Course summary
If you want a health career that could transform the lives of others by helping them achieve tangible results, you should consider this degree.
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy provides you with the expertise to support people to live independently and take part in in everyday activities to improve their wellbeing. You will develop a range of clinical skills in the University’s state-of-the-art facilities and during your professional placement, preparing you for work in diverse health care environments.
As an occupational therapist you could for example develop inclusive playground experiences and environments for children of all abilities; you could recommend workplace changes that would assist an injured worker to return to work; or you could design home modifications or public transport changes that would ensure access for a person using a power wheelchair.
If you want a health career that could transform the lives of others by helping them achieve tangible results, you should consider this degree.
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy provides you with the expertise to support people to live independently and take part in in everyday activities to improve their wellbeing. You will develop a range of clinical skills in the University’s state-of-the-art facilities and during your professional placement, preparing you for work in diverse health care environments.
As an occupational therapist you could for example develop inclusive playground experiences and environments for children of all abilities; you could recommend workplace changes that would assist an injured worker to return to work; or you could design home modifications or public transport changes that would ensure access for a person using a power wheelchair.
In order to meet the Australian occupational therapy competency standards this course is structured in accordance with professional body recommendations. All students complete studies in the following areas:
Professional Areas: occupational therapy theory and practice; occupational therapy assessments and interventions related to biomechanical, sensorimotor, psychosocial and cognitive performance, activities, engagement and participation at home, at school, at work and in the community; occupational transitions across the lifespan; evaluation of occupational therapy programs; health promotion; and professional experience/fieldwork.
Social Sciences: psychology and sociology for health sciences, Australian health care system, Indigenous studies, research methods, nutrition in health, and small business and entrepreneurship.
Biological Sciences: anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and neuroscience.
Honours: The Embedded Honours option is not available in 2019. Further information on this will be provided in due course.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in all scholarly, intellectual and professional activities, including critical analysis, sound judgement and the use of research/evidence to inform clinical/professional practice. Systematically apply knowledge creation strategies and practices to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of practice based research. |
| Creativity | Analyse and respond innovatively to the systemic, interpersonal and personal factors influencing health and disability across diverse communities Utilize a sustainable and entrepreneurial approach to professional practice Demonstrate an occupation focused and client-centred orientation to professional practice |
| Ethical practice | Address legislative requirements, guidelines and standards affecting professional practice Understand, articulate and defend the values base of occupational practice and occupational justice |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Be grounded in an occupational view of health and disability across the lifespan. Utilise appropriate evidence based occupational therapy assessment and treatment modalities to identify and address the occupational needs of a diverse community. Develop, evaluate and document occupational intervention strategies for individuals, groups &/or communities. |
| Lifelong learning | Using reflection to guide continuing professional development. Contributing to the development of various communities of practice through collaborative lifelong learning initiatives. Sophisticated use of information technology to ensure communities of practice are inclusive of rural/regional practice settings. |
| Communication and social skills | Work collaboratively to address occupational needs in a range of health, education and community teams and with an understanding of conventional and complementary therapies. Provide leadership in identifying, assessing and addressing the occupational needs of individuals, groups and communities. |
| Cultural competence | Demonstrate cultural safety in professional practice and proactive responses to Indigenous perspectives on health (worldwide). |
Professional placements of about 1,000 hours build clinical and practical skills in settings that may include aged care, hospitals, community health, disability and mental health services, primary schools, industrial environments and private practice.
This course is accredited by Occupational Therapy Australia and the Occupational Therapy Council, and is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Graduates of accredited occupational therapy programs are eligible for national registration.
Graduates are also eligible for membership of Occupational Therapy Australia. Please note: In order to register to practise, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency standards for English language must be met.
