Program Overview

Discover the science, strategies, and theories behind a profession dedicated to helping people live full and meaningful lives regardless of age, disability, or limitations - with the UC Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree.

In this course, you will learn to assess a person’s unique issues to offer better, more tailored recovery solutions based on a wholistic and comprehensive look at an individual’s physical, psychosocial and environmental needs.

Successful completion of this course will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of health issues in Australia, and the skills to help individuals, groups, and communities engage in the occupations they need to, want to or are expected to do.

This course also prepares you for further study opportunities and the chance to gain the additional skills to move into senior, more researched based positions.

Study a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at UC and you will:

• Obtain a broad and coherent understanding of critical values, theories, perspectives and concepts that underpin the occupational therapy profession
• Be able to use your knowledge, skill and professional awareness to add value to the assessment, intervention and therapeutic process
• Communicate clearly and coherently in a range of occupational therapy settings to a variety of stakeholders
• Be able to read, critique and evaluate evidence from research into the practices of occupational therapy.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

WIL is an integral part of this course, giving you an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience and form strong relationships with industry stakeholders and professionals before graduating.

Over four years, you’ll participate in 1000 hours of practical education in places such as hospitals, health clinics, community organisations, school and aged care facilities both locally or nationally.

Placements are full-time basis and will require interstate travel. Accommodation and transport costs are the student’s responsibility. For further information on WIL please visit https://www.canberra.edu.au/current-students/canberra-students/work-integrated-learning.

Specialist Major: Occupational Therapy Theory

These units provide students with the foundational theoretical knowledge to work as an occupational therapist. Students have the opportunity to apply these foundational theoretical skills in an academic setting to prepare for the practice education component of the course. This major is restricted to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.