Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
| Deakin course code | H355 |
| Course credit points | 32 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent Students who meet eligibility requirements may enrol in H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) for their fourth year of study. |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 055178G Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
| Supplementary information | This course structure is for students commencing Trimester 1 2026 onwards. Students who commenced their course before 2026 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
- Articulated courses
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Develop the skills to support people to live more independently with Deakin's accredited Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. You will learn to assess people’s strengths and limitations, identify environmental and social barriers, and design personalised, evidence-based interventions that enable participation in meaningful activities across all stages of life.
Learn from expert occupational therapy educators and work alongside other disciplines to build your capability as part of an interdisciplinary team. Practice education is embedded in every year of the course, with over 1000 hours completed across diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, and community health services. Combined with hands-on learning in state-of-the-art specialist facilities, a practical focus contributes to Deakin being ranked the #1 Victorian university for occupational therapy course satisfaction. You will graduate confident, career ready, and eligible for professional registration as an occupational therapist.
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 and the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
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 occupational therapy graduates with specialist skills to work across a range of organisations. Occupational therapists are in particular demand with the Australian government projecting a 17.2% increase in jobs over the next five years.*
As the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment, Deakin prepares you to meet this demand with confidence. Occupational therapy is a career where you will have a direct impact; enabling 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 and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) 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:
- Barwon Health
- Bayside Health (Alfred, Peninsula)
- Bellarine Community Health
- Department of Education
- genU
- NDIS
- private occupational therapy practices
- primary and secondary schools
- South West Healthcare
- Western Health
- Western District Health Services
- TAC.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Honours will design, conduct, and evaluate occupational therapy research by applying appropriate methods for data collection, analysis, and interpretation, integrating evidence-based knowledge, critical thinking, and digital literacy to inform practice and generate new insights.
*2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
Participation requirements
This course involves compulsory practice education in each year 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.
Deakin seeks to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. If you have questions about adjustments that may be possible or applicable in your situation, we encourage you to reach out to Future Students Domestic students/ International students or Disability Resource Centre for a confidential discussion. You will be connected to a staff member who will be able to discuss your circumstances and how the School and University can help to put reasonable accommodations in place. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career, and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
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
All prospective applicants should review the Inherent Requirements of the course, which describe the skills, values and behaviours that students need to achieve. Students should consider whether they may need reasonable adjustments in order to meet these requirements.
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. In addition, an organisation may refuse to accept a student with disclosable outcomes, impeding the student’s 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 domestic students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check at the commencement of the course. International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check check by the commencement of second year. 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.
Note
Students will be responsible for all costs associated with completing and maintaining the following mandatory checks which are required prior to commencing professional practice education experience:
- Working with Children Check, (approximately $130)
- An NDIS worker screen, (approximately $130)
- A National Police Record Check (approximately $100)
- Immunisation Status
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
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Critically analyse, synthesise, and apply knowledge, theories, methods, and skills, to inform occupational therapy practice |
| Apply critical thinking, professional reasoning, decision making, reflection and innovation to collaboratively design, implement, evaluate, and improve occupational therapy practice outcomes, research, and scholarship. |
| Uphold professional standards and maintain currency of knowledge through identification and implementation of self-reflective practices, independent learning, and professional development. |
| 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. |
| 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)
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Critically analyse, synthesise, and apply knowledge, theories, methods, and skills, to inform occupational therapy practice and research. |
| Apply critical thinking, professional reasoning, decision making, reflection and innovation to collaboratively design, implement, evaluate, and improve occupational therapy practice outcomes, research, and scholarship. |
| Uphold professional standards and maintain currency of knowledge through identification and implementation of self-reflective practices, independent learning, and professional development. |
| Practice collaboratively, professionally, respectfully and contribute occupational therapy expertise within inter and intra professional teams. Assume leadership, supervisory and management roles as appropriate. |
| 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. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 31 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point 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
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (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
| HSE010 | Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points) |
| 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 |
| HSO218 | Occupational Performance Analysis |
| HSO209 | Practice Education and Cultural Contexts |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HSO309 | Practice Education and Interprofessional Collaboration |
| HSO302 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice |
| HSO315 | Enabling Occupational Participation Through Information Gathering |
| 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 in each year of the course. In each practice education unit, 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.
Students are generally required to complete at least one placement in an out-of-region location (excluding their principal place of residence) during their degree. Placements may incur additional travel and accommodation costs. Practice education is scheduled at specific points across each year, including during university holidays and trimester breaks. A schedule detailing these placements is developed in advance of the commencing academic year.
Further details related to practice education can be found on the School Practice Education page.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.