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208 weeks
Full-time or part-time equivalent
March (Trimester 1)
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 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 a placement experience in each year of the course, totalling over 1000 hours across diverse occupational therapy practice areas. This invaluable real-world experience, combined with practical learning in Deakin's state-of-the-art facilities, ensures that you graduate confident and career ready. It is this strong emphasis on hands-on learning and industry connections that contributes to our #1 ranking for graduate employment in Victoria. Additionally, you have the option to further enrich your studies with an overseas study tour to countries like Denmark and India. This opportunity allows you to gain a global perspective on occupational therapy, seeing how the profession is practiced in different cultural and healthcare contexts. 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.
2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
Where You Can Study
Melbourne
1 Gheringhap St, GEELONG, VIC 3220
Eligibility
Career & Study Pathways
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 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; 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.
2024 Employment Pr
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Professional Body
Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC)
Accreditation Status
AccreditedSkills Assessor
OTC
Course Content
Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin
0 credit point compulsory unit
Understanding Health
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Communication and Diversity
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy A
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety
0 credit point, Level 1 - Trimester 2
Functional Human Anatomy
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Integrated Human Physiology
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy B
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Introduction to Aboriginal Studies
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Impact of Health Conditions On Occupational Performance
Level 2 - Trimester 1
Occupations in Childhood Development
Level 2 - Trimester 1
Neurological Structure, Function and Plasticity
Level 2 - Trimester 1
Health Information and Data
Level 2 - Trimester 2
Occupation Across the Lifespan
Level 2 - Trimester 2
Occupational Performance Analysis
Level 2 - Trimester 2
Practice Education and Cultural Contexts
Level 2 - Trimester 2
Practice Education and Interprofessional Collaboration
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Enabling Occupational Participation Through Information Gathering
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Psychosocial Influences on Occupational Performance 1
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Professional Practice Education A
Level 3 - Trimester 2
Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 2
Level 3 - Trimester 2
Psychosocial Influences On Occupational Performance 2
Level 3 - Trimester 2
OT Practice Applying Knowledge and Reasoning
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 1
Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 1 / Honours Trimester 1
Professional Practice Education B
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 1 / Honours Trimester 1
Transition to Practice
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 2
Occupational Therapy Professional Development
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 2
Innovation and Evaluation in OT Practice
Level 4 - Pass stream Trimester 2
OT Honours Proposal Ethics and Literature
Level 4 - Honours Trimester 1
OT Honours Analysis and Critique
Level 4 - Honours Trimester 2
Honours Research Project
Level 4 - Honours Trimester 2
Common Questions
You will complete over 1000 hours of practice education across diverse occupational therapy practice areas. Starting in your first year, you will complete a placement experience 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. Students will also be required to complete a minimum of 1 fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.
Prior to commencing professional practice education, all students must complete: a Working with Children Check (approximately $130), an NDIS Worker Screening Check (approximately $130), a National Police Record Check (approximately $100), and declare their Immunisation Status. Students are responsible for all costs associated with completing and maintaining these mandatory checks. Failure to obtain these checks prior to the commencement of practice education will impede progression in the course.
Yes. Students who meet eligibility requirements may enrol in H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) for their fourth year of study. Entry into the Occupational Therapy Honours program is by invitation. To receive an invitation, a student must achieve a minimum distinction average upon completion of level 3 studies and successfully complete HSO302 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice. To be awarded the Honours degree, a student must successfully complete three honours units at level 4 and two trimester 1 level 4 units HSO403 and HSO405.
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is available at Waterfront (Geelong) and Warrnambool campuses. Both campuses offer a Trimester 1 (March) start. The course is 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent. You may also be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree.
This course will prepare you to work as an occupational therapist across a range of areas including paediatrics and childhood development, adult and aged care, mental health, neurology, environmental design and home modification, community health, and disability support. You will be qualified to work with people of all ages who are having difficulties completing their daily activities due to physical or mental illness, disability, injury, or environmental barriers.
Application
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Step 02
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Step 03
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