Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
2023 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2023 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
| Course Map | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023: Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus | Warrnambool Campus from 2024 |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent Students who meet eligibility requirements will enrol in H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) for their fourth year of study. |
| CRICOS course code | 055178G Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Deakin course code | H355 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
This course structure is for students commencing Trimester 1 2023 onwards. Students who commenced their course before 2023 should refer to previous handbooks or contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
Course overview
Employment in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector is projected to grow by 301,000 (or 15.8%) by 2026^. Deakin's accredited Bachelor of Occupational Therapy gives you a cutting-edge, practical education; preparing you to identify people's strengths and limitations, environmental and social supports and barriers, and the role these play in people's ability to participate in occupations meaningful to them.
You will gain the expertise to develop personalised, evidence-based intervention plans with people whose health and wellbeing is affected by issues including injury, illness, disability or environmental barriers. You will learn from our expert occupational therapy staff who are leaders in their fields of research and have extensive experience in a diverse range of occupational therapy specialisations. You will have the opportunity to learn from experts and colleagues from other disciplines, preparing you to become an active member of interdisciplinary teams.
Passionate about promoting good health and wellbeing and improving people's quality of life?
Occupation is more than jobs or paid employment. Occupation refers to all meaningful activities that people engage in throughout their life. As a qualified occupational therapist, you will be able to work collaboratively with people of all ages to enable them to successfully engage in the occupations that they need and want to do.
The knowledge and skills you develop throughout your study will enable you to enhance people’s quality of life at home, work and in the community. You will be qualified to work with children, adolescents, adults, and older people who are experiencing difficulty completing their daily activities. This might be due to physical or mental illness, disability, injury, or environmental barriers.
Occupational therapy has experienced strong growth over the past five years and is expected to grow steadily into the future. As a qualified occupational therapist, you can find employment in areas as diverse as:
- acute, psychiatric or rehabilitation hospitals
- community health organisations
- government departments or agencies
- mental health services
- private practices
- rehabilitation services
- primary and secondary schools
- universities and research institutes
- workplace wellbeing, occupational health and safety, and rehabilitation services.
These are just a few of the organisations our high-achieving graduates have gone on to work in:
- Alfred Health
- Barwon Health
- Bellarine Community Health
- Department of Education
- genU
- Western District Health.
- Western Health
Starting in your first year, you will complete eight different placements totalling over 1000 hours in a range of occupational therapy practice areas. This invaluable real-world work experience, combined with practical learning in our on-campus state-of-the-art occupational therapy learning spaces, will ensure you graduate confident and career-ready. As international borders reopen, you will also have the option to complete an overseas study tour to countries including Denmark, India, Sri Lanka and Sweden, putting your acquired skills into practice and learning about the occupational therapy profession from different perspectives.
^2021 Employment Outlook – for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government National Skills Commission
Indicative student workload
Students are expected to participate in a range of learning activities. This may include classes, seminars, simulations, peer collaboration and online interaction. Refer to unit details on the unit site or the University Handbook for more information.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, which means you will be able to practise professionally in Australia and overseas.
Career opportunities
Occupational therapy has experienced very strong growth over the past five years and is expected to grow very strongly over the next five years – in 2020 there were 22,700 occupational therapists in Australia and this is likely to reach 26,600 by 2025*.
Through this course, you could find employment in areas as diverse as:
- acute, psychiatric or rehabilitation hospitals
- community health organisations
- government departments or agencies
- mental health services
- private practices
- research institutes
- primary and secondary schools
- workplace wellbeing, occupational health and safety, and rehabilitation services.
Our graduates have found employment with the following organisations, as well as many more:
- Alfred Health
- Barwon Health
- Bellarine Community Health
- Department of Education
- genU
- private occupational therapy practices
- primary and secondary schools
- Western District Health.
*Australian Government Job Outlook
Participation requirements
This course involves compulsory practice education in each trimester of the course. The requirement of completing a minimum of 1000 hours of practice education during the course is essential for the course to meet national and international accreditation standards.
Elective units that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning, or collaborative research training may be selected, however, the hours may not be eligible to contribute to assessable OT specific placement hours.
Reasonable adjustments to participation can be made for students with a health condition or impairment impacting performance. The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) can provide advice and support.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Health safety screening requirements include Police Record Check, Working with Children Check, Immunisation status and NDIS Worker Screening Check.
Inherent requirements
Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed here.
Working with Children Check
In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of the course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of practice education will not be able to undertake practice education impeding their progression in the course. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.
Police record check
In accordance with the Department of Health policy, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to practice education in each calendar year of the course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of practice education will not be able to undertake practice education, impeding their progression in the course. Learn more about the National Police Record Check.
