Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Course summary for local students
‘As well as the course being hands-on, with good facilities and lecturers, the University is committed to readying people for a career ...'
Student Information Centre
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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 |
| Length | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Next available intake | March (Trimester 1) |
| Indicative annual fee 2014 | $8,230* - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| Faculty contacts | Health - Student and Academic Services |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| VTAC Codes | 1400415351 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| Deakin course code | H355 |
| IELTS Requirement | Overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0 (or equivalent). More information is available at www.ielts.org |
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
- Professional recognition
- Fees and charges
- Career opportunities
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Entry requirements - general
- Entry requirements - specific
- Credit for prior learning - general
- How to apply
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.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2014, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2014 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
Employment opportunities for occupational therapists have never been greater due to a workforce shortage of qualified practitioners in this field. As a graduate of this course you will be able to assist people of all ages to engage in any aspect of daily living. You will help them achieve independence at home, at work and in the community, and help them enhance their quality of life. You may work with children with physical or intellectual disabilities, with people who have had accidents or are suffering from medical problems (e.g. hand therapy), or in aged care. You may work in areas including acute, psychiatric or rehabilitation hospitals; schools; community health; mental health; the workplace (such as in occupational health and safety and vocational rehabilitation); government; or in private practice.
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 |
| HBS109 | Human Structure and Function |
| HDS101 | Communication and Diversity |
| HSO102 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy A |
Trimester 2
| HSE102 | Functional Human Anatomy |
| HSE208 | Integrated Human Physiology |
| HSO104 | Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy B |
plus one selective unit from the following choices:
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour |
| HPS111 | Fundamentals of Human Behaviour |
| HPS121 | Psychology B: Individual and Social Development |
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
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 | Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care |
| HSO302 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 1 |
| HSO305 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 1 |
| HSO307 | Psychosocial Influences on Occupational Performance |
Trimester 2
| HSO303 | Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 2 |
| HSO304 | Work Integrated Learning A |
| HSO306 | Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 2 |
Level 4 - Pass stream
Trimester 1
| HSO401 | OT Practice Applying Knowledge and Reasoning |
| HSO403 | Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology |
| HSO405 | Work Integrated Learning B |
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 |
| HSO405 | Work Integrated Learning B |
| HSO411 | OT Honours Proposal Ethics and Literature |
Trimester 2
| HSO414 | OT Honours Analysis and Critique |
| 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 |
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.
Entry requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Entry requirements - specific
For more information refer to the VTAC guideCredit for prior learning - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
How to apply
Applications for on and off campus study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).
Applications for Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the Apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
