Course summary
Do you want a health career that could transform the lives of others by helping them achieve tangible results?
Occupational therapists’ work is diverse. They adapt environments, activities or equipment to enhance participation in everyday tasks, assisting people of all ages and abilities to do what they need and want to do at home, work, school and in the community.
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. Occupational therapy has been identified as a high job growth area by the Australian Government’s Job Outlook.
Do you want a health career that could transform the lives of others by helping them achieve tangible results?
Occupational therapists’ work is diverse. They adapt environments, activities or equipment to enhance participation in everyday tasks, assisting people of all ages and abilities to do what they need and want to do at home, work, school and in the community.
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. Occupational therapy has been identified as a high job growth area by the Australian Government’s Job Outlook.
Optional major: Indigenous Health.
This major can be studied at Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses and offers students the opportunity to build theoretical and practical capabilities in cultural protocols and Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Embedded placement opportunities equip graduates with the professional skills required to contribute to the improvement of health and social outcomes in Australian communities.
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.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Effectively implement critical thinking, problem solving, professional reasoning and self-reflection to occupational therapy service provision and evaluation. Analyse the systemic, interpersonal and personal factors influencing health and disability across diverse communities living in metropolitan, regional and rural areas and create innovative and effective occupational therapy practice. |
Demonstrate an occupation-centred, evidence-based and client-centred approach to occupational therapy practice for individuals, groups and communities. |
Understand and comply with various legislative requirements, guidelines and standards influencing professional practice to ensure ethical application of professional knowledge and skills. Contribute to collaborative, respectful and ethical interprofessional practice which collectively implements effective client-centred practice. |
Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of the person-environment-occupation relationship and the link between occupation and health and wellbeing. |
Commit to, and engage in, critical reflection and lifelong learning initiatives to ensure effective contributions to contemporary and future occupational therapy practice. |
Communicate professionally and respectfully with professional partners including clients, carers and colleagues using appropriate levels of written and verbal language. |
Demonstrate cultural safety and inclusive collaborative professional practice that is respectful to all people, nationally and globally, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
Professional placements build clinical and practical skills in settings that may include aged care, hospitals, community health, disability and mental health services, primary schools, work environments and private practice. Students complete over 1,000 hours in practice education during the course.
Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on the Faculty of Health 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. Students will likely have to travel away from their local area and placements may be located anywhere in Australia. Students are required to support themselves financially (including accommodation, travel and living expenses) during placements.
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.
As an occupational therapy student it is important to be aware of the registration standards required by the Occupational Therapy Board (OTB). See the details on the OTB website.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy will be registered by Southern Cross University with the Occupational Therapy Board as an enrolled student and will remain registered for the duration of study. Please see the AHPRA website for more details.
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 | Term 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Gold Coast | Term 1 | N/A | N/A |
Fee information
International
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Term 1 | $29,360 ($3,670 per unit) | 082680C |
| Gold Coast | Term 1 | $29,360 ($3,670 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 the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
- 22 core units (288 credit points); and
- 1 major (96 credit points).
Professional Experience Learning
This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health 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. Students will likely have to travel away from their local area and placements may be located anywhere in Australia. Students are required to support themselves financially (including accommodation, travel and living expenses) during placements.
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 Equity and 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 Equity and 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. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
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 | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
|||
First Year |
|||
| OCCU1001 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations | |||
| HLTH1005 - Understanding Wellbeing and Mental Health | |||
| HLTH1006 - Foundations of Interprofessional Health Practice | |||
| HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| OCCU2005 - Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions | |||
| HBIO1010 - Integrated Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| INDG2001 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | |||
| STAT2001 - Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | |||
Second Year |
|||
| OCCU2013 - Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice | |||
| OCCU1002 - Personal Care Occupations | |||
| OCCU2004 - Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions | |||
| HBIO2003 - Functional Kinesiology of the Upper Limbs and Trunk | |||
| OCCU2006 - Home and Community Occupations | |||
| OCCU2002 - Sensory Motor Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2003 - Learning and Applying Knowledge for Individuals and Groups | |||
| OCCU2014 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy I | |||
Third Year |
|||
| Gnibi Elective Unit | |||
| OCCU2009 - Education, Leisure and Play Occupations | |||
| OCCU2008 - Cognition Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2011 - Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2010 - Work and Employment Occupations | |||
| HLTH1003 - Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport | |||
| OCCU2015 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy II | Note 1 | ||
Fourth Year |
|||
| OCCU3002 - Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | |||
| HLTH3004 - Transition to Practice | |||
| OCCU3003 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy III | Note 2 | ||
| PBHL2002 - Health Promotion | |||
| HLTH3005 - Interprofessional Health Practice | |||
| PBHL3001 - Health Promotion Project | |||
| Title | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
|||
First Year |
|||
| OCCU1001 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations | |||
| HLTH1005 - Understanding Wellbeing and Mental Health | |||
| HLTH1006 - Foundations of Interprofessional Health Practice | |||
| HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| OCCU2005 - Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions | |||
| HBIO1010 - Integrated Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| INDG2001 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | |||
| STAT2001 - Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | |||
Second Year |
|||
| OCCU2013 - Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice | |||
| OCCU1002 - Personal Care Occupations | |||
| OCCU2004 - Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions | |||
| INDG2005 - Working with Aboriginal Communities I (Professional Engagement) | |||
| OCCU2006 - Home and Community Occupations | |||
| OCCU2002 - Sensory Motor Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2003 - Learning and Applying Knowledge for Individuals and Groups | |||
| OCCU2014 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy I | |||
Third Year |
|||
| INDG1010 - Trauma and Resilience I | |||
| OCCU2009 - Education, Leisure and Play Occupations | |||
| OCCU2008 - Cognition Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2011 - Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions | |||
| OCCU2010 - Work and Employment Occupations | |||
| INDG2011 - Aboriginal Social Realities | |||
| OCCU2015 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy II | Note 1 | ||
Fourth Year |
|||
| OCCU3002 - Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | |||
| HLTH3004 - Transition to Practice | |||
| OCCU3003 - Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy III | Note 2 | ||
| PBHL2002 - Health Promotion | |||
| INDG3001 - Caring for Country OR INDG2008 - Racism and Eugenics | |||
| PBHL3001 - Health Promotion Project | |||
Notes
| Note 1: | Double-weighted Unit |
| Note 2: | Triple-weighted Unit |