Occupational therapists play an important role in the lives of individuals and communities to help them look after themselves, be productive, and participate in leisure activities. To do this, occupational therapists need to know how humans function, and need the skills to practice competently and safely. You will learn how to analyse and assess occupational performance; apply and evaluate interventions to enable occupational performance; and collaborate and communicate effectively with clients and their families and colleagues.

You will undertake 1,000 hours of professional practice education, starting in the first year, working with people across the life-span to help them overcome physical, cognitive or societal barriers to participation.

This meets entry-level competency standards for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

High achieving Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students can undertake honours in the third and fourth years, provided they meet admission requirements.

Professional recognition

The ACU Bachelor of Occupational Therapy has been developed to ensure new graduates will meet the competency standards of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and Occupational Therapy Council (OTC). ACU is adhering to accreditation requirements of WFOT and OTC in the implementation of the program. Full accreditation has been granted in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Graduates will be eligible for registration as practicing Occupational Therapists with the Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and for membership of Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA). Please refer to the Registration Standards for Occupational Therapy on the AHPRA website (http://www.ahpra.gov.au/).

Graduates will be eligible to work in hospitals, community health centres, rehabilitation centres or private practice, mental health centres, work and accident rehabilitation, schools or early intervention centres for children, nursing homes and aged care facilities, government policy units or in consultative services.