Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

James Cook University

CRICOS Institution Code 00117J

Duration

208 weeks

Delivery

On-campus

Study Load

Full time / Part time

Intakes

Townsville: February, September

Course Overview

About This Course

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.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Brisbane

349 Queen St, BRISBANE, QLD 4000

Open in Maps ↗

Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Provider's Published Fee

$8,870+ per year (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Duration

208 weeks

Intakes

Townsville: February, September

Study Mode

Full time / Part time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic Students:

ATAR 70
English (Units 3/4,C); One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health, Psychology or Physical Education (Units 3/4,C)
Alternate Pathways

International Students:

English (Units 3/4,C); One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health, Psychology or Physical Education (Units 3/4,C)
English language requirements: Band 3a
If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course
View the international entry requirements for this course

Additional Requirements:

Students will be eligible to be offered a position in the research major by the Head of Academic Group if they have achieved an average GPA of 5.5 across level one and level two. Students that are not offered a position in the research major, or that are offered a position in the research major but decline this offer, will continue in the professional major for levels three and four
Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria
A quota on entry into the research major may be applied depending on the availability of supervisors
English (Units 3/4,C) plus one of: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health, Psychology or Physical Education (Units 3/4,C)
Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of "Band 3a" – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. Students also need to take note that in accordance with the National Registration Board's requirement, they must hold a valid IELTS minimum score of 7.0 in all components within 2 years prior to applying for registration upon Graduation as Occupational Therapists in Australia

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

The need for allied health professionals is growing rapidly as demands increases across a range of areas, both within and outside of the health sector.
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), your career could lead you to work as an occupational therapist in public and private hospitals, rehabilitation units, community health centres, aged care facilities, mental health services, schools, independent living centres and in private practice.
You can also work in research, education and training.
Upon graduation, you can apply for registration for practice in Australia with the Occupational Therapists Board of Australia Health Professional Registration Agency (AHPRA) and become a member of Occupational Therapy Australia — The Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.
Graduates may also apply to register to practice in New Zealand and apply to practice internationally.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

OTC

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units19 units

BM1063

Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences

OT1011

Introduction to Occupation and Occupational Therapy

RH1002

Communication Skills for Health Professionals

BM1064

Neuro-musculoskeletal Anatomy for Health Sciences

OT1012

Enabling Occupation through Partnerships

RH1004

Foundations of Allied Health Professional Practice

HS1003

Lifespan Development for Health A

HS1401

Health and Health Care in Australia

RH2002

Clinical Medicine for Therapy

HS2402

Health Professional Research 1

HS2403

Health Promotion for Health Professionals

OT2013

Psychosocial Determinants of Occupation

OT2015

Physical and Cognitive-neurological Determinants of Occupation

HS2405

Health Professional Research 2

HS2401

Rural and Remote Primary and Public Health Care

OT2016

Occupational Therapy and the Social, Cultural and Institutional Environments

OT2017

Occupational Therapy and the Physical Environment

BOccThy(Hons) – Professional Honours Major

BOccThy(Hons) – Research Honours Major

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours of professional placement will I complete during this degree?

You will undertake over 1,000 hours of professional work experience across the course of your degree, including placement opportunities at the JCU Health Occupational Therapy Clinic in Townsville as well as placements in urban, rural and remote areas throughout Australia.

Is the JCU Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) accredited?

Yes, the course is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd (OTC). Upon graduation, you can apply for professional registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

What are the entry requirements for this course?

The minimum ATAR required is 70. You must also have completed English (Units 3/4, C) and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health, Psychology or Physical Education (Units 3/4, C). Applicants with an ATAR of 73 and above are guaranteed entry provided they meet subject prerequisites, while those with an ATAR of 90 and above are guaranteed entry with all subject prerequisites waived.

When can I start the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at JCU Townsville?

The course commences in January and September at the Townsville campus. Full-time students complete the degree in 4 years, while part-time students can complete it in 6 years. Students commencing mid-year full-time will take 4.5 years.

What kinds of settings will I get to work in during my placements?

You will have the opportunity to experience placements locally and throughout Australia, including at the JCU Health Occupational Therapy Clinic on the Townsville campus, as well as in hospitals, rural clinics, urban, rural and remote settings, and other real-world environments through JCU's partnerships with urban, rural and remote health practitioners.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Typical Salary (AUD)

Entry-level (0-2 years)$65,000 – $78,000/yr

Early Career (2-5 years)$78,000 – $92,000/yr

Mid-Level (5-10 years)$92,000 – $110,000/yr

Career Paths

Graduate Occupational Therapist
NDIS Occupational Therapist
Community Occupational Therapist
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Mental Health Occupational Therapist

Key Skills

Clinical assessment and functional capacity evaluation
Therapeutic intervention planning and implementation
Assistive technology prescription and equipment recommendation
Home and environmental modification assessment
Paediatric development assessment and intervention

Full course overview

💬

Need guidance?

Free advisor support

Our advisors help international students choose the right course and navigate visa pathways — at no cost.

Hear From the Students

Honestly I was lost when I first started looking at Australian colleges. There are just too many options and every agent gives you different info. A friend told me about FindTheCourses and within a week I had shortlisted 3 programs that actually matched my budget and visa situation. My advisor Sanjay was super helpful — never felt like I was being pushed into anything.

Priya Sharma

India

Master of Nursing · Griffith University

Promote your Institution with Find the Courses