For a copy of the position description, or for a confidential conversation, email [email protected]. To apply, please email a cover letter addressing your suitability and a resume in WORD or PDF format to [email protected]. 

Applications close on Friday 12 September 2025.