Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

ATAR 70

Major Indigenous Health (optional)

Duration 4 years full-time/8 years part-time

Starts March, October

Location Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour

Professional placement 1,000 hours

Professional recognition OTC

Entry pathway Diploma of Health (Occupational Therapy) (page 49)

An occupational therapist’s work is diverse. They assist people of all ages and abilities to do what they need and want to do at home, work, school and in the community by transforming and adapting environments, activities or equipment where necessary to enhance participation in everyday tasks.

In the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, you’ll undertake studies in occupational therapy theory and practice, therapy assessments and interventions, occupational transitions across the lifespan, environmental modification, equipment prescription, task adaptation, facilitation, inclusion, participation and engagement, health promotion, social sciences, and biological sciences. You will also have the option to major in Indigenous Health.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities as an occupational therapist exist in hospitals, community health, mental health services, schools, work rehabilitation and occupational health and safety in various industries, private practice, early intervention, aged care and a variety of health, education and disability services, including the provision of occupational therapy services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

We developed a game about games on our OT placement

Occupational therapy student Kora and her partner Sam were on placement at the Living School when they observed that children were having issues in choosing an activity, so they developed a game spinner to help the students decide on a game to play.

“After observing their play, we started to notice that they really love games and are very competitive. But they have issues deciding what to play and what groups to play in,” said Kora.

“We wanted to give them a game for games. They come up to it, spin it, it lands on a game and that’s their choice decided for them.

“The students formed groups of people that they didn’t normally play with which was something we really wanted to see.”