As an occupational therapist you will work with people of all ages who may have experienced injury, illness or disability. You can help people to engage in occupations or activities that are meaningful to them and achieve independence, better health, wellbeing and satisfaction in their lives. 

In this course you will learn to identify physical, psychosocial, cognitive, behavioural and environmental factors that can help or hinder a person’s participation in everyday activities. You’ll learn to collaborate with other health professionals to provide cross-discipline care that is focused around the client and their needs.

You will study in laboratories, learning spaces and resource rooms that are tailored for learning the skills required to work in occupational therapy.

More than 1,000 hours of fieldwork practice is undertaken throughout the course in a variety of environments within Western Australia, and overseas if desired.

Why study

• Investment of $9 million in new facilities.
• Facilities have laboratories, learning spaces, resource rooms and a student common room to help you practice essential skills for person, client and family-centred care.

How this course will make you industry ready

As an occupational therapist, you can work across a range of industries in different roles.

Working with children: Help children achieve their developmental milestones such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Educate and involve parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children.

Rehabilitation and aged care: Help clients regain or enhance their daily lives after an event such as hip replacement or stroke. Assess and modify clients’ home and community environments to improve their safety and independence.

Acute care: Assess clients’ cognition, function and psychosocial needs. Monitor clients’ function and progress, prescribing adaptive equipment to ensure safety upon discharge from hospitals.

Injury management: Use specialised assessments to determine the functional requirements of various jobs, and clients’ capacity to return to work. Design and coordinate graded return to work programs. Educate clients in safe work practices. Modify the work environment to suit the needs of individuals to prevent or minimise injuries.

Mental health: Design individual and group programs and activities to enhance clients’ independence in everyday activities. Develop coping strategies for clients in overcoming their mental health issues.

Professional recognition

This course is recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.

You can also gain professional membership with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Australia and WA Occupational Therapy Association.

You must be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (national) to use the title: registered health practitioner or occupational therapist. 

Careers

• Occupational therapist.

Industries

• Acute care
• Injury management
• Mental health
• Rehabilitation and aged care
• Working with children.