Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

If you want a technical health career that could transform the lives of others by helping them achieve tangible results, you should consider this degree.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy provides you with the expertise to support people to live independently and take part in in everyday activities to improve their wellbeing. You will develop a range of clinical skills in the University’s state-of-the-art facilities, preparing you for work in diverse healthcare settings.

Graduates are employed in a wide range of settings, enhancing the performance of individuals by adapting environments, activities, and equipment, to help clients achieve a succession of goals.

Career Opportunities

As an occupational therapist in diverse fields that may include aged care, hospitals, community health, mental health services, schools, industrial environments, private practice and a variety of health, education and disability centers and services.

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy has received full accreditation from Occupational Therapy Australia and the Occupational Therapy Council and is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Graduates of accredited occupational therapy programs are eligible for national registration. Graduates are also eligible for membership in Occupational Therapy Australia.

Professional Placement

Students can complete up to 1,000 hours of professional placement in various settings throughout the four years of study in settings that may include aged care, hospitals, community health, mental health services, primary schools, industrial environments, private practice and a variety of health, education, and disability centers and services.

Professional experience placements require students to fulfill certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements. Before applying for this course, it is important that you understand what these requirements are.

Major Areas of Study

In order to meet the Australian Competency Standards for Entry-Level Occupational Therapists, this course is structured in accordance with professional body recommendations. All students complete studies in the following areas:

Professional Areas: occupational therapy theory and practice; occupational therapy assessments and interventions related to biomechanical, sensorimotor, psychosocial and cognitive performance, activities, engagement and participation at home, at school, at work and in the community; occupational transitions across the lifespan; evaluation of occupational therapy programs; health promotion; and professional experience/fieldwork.

Social Sciences: psychology and sociology for health sciences, Australian health care system, Indigenous studies, research methods, nutrition in health, and small business and entrepreneurship.

Biological Sciences: anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and neuroscience.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy includes an embedded allied health Honours program for eligible students, which can be studied concurrently during the Bachelor degree course.

Assessment methods

A variety of assessment methods are used in this course including multiple choice examinations, essay style examinations, scenario-based learning studies, tutorial workshop presentations, debates, written assignments, and clinical skills testing. For each unit, there are 2 to 5 assessment items.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include regular face-to-face contact with academic staff in lectures, tutorials, and clinical settings. A mixture of digitally-based media supports the lectures, seminars, and tutorials, with an emphasis on small group work, problem-based learning, reflection and experiential learning integrated with theory and research. The course has a strong practical focus that allows students to develop a range of clinical skills, integrating theory and practice. Students gain clinical experience in a range of healthcare settings throughout the course where they are supported by clinical teachers and facilitators.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.