Course Overview

About This Course

Accidents happen. People get sick. Sometimes circumstances just get in the way of living a full life. As an Occupational Therapist, you can help give people their lives back. Western's Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is among the top programs in Australia. To meet the fieldwork guidelines of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, you’ll be given hands-on experience and 1,000 hours in a professional practice. And if you decide not to go on to be an Occupational Therapist, you have the option of graduating with a Bachelor of Health Science after three years. The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is an accredited program for high-performing students preparing you to work in this well-regarded field. Learn the skills and knowledge to provide therapy for people who, because of illness, injury or circumstances, are limited in their ability to perform everyday tasks. We believe in promoting the value of human diversity, fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of every client. The first two years of your program will combine studies in occupational therapy with a broad understanding of biomedicine and various health science fields to develop the professional competencies needed for ethical and safe practice, high-quality care and being able to work in multidisciplinary teams. The final two years focus predominately on occupational therapy practice skills, practical experience and specialised areas. Evidence-based practice is one of the most important trends in health care today and a strong feature of the program. As an occupational therapist you can find employment in public and private hospitals, rehabilitation centres, insurance companies, schools or large corporations.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Sydney

Level 4, 255 Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW 2000

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)

Duration

Full Time: 4 Years

Intakes

Autumn 2027 (starts 01 March 2027)

Study Mode

Full Time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

English Language Proficiency: For courses that will lead to AHPRA registered careers and students studying Sport and Exercise Science and Speech Pathology, students are required to have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 7.0 in Speaking and Listening, and 6.5 in Writing and Reading or equivalents, in an acceptable language test.
Tertiary Education: High performing students are invited to transfer to the occupational therapy honours program. Students must have completed 200 credit points in the first 2.5 years of the Western Sydney University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course and high performing students are invited into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program. Students with a GPA of 5 and above are eligible for invitation.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of this degree, you can look forward to a broad range of exciting career opportunities in different sectors and industries. Below are some examples of the possible careers you can pursue with this degree:

Public and private hospitals
Insurance companies
Private practice and private rehabilitation providers
Rehabilitation centres
Schools
Mental health workers and rehabilitation consultants

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 Units29 units

NATS2038

Pathophysiology 1

Core — 10 credit points

COMM1007

Communication in Health

Core — 10 credit points

PUBH4001

Evidence in Professional Reasoning (Honours)

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3019

Occupation and Ageing

Core — 10 credit points

REHA4031

Honours Research 1

Core — 20 credit points

REHA3002

Child and Adolescent Occupations

Core — 10 credit points

REHA4035

Occupational Therapy Practice 4 (Honours)

Core — 20 credit points

REHA2006

People, Environment and Occupations

Core — 10 credit points

HLTH1013

Professional Competencies in Health

Core — 10 credit points

BEHV1014

Psychology and Health

Core — 10 credit points

NATS1022

Functional Anatomy

Core — 10 credit points

HLTH2024

Research Methods in Health

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3024

Occupational Therapy Practice 3

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3021

Occupation and Neurology

Core — 10 credit points

NATS1009

Human Anatomy and Physiology 1

Core — 10 credit points

HLTH4001

Professional Reasoning

Core — 10 credit points

REHA1004

Occupational Therapy Practice 1

Core — 10 credit points

REHA1001

Introduction to Occupational Therapy

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3022

Occupation and the Environment

Core — 10 credit points

NATS1010

Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

Core — 10 credit points

REHA4009

Occupational Justice

Core — 10 credit points

REHA2004

Occupational Therapy Practice 2

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3006

Ergonomics and Work Occupations

Core — 10 credit points

HLTH1012

Evidence in Health

Core — 10 credit points

REHA3020

Occupation and Mental Health

Core — 10 credit points

NATS3037

Neuroanatomy

Core — 10 credit points

REHA4032

Honours Research 2

Core — 20 credit points

PUBH2005

Culture, Diversity and Health

Core — 10 credit points

PUBH1006

Population Health and Society

Core — 10 credit points

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I gain entry into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)?

Entry into the Honours program is by invitation only. Students must have completed 200 credit points in the first 2.5 years of the Western Sydney University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course and must have a GPA of 5 and above to be eligible for invitation.

How much practical experience will I get during the degree?

This degree gives you at least 1,000 hours' professional practice in a range of settings, meeting the fieldwork guidelines of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Is there an early exit option if I don't complete the full four years?

Yes. If you decide to leave at the end of your third year, you won't be qualified to work as an OT, but you will be eligible for a Bachelor of Health Science.

Is the program accredited?

Yes. The program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

What are the special requirements for health-related placements?

Students must meet Western Sydney University course requirements as well as any special, legislated, or policy-mandated requirements. This includes being assessed as compliant with NSW Health student placement policy in the first year of the program, obtaining a National Police Check, gathering documentary evidence of vaccination history, holding a NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) or state equivalent valid for the entire program, and holding a current approved first aid certificate valid for the entire program.

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

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $65,000 to $78,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $78,000 to $92,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $92,000 to $110,000 per year

Career Paths

Graduate Occupational TherapistNDIS Occupational TherapistCommunity Occupational TherapistPaediatric Occupational TherapistMental Health Occupational Therapist

Key Skills

Clinical assessment and functional capacity evaluationTherapeutic intervention planning and implementationAssistive technology prescription and equipment recommendationHome and environmental modification assessmentPaediatric development assessment and intervention

Full Course Overview

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Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

About This Course

Available Locations

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Entry Requirements

Where this takes you

Accreditation & Migration

Units of Competency

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply

Hear From the Students