Course overview
Course code
3007224
Course abbreviation
BOccThy
Credit points
384
Equivalent units
32
Duration
4 years full-time; 8 years part-time
Duration
4 years full-time
Availability details
Domestic
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 | 335150 | 059151 |
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | 335168 | 055961 |
Fee information
International
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 | $26,400 ($3,300 per unit) | 082680C |
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | $26,400 ($3,300 per unit) | 082680C |
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, students must complete 384 credit points, comprising:
- all core units;
- 1 elective unit from Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples; and
- 1 University-wide elective unit.
Honours
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with Honours, students must complete 384 credit points, comprising all honours units.
Students in Honours must successfully complete all units in years 3 and 4 on their first attempt and maintain a Credit grade average (GPA) of at least 5.0 for years 3 and 4.
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing 192 credit points, comprising any 16 core and elective units.
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing 96 credit points, comprising any 8 core and elective units.
Professional Experience Learning
This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on School of Health and Human Sciences Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Progression
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 24 months between study of any two (2) units with professional experience learning.
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 24 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular unit with professional experience learning.
Students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 24 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake a specified supported professional experience placement to ensure professional experience currency prior to continuation of the course.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
Schedule of units
Course progressions
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. Assistance on how to enrol can be accessed here.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 1, Year 1, and the remaining 2 units in Session 1, Year 2 | |||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| HLT10582 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations | Introductory | ||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 2, Year 1, and the remaining 2 units in Session 2, Year 2 | |||
| BIO71002 - Human Physiology I | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| HLT10584 - Mobility and Personal Care Occupations | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 1, Year 3, and the remaining 2 units in Session 1, Year 4 | |||
| HLT10589 - Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions | Intermediate | ||
| HLT10586 - Learning and Applying Knowledge for Individuals and Groups | Intermediate | ||
| BIO10587 - Functional Kinesiology of the Upper Limbs and Trunk | Intermediate | ||
| HLT10585 - Sensory Motor Assessments and Interventions | Intermediate | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 2, Year 3, and the remaining 2 units in Session 2, Year 4 | |||
| HLT10588 - Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions | Intermediate | ||
| HLT10590 - Home and Community Occupations | Intermediate | ||
| HLT72001 - Clinical Reasoning in Professional Experience Learning | Intermediate | ||
| NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health | Introductory | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 1, Year 5, and the remaining 2 units in Session 1, Year 6 | |||
| HLT10593 - Mental Function (Cognition) Assessments and Interventions | Advanced | ||
| HLT10597 - Mental Function (Psychosocial) Assessments and Interventions | Advanced | ||
| HLT10591 - Regional Rural Remote Fieldwork | Intermediate | ||
| HLT10595 - Education, Leisure and Play Occupations | Advanced | ||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first 2 units in Session 2, Year 5, and the remaining 2 units in Session 2, Year 6 | |||
| HLT10592 - Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice | Advanced | ||
| MNG00306 - Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport | Introductory | ||
| HLT10594 - Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | Advanced | ||
| HLT10596 - Work and Employment Occupations | Advanced | ||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first double-weighted unit in Session 1, Year 7, and the remaining 2 units in Session 1, Year 8 | |||
| HLT83007 - Health Promotion and Primary Health Care | Advanced | Note 1 | |
| Gnibi College Elective | |||
| University-wide Elective | |||
| Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first triple-weighted unit in Session 2, Year 7, and the remaining unit in Session 2, Year 8 | |||
| HLT10600 - Advanced Fieldwork | Advanced | Note 2 | |
| HLT10601 - Transition to Professional Practice | Advanced | ||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| BIO71002 - Human Physiology I | Introductory | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| Year 1, Session 3 | |||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| HLT10582 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health | Introductory | ||
| HLT10584 - Mobility and Personal Care Occupations | Introductory | ||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| From Year 3, following the Session 1 Course Progression from Year 2 | |||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete one or more of the units under Session 3 below and then follow the Course Progression for Session 1 Commencement excluding the completed unit/s. | |||
| Session 3 | |||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health | Introductory | ||
Notes
| Note 1: | Double-weighted Unit |
| Note 2: | Triple-weighted Unit |