Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Deakin's accredited Bachelor of Occupational Therapy gives you a cutting-edge, practical education; preparing you to identify people's strengths and limitations, environmental and social supports and barriers, and the role these play in people's ability to participate in occupations meaningful to them.

You will gain the expertise needed to develop personalised, evidence-based intervention plans with people whose health and wellbeing is affected by issues including injury, illness, disability or environmental barriers. You will learn from our expert occupational therapy staff who are leaders in a diverse range of occupational therapy specialisations. You will also learn, from experts and colleagues from other disciplines, preparing you to become an active member of interdisciplinary teams. 1000 hours of practical experience ensures you graduate job-ready, with the skills to make a difference in people's lives and make your mark in the rapidly growing health sector.^

Passionate about promoting good health and wellbeing and improving people's quality of life?

Occupation is more than jobs or paid employment. Occupation refers to all meaningful activities that people engage in throughout their life. As a qualified occupational therapist, you will be able to work collaboratively with people of all ages to enable them to successfully engage in the occupations that they need and want to do. The knowledge and skills you develop throughout your study will enable you to enhance people's quality of life at home, work and in the community. You will be qualified to work with people of all ages who are having difficulties completing their daily activities; this might be due to physical or mental illness, disability, injury, or environmental barriers.

This course will prepare you to work as an occupational therapist across a range of areas such as:

• paediatrics and childhood development
• adult and aged care
• mental health
• neurology
• environmental design and home modification
• community health
• disability support

Starting in your first year, you will complete eight different placements totalling over 1000 hours in a range of occupational therapy practice areas. This invaluable real-world work experience, combined with practical learning in our on-campus state-of-the-art occupational therapy learning spaces, will ensure you graduate confident and career-ready. You will also have the option to complete an overseas study tour to countries such as Denmark, India, and Sweden, putting your acquired skills into practice and learning about the occupational therapy profession from different perspectives.

Are you a current Year 12 student? If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or within the Greater City of Geelong you may be eligible to apply for this course through our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme using our dedicated VTAC code. As an eligible applicant you may also receive up to a 10 aggregate point adjustment towards your entry score. Make the most of your ATAR.

^2021 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia

• acute, psychiatric or rehabilitation hospitals
• community health organisations
• government departments or agencies
• mental health services
• private practices
• research institutes
• primary and secondary schools
• workplace wellbeing, occupational health and safety, and rehabilitation services.

Our graduates have found employment with the following organisations, as well as many more:

• Alfred Health
• Barwon Health
• Bellarine Community Health
• Department of Education
• genU
• NDIS
• private occupational therapy practices
• primary and secondary schools
• Western District Health
• TAC.

^Australian Government Job Outlook

To complete the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Pass stream students must attain 32 credit points, which must include 30 credit points of core units and 2 credit points of elective units.

Some students also have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) in their fourth year of the course. Entry into the Occupational Therapy Honours program is by invitation. To receive an invitation, a student must:

• achieve at least a distinction average upon completion of level 3 studies
• successfully complete HSO302 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice
  
  
  

To be awarded H455 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) a student must successfully complete:

• three honours units at level 4 (listed under course structure H455 below)
• two trimester one level 4 units HSO403 and HSO405.

Failure of a fieldwork component in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy may lead to exclusion from the course. Students will be required to complete at least one fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.