Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Course summary for current students
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G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus
| Award granted | Bachelor of Occupational Therapy |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Geelong Waterfront Campus |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Deakin course code | H355 |
Course structure applies to students who commenced in 2013 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2013 should refer to previous online handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer. Field Education: Details are available at the OT Field Education website | |
Course sub-headings
Course overview
Occupational therapists have specialised knowledge to promote health and wellbeing through occupation. Using their understanding of occupation and health, occupational therapists work collaboratively with people who might have limitations, including those caused by injury, health conditions, delayed development or the effects of ageing. Occupational therapy interventions are designed to enhance participation in everyday life and may include activities or assistive devices, or modification of home or work environments to facilitate active engagement in work, home, social and leisure activities.
This course draws upon Deakin’s core strengths in health education to ensure you receive a relevant, practical occupational therapy (OT) education that meets changing workforce needs. Throughout the course, you will benefit from our on-campus clinical skills laboratory which simulates real life settings and enables you to gain the knowledge and skills required to help clients manage their entire day in modified home and office environments. You will also consolidate your skills through a series of supervised placements which commence shortly after you begin your studies.
Selected students will have the opportunity to complete an honours year as part of this course.
Professional recognition
You can travel around the world with your occupational therapy qualification from Deakin. Deakin’s Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is accredited by by OT Australia and World Federation of Occupational Therapists allows graduates of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy to practise professionally in Australia and overseas.
Graduates are qualified to work as occupational therapists in private practice, hospitals, aged care, community health centres and organisations, disability support, driving rehabilitation, hand therapy, rehabilitation and schools.
Work-Integrated Learning
You will undertake a variety of practicum placements throughout the four years of the course, commencing in your first year. Fieldwork provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience under the supervision of qualified practitioners, which will enable you to practise confidently as an occupational therapist. You will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of practical experience. Fieldwork is conducted in a range of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, community health organisations and industry, in metropolitan, regional and rural locations.
In a host agency, you can play a meaningful role in a variety of activities, including planning programs and events, undertaking needs assessments, developing evaluation tools, counselling, group work, completing literature reviews and producing promotional materials. Placements begin shortly after you commence your first year of study.
Department of Human Services policy and Working with Children Check
In accordance with Department of Human Services policy* all students are required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements and a Working with Children Check (WWC) at the commencement of the course.
* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreement/4.departmental-policies-procedures-and-initiatives/4.6-police-record-check-policy-including-working-with-children-check
** Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia retrieved April 2012.
Fees and charges
Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.
Please be aware:
- Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
- Fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen
- Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services
Course rules
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy comprises 32 credit points, including 29 credit points of core units, 1 selective unit and 2 credit points of elective units.
To be awarded the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree with honours a person must
- achieve at least a distinction average upon completion of level 3 studies;
- successfully complete HSO302 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 1
- complete the four honours units at level 4 (below).
Failure of a fieldwork component in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy will normally lead to exclusion. Students will be required to complete at least one fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.
Course structure
Level 1
Trimester 1
| HBS107 | Understanding Health (B, G, W, X) |
| HBS109 | Human Structure and Function (B, G, W, X) |
| HDS101 | Communication and Diversity (B, S, X) |
| HSO102 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy A (S) |
Trimester 2
| HSE102 | Functional Human Anatomy (B, G, X) |
| HSE208 | Integrated Human Physiology (B, G) |
| HSO104 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy B (S) |
plus one selective unit from the following choices:
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour (B, G, W, X) |
| HPS111 | Fundamentals of Human Behaviour (B, G, W, X) |
| HPS121 | Psychology B: Individual and Social Development (B, G, W, X) |
Level 2
Trimester 1
| HSO202 | Impact of Health Conditions On Occupational Performance (S) |
| HSO205 | Occupations in Childhood Development (S) |
| HSO207 | Neurological Structure, Function and Plasticity (S) |
plus one elective unit
Trimester 2
| HBS108 | Health Information and Data (ONLINE) |
| HSO206 | Occupation Across the Lifespan (S) |
| HSO208 | Analysis of Occupational Performance (S) |
plus one elective unit
Level 3
Trimester 1
| HBS345 | Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care (ONLINE) |
| HSO302 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 1 (S) |
| HSO305 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 1 (S) |
| HSO307 | Psychosocial Influences on Occupational Performance |
Trimester 2
| HSO303 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 2 (S) |
| HSO304 | Work Integrated Learning A (S) |
| HSO306 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 2 (S) |
Level 4 - Pass stream
Trimester 1
| HSO401 | OT Practice Applying Knowledge and Reasoning (S) |
| HSO403 | Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology (S) |
| HSO405 | Work Integrated Learning B (S) |
Trimester 2
| HSO406 | Consolidating Occupational Therapy Practice (commences 2016) |
| HSO408 | Transition to Practice (commences 2016) |
Level 4 - Honours stream
Trimester 1
| HSO403 | Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology (S) |
| HSO405 | Work Integrated Learning B (S) |
| HSO411 | OT Honours Proposal Ethics and Literature (S) |
Trimester 2
| HSO414 | OT Honours Analysis and Critique (S) |
| HSO416 | Honours Research Project (commences 2016) |
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.
Sociology elective unit:
| ASC206 | Sociology of Health (G, X) |
