Season 6 Episode 5: Creating a Career That Doesn't Exist Yet: Building an OT Role in Maternal Health

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by Katie, an occupational therapist with a background in acute, rehabilitation and hospital practice who is building a completely new area of occupational therapy in maternal health. 

After experiencing the transition into motherhood herself, Katie recognised a gap in the support available to women recovering from Caesarean birth. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and lived experience, she's now developing a private practice that combines occupational therapy, education and digital resources to support mothers physically, emotionally and practically through one of life's biggest transitions.

Together, we explore what it really takes to build a business around an idea that doesn't yet have a roadmap and the difference between having a great clinical concept and creating a service people can access, understand and value.

We explore:

• Identifying an emerging area of occupational therapy practice through lived experience
• Moving from hospital practice into private practice and business ownership
• Building referral networks before asking for referrals
• Defining an ideal client and positioning a service outside traditional OT pathways
• Designing a client journey that balances education, therapeutic support and sustainable service delivery
• Using AI as a strategic thinking partner for business planning, marketing and content creation
• Creating scalable digital resources alongside one-to-one clinical services
• The practical foundations of private practice, including pricing, Medicare, business systems and client onboarding

Key takeaways:

• Some of the best business ideas begin by solving a problem you've experienced yourself.
• Creating a new area of practice requires just as much clarity around service design as it does clinical expertise.
• Building genuine professional relationships comes before building referral pathways.
• Confidence often follows action not the other way around.
• AI can become a valuable thinking partner when used for planning, strategy and idea development, not just content writing.
• A well-designed client journey helps transform knowledge into a sustainable and valuable service.
• Building a niche business is about testing, refining and learning not waiting until everything feels perfect.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sensational Start to Setting Up in Private Practice (Verve OT) – A workshop covering pricing, business foundations, funding pathways and setting up a sustainable private practice.
• Digital Picnic – Practical training and education for building an intentional social media strategy.
• Claude AI & ChatGPT – Using AI tools as strategic thinking partners for business planning, marketing and content creation.
• Ready to Boss Legal – Legal templates and resources for Australian online businesses and private practice owners.

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia.

Supporting occupational therapists and allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops and The OT Coach Academy.

If this conversation resonated with you and you'd like support through supervision, business mentoring or reflective practice, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.