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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
-
Duration
4 years full-time; 8 years part-time
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Location
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Course abbreviation
BOccThy
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Course code
3007224
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Credit points
384
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Equivalent units
32
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Indicative Fee
Overview
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.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
GA1: Intellectual rigour 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. |
GA2: Creativity Demonstrate an occupation-centred, evidence-based and client-centred approach to occupational therapy practice for individuals, groups and communities. |
GA3: Ethical practice 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. |
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of the person-environment-occupation relationship and the link between occupation and health and wellbeing. |
GA5: Lifelong learning Commit to, and engage in, critical reflection and lifelong learning initiatives to ensure effective contributions to contemporary and future occupational therapy practice. |
GA6: Communication and social skills Communicate professionally and respectfully with professional partners including clients, carers and colleagues using appropriate levels of written and verbal language. |
GA7: Cultural competence 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.
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.
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Term 1 , Term 5 | N/A | N/A |
| Gold Coast | Term 1 , Term 5 | N/A | N/A |
Career Outcomes
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.
Requirements
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.
Course requirements
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.
Course structure
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.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
||||||||||||||||||||||
First Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH1005 | Understanding Wellbeing and Mental Health |
Term1,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH1006 | Foundations of Interprofessional Health Practice |
Term2,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO1009 | Introductory Anatomy and Physiology |
Term2,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2005 | Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO1010 | Integrated Anatomy and Physiology |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2001 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples |
Summer Term
Term2,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STAT2001 | Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners |
Term1,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Second Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2013 | Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU1002 | Personal Care Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2004 | Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO2003 | Functional Kinesiology of the Upper Limbs and Trunk |
Term2,3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2006 | Home and Community Occupations |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2002 | Sensory Motor Assessments and Interventions |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2003 | Learning and Applying Knowledge for Individuals and Groups |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2014 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy I |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Third Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gnibi Elective Unit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2009 | Education, Leisure and Play Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2008 | Cognition Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2011 | Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2010 | Work and Employment Occupations |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH1003 | Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport |
Term3,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2015 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy II |
Dual Term4
|
24 | Note 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3002 | Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | Not currently available |
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH3004 | Transition to Practice |
Summer Term
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3003 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy III |
Dual Term2
|
36 | Note 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBHL2002 | Health Promotion |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH3005 | Interprofessional Health Practice |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBHL3001 | Health Promotion Project |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
||||||||||||||||||||||
First Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Human Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH1005 | Understanding Wellbeing and Mental Health |
Term1,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH1006 | Foundations of Interprofessional Health Practice |
Term2,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO1009 | Introductory Anatomy and Physiology |
Term2,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2005 | Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO1010 | Integrated Anatomy and Physiology |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2001 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples |
Summer Term
Term2,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STAT2001 | Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners |
Term1,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Second Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2013 | Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU1002 | Personal Care Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2004 | Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2005 | Working with Aboriginal Communities I (Professional Engagement) |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2006 | Home and Community Occupations |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2002 | Sensory Motor Assessments and Interventions |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2003 | Learning and Applying Knowledge for Individuals and Groups |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2014 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy I |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Third Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG1010 | Trauma and Resilience I |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2009 | Education, Leisure and Play Occupations |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2008 | Cognition Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2011 | Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2010 | Work and Employment Occupations |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2011 | Aboriginal Social Realities |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2015 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy II |
Dual Term4
|
24 | Note 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3002 | Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | Not currently available |
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH3004 | Transition to Practice |
Summer Term
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3003 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy III |
Dual Term2
|
36 | Note 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBHL2002 | Health Promotion |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG3001 - Caring for Country OR INDG2008 - Racism and Eugenics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBHL3001 | Health Promotion Project |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note 1:
Double-weighted Unit
Note 2:
Triple-weighted Unit
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Units | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU1002 | Personal Care Occupations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBIO1010 | Integrated Anatomy and Physiology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| STAT2001 | Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2013 | Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2005 | Lifespan Development and Occupational Transitions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2004 | Musculoskeletal and Reduced Energy Assessments and Interventions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2008 | Cognition Assessments and Interventions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2009 | Education, Leisure and Play Occupations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2010 | Work and Employment Occupations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU2011 | Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3003 | Work Integrated Learning in Occupational Therapy III | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OCCU3002 | Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HLTH3004 | Transition to Practice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PBHL2002 | Health Promotion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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