Master of Occupational Therapy
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Master of Occupational Therapy provides students with skills and knowledge in treating clients who have difficulty participating in everyday life activities due to neurological, musculoskeletal or mental health issues. Students undertake problem-based learning which requires them to collaboratively question, research, interpret core information and develop meaningful responses to case scenarios.
Design, technology, and business entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship are embedded in the curriculum content, which has been designed collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals.
Students complete three professional work placements in community- or hospital-focused agencies that offer short-and long-term therapy, a well as an innovative project-based placement in the Design Factory Melbourne. Working in teams, students gain industry experience by developing innovative solutions to problems provided by industry partners and consumers.
Due to limited capacity, students will be unable to defer their place in this course.
Duration
2 years full-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Winter) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Block Mode
2024 Start Dates
Winter -
17 June 2024
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Master of Occupational Therapy is designed to prepare students who are autonomous, self-directed, evidence-based practitioners capable of working in community, acute and rehabilitation settings. The course prepares students to be eligible to practise as a qualified occupational therapist and successfully apply for registration in Australia with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation agency).
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Occupational Therapy students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:
- Eleven (11) core units of study (137.5cp)
- Three (3) professional practice units of study (62.5cp) – 1,000 hours in total
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Occupational Therapy is 100 credit points (normally eight units)
Professional placements
It is a mandated requirement of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd that all students will undertake 1000 hours of professional practice training including 800 hours of work placements and at least 240 hours of other professional practice activities in other units. Work placements are organised into three full-time blocks (20 weeks total). Swinburne will organise the student placement program.
Placements will be undertaken in agencies which: provide short-term or long-term therapy, are community or hospital focused, with clients across the lifespan. Clients will experience occupational performance problems as a result of mental health, neurological or musculoskeletal impairments. Every client will be experiencing some limitation in what they need, want or expect to be able to do. It is intended that students be offered a variety of placement experiences during their enrolment.
Units of study
Core units
Students must complete 137.5 credit points of study from the following list of units:
Placement units
Students must complete the following three placement units (62.5 credit points):
* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Occupational therapists work in hospital, rehabilitation, residential care, mental health, community health, forensic mental health, school, paediatric and occupational rehabilitation settings.
Aims and objectives
On successful completion of this programme the learner will be able to
- Construct occupational performance profiles in collaboration with individuals, groups or communities, identify the impacts of occupation on health and wellbeing, and apply these in a range of contexts
- Critically analyse and apply contemporary theory, practice knowledge, and evidence to inform sound clinical reasoning in assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes within the occupational therapy curriculum and in clinical practice
- Apply well developed independent research skills to critically review literature and produce an evidence review report that accurately summarises findings from contemporary research regarding a health assessment or intervention
- Collaborate with clients to produce and competently implement an occupationally-focused intervention plan that supports health and wellbeing, considers the person and their environment, and is safe, ethical, culturally responsive, culturally safe, lawful, and accountable
- Communicate openly, responsively and appropriately with individuals and groups across a variety of settings, adapting written, verbal and non-verbal communication to the client and practice context
- Analyse, plan, produce, communicate, and evaluate a design, technology, or device solution to a complex problem impeding occupational participation, as identified by an external partner in the disability sector
- Implement reflective practice and demonstrate the ability to critically and accurately evaluate own and peers’ skills, learning styles, and capacity for self-direction.
Graduate skills
The Swinburne Graduate Attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching courses assist all its graduates to be:
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work and community situations.
Professional recognition
The program is approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia & New Zealand) Ltd.
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of the student contribution amount.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Applicants are required to have completed one of the following in the last 10 years with a GPA of 65%:
- a bachelor degree (or higher award); or
- a Postgraduate degree
AND - completed at least one anatomy and physiology undergraduate unit (such as BIO10004 Anatomy and Physiology); or
- n equivalent anatomy and physiology bridging course.
Applicants who are already registered Occupational Therapists in Australia or overseas are not eligible to be considered for this course, unless their qualification is not recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Other Requirements
Students enrolled in this course may be required to complete an annual N95 Mask Fit Test prior to commencing placement. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Successful applicants must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the Appropriate State Authority), NDIS worker screen and a current Police Check throughout the duration of the course. Students of this course are required to provide up-to-date evidence of immunisations prior to attending the placements necessary in this course. Additional immunisations in compliance with government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your placement. Applicants are required to provide an academic transcript with their application.
How to apply
2024 Applications close: 5pm, Thursday 1 February 2024.
Find out more about how to apply.
Please note that there are specific entry requirements for this course - before applying, please refer to the ‘How to enter this course’ in the ‘Entry Requirements’ section.