Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Support individuals living with injuries or disabilities to increase their capabilities and participate fully in the actions that occupy their everyday lives. Learn within a supportive, hands-on environment and benefit from over 1,000 hours of professional work experience. Build your skills working with real clients and experienced practitioners through the JCU Health Occupational Therapy clinic on the Townsville campus.

Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence you'll need to help individuals achieve their goals in relation to the activities that they need, want or are expected to do in their daily lives. When you study the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at JCU, you'll learn how to identify your future clients' potential and how to use therapeutic approaches to help them maximise their participation and engagement in the activities that matter to them. Occupational therapists are primarily concerned with helping their clients develop or regain the abilities required for a variety of occupations, including those relating to self-care, work, school, play or leisure.

JCU Occupational Therapy will help you understand how the human body works from the inside out. You'll build on your core knowledge of human anatomy and physiology through learning about the psychosocial, biomechanical, neurological and contextual determinants of occupation. You will also acquire a strong understanding of lifespan development, health promotion and health care.

Be prepared to engage in effective healthcare practice from your first year as you learn fundamental communication and practical skills for occupational therapists and allied health service delivery. You will develop a deeper understanding of the role of occupational therapists within the health sector and how their work contributes to the bigger picture of health care through engagements with community.

Benefit from hands-on experience throughout your degree. You'll hone vital skills while you study and train, whether alongside your expert lecturers and tutors at the JCU Health Occupational Therapy Clinic in Townsville or while on placement with one of JCU's industry partners. Go beyond the Townsville clinical setting through professional work placements in urban, rural and remote areas. Rural and remote training will give you the advantage of practical experience and the opportunity to develop a wide range of generalist skills. You'll graduate with confidence after undertaking over 1,000 hours of professional work experience across the course of your degree.

This course is accredited by Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd (OTC). Upon graduation, you can become a registered occupational therapy professional through a simple application process.