Immunisation Status
Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education. An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
All students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check at the commencement of the course. This is an assessment of whether a person poses risk to NDIS participants. Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening Check may not be able to undertake practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
Pathways
This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply specialised knowledge about occupation and health across the lifespan; and knowledge of research principles and methods, to provide person centred occupational therapy services for individuals, groups, organisations, communities or populations and to conduct an occupationally relevant research project. |
| Communication | Communicate effectively, professionally and respectfully with clients, families, carers, co-workers and colleagues using clear and appropriate language and communication modes. 2.2 Effectively communicate the implication of research findings for occupational therapy practice |
| Digital literacy | Seek out and critically evaluate information located and accessed from digital and other technologies to inform occupational therapy practice, support continuing professional development, research projects and promote participation for people with diverse abilities. |
| Critical thinking | Critically assess, interpret, and evaluate information to plan and implement appropriate, person-centred occupational therapy intervention and to inform research ethics and activity. |
| Problem solving | Effectively apply problem solving skills using critical thinking, professional reasoning, decision making and reflection to the design, implementation and evaluation of person centred occupational therapy service, research and scholarship. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate high professional standards through identification and implementation of independent learning and professional development strategies for the benefit of clients, families and others, colleagues and the profession. |
| Teamwork | Establish and maintain occupational therapy practice within inter-professional teams that is ethical, evidence based, professional, respectful and collaborative, and assume leadership, supervisory and management roles as appropriate. |
| Global citizenship | Apply ethical, culturally relevant, professional and appropriate decision making which is respectful of the diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts within Australian and global communities. Justify the position of a research project within a national and international context. |
Course rules
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Pass stream comprises 32 credit points, including 30 credit points of core units and 2 credit points of elective units.
Some students also have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) in their fourth year of the course. Entry into the Occupational Therapy Honours program is by invitation. To receive an invitation, a student must:
- achieve at least a distinction average upon completion of level 3 studies
- successfully complete HSO302 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice
To be awarded H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) a student must successfully complete:
- three honours units at level 4 (listed under course structure H455 below)
- two trimester one level 4 units HSO403 and HSO405.
Failure of a fieldwork component in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy may lead to exclusion from the course. Students will be required to complete at least one fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| HAI010 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| HSE010 | Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points) |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HDS101 | Communication and Diversity |
| HSO102 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy A |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HSE102 | Functional Human Anatomy |
| HSE208 | Integrated Human Physiology |
| HSO104 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy B |
| IND101 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HSO202 | Impact of Health Conditions On Occupational Performance |
| HSO205 | Occupations in Childhood Development |
| HSO207 | Neurological Structure, Function and Plasticity |
plus one elective unit
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HBS108 | Health Information and Data |
| HSO206 | Occupation Across the Lifespan |
| HSO208 | Analysis of Occupational Performance |
plus one elective unit
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HBS345 | Collaborative Practice in Healthcare |
| HSO302 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice |
| HSO305 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 1 |
| HSO307 | Psychosocial Influences on Occupational Performance 1 |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HSO304 | Professional Practice Education A |
| HSO306 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 2 |
| HSO308 | Psychosocial Influences On Occupational Performance 2 |
Level 4 - Pass stream
Trimester 1
| HSO401 | OT Practice Applying Knowledge and Reasoning |
| HSO403 | Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology |
| HSO405 | Professional Practice Education B |
Trimester 2
| HSO408 | Transition to Practice |
| HSO417 | Occupational Therapy Professional Development |
| HSO418 | Innovation and Evaluation in OT Practice |
Level 4 - H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
(CRICOS code: 088320A)
Trimester 1
| HSO403 | Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology |
| HSO405 | Professional Practice Education B |
| HSO411 | OT Honours Proposal Ethics and Literature |
Trimester 2
| HSO414 | OT Honours Analysis and Critique |
| HSO416 | Honours Research Project |
Elective units
Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of two elective units may be studied at level 1.
Work experience
Practice Education
Practice education provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Practice education is embedded within academic units in each trimester of the 4 year course. In each of these units, practice education is a mandatory hurdle requirement. Successful completion of all practice education is required to maintain progression in the course.
A minimum of 1000 practice education hours will be gained as per The World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) minimum standards. These practice education hours will occur in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, community health organisations and private practice. Placements may be in metropolitan, regional, rural and interstate locations and will require you to engage with diverse client groups. All students are required to participate in at least one regional or rural practice education placement during their degree. Placements may incur additional travel and accommodation costs. Practice education can occur at any time, including in holidays and trimester breaks. A schedule detailing these placements is developed in advance of the commencing academic year. The current Practice Education Schedule can be here:
Further details related to practice education can be found on the School Practice Education page.
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
Students are encouraged to take on voluntary learning experiences offered by community organisations. These opportunities are promoted through the course website.
Students are also encouraged to undertake international learning experiences offered through Deakin. Many students use elective options to undertake study tours offered by the School, including those offered by the occupational therapy team.