CRICOS Code: 107744D

Program Status: CURRENT
This version of the program is available to new and continuing students.

This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year 2020 to 2021 - 4712.2 Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

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 program 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

Program Advice

HealthSciences@westernsydney.edu.au

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Campbelltown Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.  Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

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 program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program. 

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 across the course in line with accreditation requirements, totaling 1000 hours across the following subjects:

• REHA 1004 Occupational Therapy Practice 1
• REHA 2004 Occupational Therapy Practice 2
• REHA 3021 Occupational Therapy Practice 3
• REHA 4035 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.

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 subject REHA 4032 Honours Research 2.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/international/home/apply/admissions/entry_requirements

For courses that will lead to AHPRA registered careers and students studying Sport and Exercise Science and Speech Pathology, students are required to have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 7.0 in Speaking and Listening, and 6.5 in Writing and Reading or equivalents, in an acceptable language test.

International Office Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

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.

Program Structure

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

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
PUBH 1006	Population Health and Society	10
NATS 1009	Human Anatomy and Physiology 1	10
REHA 1001	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	10
HLTH 1013	Professional Competencies in Health	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
REHA 2006	People, Environment and Occupations	10
NATS 1010	Human Anatomy and Physiology 2	10
COMM 1007	Communication in Health	10
HLTH 1012	Evidence in Health	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
REHA 1004	Occupational Therapy Practice 1	10
PUBH 2005	Culture, Diversity and Health	10
NATS 2038	Pathophysiology 1	10
HLTH 2024	Research Methods in Health	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
REHA 2004	Occupational Therapy Practice 2	10
NATS 3037	Neuroanatomy	10
BEHV 1014	Psychology and Health	10
NATS 1022	Functional Anatomy	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
1H session
REHA 3021	Occupation and Neurology	10
REHA 3020	Occupation and Mental Health	10
REHA 3024	Occupational Therapy Practice 3	10
REHA 3002	Child and Adolescent Occupations	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
REHA 3022	Occupation and the Environment	10
REHA 3019	Occupation and Ageing	10
REHA 4009	Occupational Justice	10
PUBH 4001	Evidence in Professional Reasoning (Honours)
From 2023 HLTH 4002 is replaced by PUBH 4001		10
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.
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
REHA 4031	Honours Research 1	20
REHA 3006	Ergonomics and Work Occupations	10
HLTH 4001	Professional Reasoning	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
REHA 4032	Honours Research 2	20
REHA 4035	Occupational Therapy Practice 4 (Honours)	20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	320