Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Summary

Occupational Therapy is a health profession which bases its practice on the science and art of promoting, maintaining or restoring health through occupation.

It is concerned with promoting people's occupational performance, and thus their health, by assisting in their adaptation to the demands of their environment and promoting their capacity to cope with everyday living tasks.

Occupational therapists mainly work with those whose coping abilities have been impaired by disease, physical injury, developmental abnormalities, emotional trauma, psychological problems or social disadvantage.

Through the use of therapeutic occupation, specialised equipment and environmental modification they assist their clients/patients to regain lost function and develop their existing or potential abilities to live with purpose and fulfilment.

Career opportunities

Occupational Therapists work as members of multi-disciplinary health care teams in general hospitals, rehabilitation centres, supported employment services, psychiatric clinics and in specialised programs for children, elderly people and people with developmental disabilities. They also work in industry in the fields of occupational health and rehabilitation, in schools and in private practice. They may be involved in the development and co-ordination of many aspects of community care.

Entry requirements

Recommended Studies: Biology and Chemistry.

Additional entry requirements or criteria: Students are required to complete a Criminal Records Check, Prohibited Employment Declaration form and NSW Department of Health Vaccination card in order to undertake professional placements in a NSW Department of Health facility. Special selection procedures apply for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details call (02) 4921 5640.

How to apply

Current Australian Year 12 students

Apply for entry through UAC.
Entry based on UAI or interstate equivalent.

Non school leavers and previous Australian Year 12 students

Apply for entry through UAC.
Entry based on:

• previous Year 12 studies and/or
• Higher education, tertiary or post-secondary qualifications and/or
• Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications.

International Students

International students currently undertaking:
- an Australian Year 12 in Australia
- an Australian Year 12 outside Australia
- an International Baccalaureat (IB) in Australia

Apply for entry through UAC.
Entry based on UAI or interstate equivalent.

All other international students:

Apply direct to International Admissions.
Entry based on overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications, as well as satisfying English language requirements.

Description

IMPORTANT! You must read the Undergraduate Degree Rules. Click here to view.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is a four year full-time degree program which produces professionals able to function effectively as beginning practitioners in any field of occupational therapy practice.

The occupational therapy program combines academic work with professional placements which are undertaken throughout the four years of the program at centres primarily within NSW, both urban and rural. Opportunities also exist for interstate and overseas placements. Professional placements take place in public and private hospitals, community health centres, schools, industrial settings and with private providers. Please note: All students are required to undertake professional placements at sites outside Newcastle, including rural areas. Costs of travel and accommodation associated with the placements are the responsibility of the student.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy has been accredited by the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Credit Transfer Agreements

Credit transfer agreements with TAFE NSW and other education providers are under continuous negotiation. For more information about articulation arrangements please see the University’s website, at www.newcastle.edu.au/credit/

Program Structure

Qualification for the award of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy requires the completion of 320 units.

The program combines studies in the biomedical, behavioural and occupational sciences with a professional practice course strand. For information about semester of offer and assumed knowledge, see the list of Program Courses below.

Students achieving a Total Grade Point Average equal to or greater than 5.5/7 over their first three years of study will be invited to undertake Honours in the 4th year of the degree. All 4th year students study: OCCT4110, OCCT4111, OCCT4210, OCCT4211 and an elective. Honours students study HLSC4310. Non-honours students study OCCT4112 and OCCT4212.

Approved Courses

Not all courses will be offered each semester. To establish offer status click on the course code for the course and follow the links to timetabling information.

Year 1
HLSC1000	Introduction to Health Sciences	10 units
OCCT1110	Introduction to Occupational Therapy Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
HUBS1403	Biomedical Science Part 1	10 units
HUBS1105	Musculoskeletal Anatomy	10 units
OCCT1201	Introduction to Occupational Therapy Practice Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
OCCT1210	Introduction to the Science of Occupation Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
HUBS1404	Biomedical Science Part 2	10 units
PUBH1080	Studies in Population Health and Health Promotion	10 units
Year 2
OCCT2100	Occupational Therapy 2: Introductory Theory & Practice Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	20 units
OCCT2110	Occupational Therapy 2: Specific Prac Skills 2110 Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
PSYC1030	General Psychology	10 units
OCCT2200	Occupational Therapy 2: Applied Theory and Practice Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	20 units
OCCT2210	Occupational Science 2 Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
SOCA2490	Psychology & Sociology for OT 2 Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
Year 3
OCCT3120	Introduction to Psychosocial Mental Health in OT Practice Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
HLSC3290	Research Methods in Health Sciences	10 units
PSYC3505	Psychology and Sociology of Mental Health in OT	10 units
ELECTIVE	Elective	10 units
OCCT3200	Applied Psychosocial Mental Health in OT Practice Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	20 units
OCCT3201	Group Work in OT Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
HLSC4122	Qualitative Research Methods in Health	10 units
Year 4
OCCT4110	Advanced Professional Practice in Occupational Therapy Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	20 units
OCCT4111	Rural and Remote Professional Practice in Occupational Therapy Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
OCCT4112	Occupational Therapy Program Design Available to B. Occ Therapy students (non Honours) only	10 units
or
HLSC4310	Research Project Available to Honours students only	20 units
OCCT4210	Occupational Science in International Contexts Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
OCCT4211	Occupational Therapy Specialty Practice Topics Available to B. Occ Therapy students only	10 units
OCCT4212	Occupational Therapy Program Evaluation Available to B. Occ Therapy students (non Honours) only	10 units
ELECTIVE	Elective	10 units

Schedule

The relevant program schedule is available within the Degree Rules and Schedules section of the Policy Library.