Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Deakin course code	H355
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
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.
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 . Honours Stream Pass Stream Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	055178G Waterfront (Geelong)
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 2024 onwards. Students who commenced their course before 2024 should refer to previous handbooks or contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

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 needed 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 a diverse range of occupational therapy practice areas. You will also learn, from experts and colleagues from other disciplines, preparing you to become an active member of interdisciplinary teams. 1000 hours of practical experience ensures you graduate job-ready, with the skills to make a difference in people’s lives and make your mark in the rapidly growing health sector.^*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 people of all ages who are having difficulties completing their daily activities; this might be due to physical or mental illness, disability, injury, or environmental barriers.

This course will prepare you to work as an occupational therapist across a range of areas such as:

paediatrics and childhood development
adult and aged care
mental health
neurology
environmental design and home modification
community health
disability support.

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. You will also have the option to complete an overseas study tour to countries such as Denmark, India, and Sweden, putting your acquired skills into practice and learning about the occupational therapy profession from different perspectives.

Are you a current Year 12 student? If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or within the Greater City of Geelong you may be eligible to apply for this course through our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme using our dedicated VTAC code. As an eligible applicant you may also receive up to a 10 aggregate point adjustment towards your entry score. Make the most of your ATAR.

Discover our health and community services courses.

^*2023 Employment Projections – for the ten years to 2033, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia

Indicative student workload

Students are expected to participate in a range of learning activities. This may include lectures, 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 and the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) are accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the OTBA.

The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

For Warrnambool only:
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) programs delivered at the Warrnambool campus are granted accreditation by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) with conditions until 2027, subject to submission of satisfactory monitoring reports.

Career opportunities

With the health care and social assistance sector continuing to grow, there is a strong industry demand for graduates with specialist skills to work across a range of organisations as part of interdisciplinary teams. Occupational therapists are in particular demand with the Australian government projecting a 16.9% increase in jobs over the next five years.^*

Occupational therapy is a career where you will have a direct impact; helping people of all ages reach their goals and lead a meaningful life, whether it be in paediatrics and childhood development, adult and aged care, mental health, neurology, environmental design and home modification or community health and disability support.

Deakin's Bachelor of Occupational Therapy prepares you to work across a diverse range of settings, such 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
NDIS
private occupational therapy practices
primary and secondary schools
Western District Health
TAC.

^*2023 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2028, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia

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.

Articulated courses

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) (H455)

Course Learning Outcomes

H355 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply evidence based/evidence informed knowledge about occupation and its dynamic relationship with people, the environment and health, to design and deliver strengths-based, person- and community-centred occupational therapy services.
Communication	Communicate sensitively, professionally, and respectfully to advocate for and with clients, families, preferred supports, colleagues, and communities using strengths-based, culturally safe language and a range of communication tools and strategies.
Digital literacy	Seek, use, and critically evaluate information located and accessed from digital and other technologies to enhance occupational therapy practice, professional development, and research, and promote participation for diverse populations.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse, synthesise, and apply knowledge, theories, methods, and skills, to inform occupational therapy practice and research.
Problem solving	Apply critical thinking, professional reasoning, decision making, reflection and innovation to collaboratively design, implement, evaluate, and improve occupational therapy practice outcomes, research, and scholarship.
Self-management	Uphold professional standards and maintain currency of knowledge through identification and implementation of self-reflective practices, independent learning, and professional development.
Teamwork	Practice collaboratively, professionally, and respectfully and contribute occupational therapy expertise within inter and intra professional teams. Demonstrate willingness and capability to assume leadership, supervisory and management roles as appropriate.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate ethical and co-constructed occupational therapy practice and research through the integration of diverse worldviews, perspectives and insights of local and global cultures and heritages, with a particular emphasis on working alongside and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply evidence based/informed knowledge about occupation and its dynamic relationship with people, the environment and health, to design and deliver strengths-based, person- and community-centred occupational therapy services. Apply and plan the appropriate methodological procedures for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.
Communication	Communicate sensitively, professionally, and respectfully to advocate for and with clients, families, preferred supports, colleagues, and communities using strengths-based, culturally safe language and a range of communication tools and strategies. Disseminate research findings to a range of stakeholders.
Digital literacy	Seek, use, and critically evaluate information located and accessed from digital and other technologies to enhance occupational therapy practice, support continuing professional development, and research, and promote participation for diverse populations.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse, synthesise, and apply knowledge, theories, methods, and skills, to inform occupational therapy practice and research.
Problem solving	Apply critical thinking, professional reasoning, decision making, reflection and innovation to collaboratively design, implement, evaluate, and improve occupational therapy practice outcomes, research, and scholarship.
Self-management	Uphold professional standards and maintain currency of knowledge through identification and implementation of self-reflective practices, independent learning, and professional development.
Teamwork	Practice collaboratively, professionally, respectfully and contribute occupational therapy expertise within inter and intra professional teams. Assume leadership, supervisory and management roles as appropriate.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate ethical and co-constructed occupational therapy practice and research through the integration of diverse worldviews, perspectives and insights of local and global cultures and heritages, with a particular emphasis on working alongside and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
30 credit points of core units
2 credit points of open electives

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 a minimum a distinction average upon completion of level 3 studies, and
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), and
two trimester 1 level 4 units HSO403 and HSO405

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Note:

Failure of a fieldwork component in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy may lead to exclusion from the course. Students will be required to complete a minimum 1 fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.

Course structure

Core units

Level 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (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 Health and Community Care

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

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

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or 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.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or 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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.