Chris PearceManaging Director
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Chris attained a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University of Technology in 2006, and has had a wide range of experience as an Occupational Therapist, both in acute and community settings. Chris has a keen interest in the areas of neurological assessment and rehabilitation, disability services & driver assessment and rehabilitation. This has developed from experience working within these areas at Princess Margaret Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, as well as extensively in private community practice.
Over the past 20 years, Chris has been instrumental in establishing and growing Occupational Therapy Services Group, now one of the largest OT-specific practices in Western Australia. He currently acts as the Managing Director while also continuing to practice clinically.
In 2009, Chris completed the Occupational Therapy Driver Assessment and Training Course at the University of Sydney and subsequently founded the Driving Services arm of OT Services Group - which provides a variety of driving assessment and rehabilitation services to persons in the Perth metropolitan & surrounding rural areas of Western Australia. He has since expanded this area of specialty by completing his Certificate IV in Transport & Logistics, becoming one of the first Occupational Therapists in Australia to work in hands-on driver rehabilitation, with a particular focus on cognitive and visual retraining, and complex vehicle modification.
Chris has extensive experience working across areas of health and disability, consulting professionally as an 'expert witness' to provide detailed recommendations and costings, and preparing written and oral evidence for cases going to Trial in a Western Australian Court of Law and in other states of Australia. Chris has experience providing opinion for both plaintiff and defendant legal representation. Chris is certified in the Perceive; Recall; Plan and Perform (PRPP) system of task analysis, and in the FIM+FAM standardised functional assessment measure.
Chris has a passion for and has been involved in research and service development, with experience presenting at the OT Australia WA State Conference (2008, 2010 & 2012), Australasian Road Safety Conference (2011) and at the OT Australia National Conference (2013, 2015, 2017 & 2021). He also participated as an allied health representative for the Four Hour Rule implementation at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, as well as a clinical consultant in research at the Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC) located at Curtin University & in helping Pearson validate the latest DriveSafe & DriveAware driver evaluation tool. Chris recently convened the OT Exchange Conference in Perth, OT Australia's largest national OT event in 2024.
Chris received a ‘Recognition of Service Award’ in 2009 from OT AUSTRALIA WA, and previously volunteered within the State OT Association as a committee of management representative for the Professional Development Portfolio. Chris currently sits as the Chair of the WA Divisional Council of OT Australia contributing to the development of occupational therapy on a national level. He received the ‘OT Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2013 for his contribution to developing the area of driver assessment and rehabilitation in WA & a 'Representation Award' in 2016 after representing Occupational Therapy Australia at a National Senate Inquiry and taking questions from Senators on the recommendations in the submission and on broader driving and road safety matters. He also currently represents WA on the OT Australia National Driving Taskforce with input into a range of policy and environmental factors shaping these areas of practice. Chris recently received the prestigious ‘Australian OT of the Year’ award at the 2024 National Allied Health Awards.
Chris maintains current knowledge within his areas of practice through on-going professional development and mentorship, & volunteering time to provide professional development opportunities for Occupational Therapists across Western Australia. Chris also provides guest lectures at Curtin University & Edith Cowan University annually, and maintains an active membership with the Occupational Therapy Australia (National) professional body.
Over the past 20 years, Chris has been instrumental in establishing and growing Occupational Therapy Services Group, now one of the largest OT-specific practices in Western Australia. He currently acts as the Managing Director while also continuing to practice clinically.
In 2009, Chris completed the Occupational Therapy Driver Assessment and Training Course at the University of Sydney and subsequently founded the Driving Services arm of OT Services Group - which provides a variety of driving assessment and rehabilitation services to persons in the Perth metropolitan & surrounding rural areas of Western Australia. He has since expanded this area of specialty by completing his Certificate IV in Transport & Logistics, becoming one of the first Occupational Therapists in Australia to work in hands-on driver rehabilitation, with a particular focus on cognitive and visual retraining, and complex vehicle modification.
Chris has extensive experience working across areas of health and disability, consulting professionally as an 'expert witness' to provide detailed recommendations and costings, and preparing written and oral evidence for cases going to Trial in a Western Australian Court of Law and in other states of Australia. Chris has experience providing opinion for both plaintiff and defendant legal representation. Chris is certified in the Perceive; Recall; Plan and Perform (PRPP) system of task analysis, and in the FIM+FAM standardised functional assessment measure.
Chris has a passion for and has been involved in research and service development, with experience presenting at the OT Australia WA State Conference (2008, 2010 & 2012), Australasian Road Safety Conference (2011) and at the OT Australia National Conference (2013, 2015, 2017 & 2021). He also participated as an allied health representative for the Four Hour Rule implementation at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, as well as a clinical consultant in research at the Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC) located at Curtin University & in helping Pearson validate the latest DriveSafe & DriveAware driver evaluation tool. Chris recently convened the OT Exchange Conference in Perth, OT Australia's largest national OT event in 2024.
Chris received a ‘Recognition of Service Award’ in 2009 from OT AUSTRALIA WA, and previously volunteered within the State OT Association as a committee of management representative for the Professional Development Portfolio. Chris currently sits as the Chair of the WA Divisional Council of OT Australia contributing to the development of occupational therapy on a national level. He received the ‘OT Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2013 for his contribution to developing the area of driver assessment and rehabilitation in WA & a 'Representation Award' in 2016 after representing Occupational Therapy Australia at a National Senate Inquiry and taking questions from Senators on the recommendations in the submission and on broader driving and road safety matters. He also currently represents WA on the OT Australia National Driving Taskforce with input into a range of policy and environmental factors shaping these areas of practice. Chris recently received the prestigious ‘Australian OT of the Year’ award at the 2024 National Allied Health Awards.
Chris maintains current knowledge within his areas of practice through on-going professional development and mentorship, & volunteering time to provide professional development opportunities for Occupational Therapists across Western Australia. Chris also provides guest lectures at Curtin University & Edith Cowan University annually, and maintains an active membership with the Occupational Therapy Australia (National) professional body.
Memberships & Representation
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OT Australia MemberWA Representative National Driving TaskforceOT Australia - WA Divisional Council ChairWA Driving Interest Group Co-convener |
Awards & Recognition |
'Occupational Therapist of the Year’ 2024, National Allied Health AwardsWA Finalist - 'Building Communities Award’ 2023, Telstra Business AwardsWA Finalist - 'Championing Health Award’ 2023, Telstra Business AwardsFinalist - 'Occupational Therapist of the Year’ 2020-21, National Allied Health AwardsFinalist - 'Allied Health Impact & Innovation Excellence’ 2020-21, National Allied Health Awards'Representation Award’ 2016, OT AUSTRALIA'OT Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ 2013, OT AUSTRALIA WA'Recognition of Service Award’ 2009, OT AUSTRALIA WA |
