Master of Occupational Therapy
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.
Postgrad Advice Sessions
You’ve thought about studying in 2019 and you’re ready to apply but you still have some questions. Tell us what you need to know and we’ll book you in for a one-on-one. Sessions end Mar 4.
Make it happen
Postgrad classes are filling up as people look to the future. You’ve only got until 27 Feb to apply for Semester 1. Apply now.
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
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
Occupational therapists work in hospital, rehabilitation, residential care, mental health, community health, forensic mental health, school, paediatric and occupational rehabilitation settings. Occupational therapists assist people who have difficulty participating in everyday life. Everyday life activities include participation in the paid work force, leisure activities, and/or self-care activities. Clients may have neurological, musculoskeletal or mental health problems and may be living at home or in a supported living setting.
Problem-based learning
Course structure
- 11 Core units of study (137.5 credit points)
- 3 Professional placement units of study (62.5 credit points)
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
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
Specifically students will:
- construct an occupational performance profile(s) for an individual, group or community using key theoretical perspectives and apply these in a range of contexts
- critique published studies in order to inform best practice in areas of musculoskeletal, neurological and mental health occupational therapy across the lifespan
- choose relevant studies, produce an evidence review report related to a musculoskeletal, neurological and/or mental health assessment or intervention
- select and appraise relevant concepts and skills to develop comprehensive intervention plans for clients (individual, community or group)
- select and present (in oral presentation) high level communication skills (i.e. communication skills which are targeted to a particular audience e.g. family member, court report)
- plan, produce and evaluate a design or device solution to a problem of occupational participation identified by an external partner in the disability sector
- evaluate self and peer team work skills, capacity for self-direction and active learning ability.
Graduate skills
- 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
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
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.
This course offers Commonwealth Supported Places for eligible students.
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
1. they completed their degree in the last ten years or have undertaken subsequent postgraduate studies or relevant work experience*
2. they obtained a minimum 65% GPA in their last year of study.
Applicants are required to provide the following documentation with their application:
- Academic transcript
- Personal statement outlining reason for applying
- Curriculum vitae
- One page report on knowledge of work of occupational therapists (sources to be correctly referenced using APA 6th style)
How to apply
- Early closing date for Round 1 offers is Friday 22 February 2019
- Closing date for Round 2 offers is Friday 26 April 2019