Course

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Approved Abbreviation: BOT(Hons)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 4712.2

AQF Level: 8

CRICOS Code: 086212K

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2021 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

Commencement Year 2015 to 2020 - 4712.1 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Occupational therapy is a highly regarded field in which you can apply your knowledge and skills to provide therapy for people who, because of illness, injury or circumstances, are limited in their ability to perform everyday tasks. The program promotes the value of human diversity, fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of every client. Occupational therapists find employment in public and private hospitals, rehabilitation centres, insurance companies, schools and large corporations.

The course in occupational therapy is offered as a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. The first two years of the program combine studies in occupational therapy with a broad understanding of biomedicine and various health science fields to develop the professional competencies important for ethical and safe practice and high quality care and the skills 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 healthcare today and a strong feature of the program.

An honours stream is available for high performing students. Students may also exit after Year 3 with a Bachelor of Health Science degree but are unable to practice as an occupational therapist.

Study Mode
Four years full-time

Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council as an approved program of study in Australia and graduates are eligible for professional registration by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

Admission

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.

The class of honours awarded is determined solely on the mark awarded for the honours thesis. The thesis is submitted and examined in the final honours unit 400946 Honours Research 2.

Student Compliance Information for all Health-Related Placements

Students must meet Western Sydney University course requirements as well as any special, legislated, or policy-mandated requirements.

Western Course Requirements

Visit the Special Requirements webpage for details about your course.

Special Requirements

Mandatory NSW Health student placement policy requirements

To be able to undertake placement in any NSW Health facility you must be assessed as compliant with NSW Health student placement policy in the first year of your course, regardless of when you expect to go on your first placement. Access and read the NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet.

NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet

Please ensure that you

1. Find your existing National Police Check or apply for one

2. Gather documentary evidence of your vaccination history

3. Print and compete all relevant NSW Health forms relevant to the campus you are enrolled at or online enrolment requirements

4. Follow booklet instructions on how to have your compliance documents assessed by NSW health staff.

International students have additional requirements: the link to the booklet will inform you of these requirements.

School Requirements

Contact your School for further details regarding your School’s requirements, if any, such as:

  • If you live outside of NSW or Australia and need to meet your state, territory or country’s compliance requirements
  • If you need to meet different state, territory or country compliance requirements.
  • NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) or other state equivalent, valid for your entire course.
  • Current approved first aid certificate valid for your entire course - approved course providers can be found at the Government Training website
  • http://training.gov.au
  • Other non-health related requirements.

Student Compliance Resources are also available on the Placements Hub web page

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/learning_futures/home/placements_hub/placements_hub/student_compliance

Special Requirements Prerequisites
Some external sites may have additional requirements. Students will be advised of any such specified requirements which must be complied with before commencing clinical placements.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes several placements or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this course. International students should also refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

1000 hours of supervised clinical practice

The program includes supervised clinical practice in each year of the course in line with accreditation requirements, totally 1000 hours across the following units:

  • 400907 Occupational Therapy Practice 1
  • 400909 Occupational Therapy Practice 2
  • 400910 Occupational Therapy Practice 3
  • 401161 Occupational Therapy Practice 4 (Honours)

Practice placements are arranged through NSW Health and the disability sector, as well as community based private practice and non-government health, WHS, and disability providers.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

400870Population Health and Society
400868Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
400160Introduction to Occupational Therapy
401396Professional Competencies in Health

Spring session

400908People, Environment and Occupations
400869Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
400732Communication in Health
401383Evidence in Health

Year 2

Autumn session

400907Occupational Therapy Practice 1
400866Culture, Diversity and Health
401407Pathophysiology 1
400864Research Methods (Quantitative and Qualitative)

Spring session

400909Occupational Therapy Practice 2
300754Neuroanatomy
101614Psychology and Health
401410Functional Anatomy

Year 3

1H session

400171Occupation and Neurology
400169Occupation and Mental Health
400910Occupational Therapy Practice 3
400162Child and Adolescent Occupations

Spring session

400165Occupation and the Environment
400176Occupation and Ageing
401123Occupational Justice
400944Evidence-Based Practice (Advanced)

At this point, students may exit with a Bachelor of Health Science

where a student has completed 240 credit points, including at least 220 credit points prescribed for the 4-year clinical program in Occupational Therapy, they may exit with the award of the Bachelor of Health Science (with no specialisation). The exit award will be approved by the Director Academic Program.

Year 4

Autumn session

400945Honours Research 1
401121Ergonomics and Work Occupations
401125Professional Reasoning

Spring session

400946Honours Research 2
401161Occupational Therapy Practice 4 (Honours)


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