Overview

In this unit, students will explore the relationship between health, well-being, and human occupation. They will learn foundational occupational science concepts, including time use, meaning, and purpose as they relate to occupational engagement, performance and participation. Students will develop an understanding of key Occupational Therapy Conceptual Models. They will also build skills in intentional communication and learn the initial steps of the evidence‑based practice process.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Winter
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
02-August-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-June-2026
Census date
07-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-July-2026
Results released date
18-August-2026
Winter
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
21-June-2027
01-August-2027
Last self-enrolment date
21-June-2027
Census date
06-July-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
13-July-2027
Results released date
17-August-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Articulate the relationship between health, wellbeing and occupation across the lifespan
  • Apply Conceptual Models of Occupational Therapy to scenarios
  • Apply client-centred and culturally-sensitive communication skills in tutorials and assessment tasks
  • Successfully formulate a clinical question and identify relevant studies from a library data base search activity
  • Present clear verbal and written reports informed by relevant research in problem based learning tutorials

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
On-campus Class 18 5 weeks 3.6 Tutorial:

4 weeks x 4 hours;
1 week x 2 hours
On-campus Lecture 12 5 weeks 2.4 60 seat lecture theatre
Lecture: 5 weeks x 2 hours; 1 week x additional 2 hours
On-campus Workshop 20 5 weeks 4  
Specified Activities Various 33 5 weeks 6.6 Discussion boards, Readings, Group work
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 67 5 weeks 13.4 Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 30  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  40%  1,2,3 
Presentation Group  40%  2 
Report Individual  20%  4,5 

Content

  • Occupational science concepts
  • Occupational Therapy Conceptual Models
  • Intentional communication
  • Evidence informed practice
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 4 (Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.