13. Occupational Therapy

Courses of study

Occupational Therapy currently offers three undergraduate degrees:

• The Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) course offered on a full-time basis over four years. The course prepares students to practise as an occupational therapist.
• The Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) offered in Singapore as a conversion course to enable diplomats to attain a degree.
• The Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) for continuing students only. From 2007 commencing students will be able to do Leisure and Health as a stream in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program.

A graduate professional entry degree is also offered through:

• The Master of Occupational Therapy which is an alternative professional entry pathway suitable for students with relevant undergraduate qualifications.

A range of postgraduate study options have also been developed:

• The GraduateCertificate/Master of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) that focuses on specialty areas of practice in occupational therapy.

Research programs include:

• PhD studies
• Professional doctorate (HScD) studies
• Master's by Research

Professional information

Both the disciplines of Occupational Therapy and Leisure and Health prioritise enabling people’s participation in living their lives as fully as they would like.

Occupational therapists help to overcome barriers and create opportunities for people that may have been constrained by injury, illness or other circumstances. Often, it is the environment that ‘disables’ people, including the built environment, social attitudes and assumptions, or public policies and institutional practice. At other times, the activity may be too complex or demanding. New abilities, adapted techniques or assistive devices may be required. Occupational therapists help a diversity of clients in many different settings to optimise participation and meaning in their daily lives.

Leisure and Health professionals also enable participation, but their focus is on health and well being through leisure. Leisure has the power to recreate, rejuvenate and empower people at an individual and societal level. The leisure professional can create, manage and evaluate leisure environments within a range of industry settings including health care and community environments.

Further information

Telephone: +61 2 9351 9386
Email: olsinfo@fhs.usyd.edu.au
Website: http://www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/

No first year intake from 2007

From 2007 commencing students in the Bachelor of Health Sciences course can choose to specialise in Leisure and Health studies.

Honours program

For information specific to the Leisure and Health honours program students are advised to contact the honours course coordinator. Students commence the honours program in second semester of third year and complete an additional year in which a research project is undertaken and a thesis written. See Table 13.1.1 for details.

Clinical experience

Students undertake 13 weeks of field experience individually and with

peer groups. Individual experience might be in a government department, correctional facility or after school care. Recent group experiences have included planning, implementing and evaluating a camp for adults with disabilities and designing and managing a charity based ski weekend. All clinical experiences are supported through industry partnerships.

Course outlines

The course outlines for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) Pass and Honours are presented in Tables 13.1 and 13.1.1. For information specific to the Leisure and Health off-campus flexible mode see Table 13.2.

Table 13.1: Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) Pass

Table 13.1.1: Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) Honours

Table 13.2: Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) Off-campus

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Occupational Therapy involves a study of human occupations in the areas of self-care, productivity, leisure, and rest and the management of the adaptive behaviour required to perform occupational roles or activities.

This study of human occupations entails analysis of activities or occupations and knowledge of the cognitive, sensory-motor, biomechanical, and psychosocial processes required to perform activities or occupations.

The practice of occupational therapy applies knowledge of occupations and human processes to help people develop adaptive behaviours so that they may manage and interact with their environment. Occupational therapists work with people whose occupational performance has been threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the ageing process, physical injury or illness, and psychological or social disability. Occupational therapists work in health care and community settings, educational facilities, work environments and as private practitioners.

Admission requirements

There are no specific admission requirements to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) course. The general admission requirements in Chapter 3 apply. However prospective students may benefit from undertaking chemistry or biology at HSC level.

Honours program

For information specific to the occupational therapy honours program students are advised to contact the honours course coordinator. Entry is based on academic performance in years one and two of the pass course. The occupational therapy honours program includes the first

five semesters of the pass program followed by three semesters when the student is specifically enrolled in the honours program. In order for honours students to have adequate time to pursue their research studies a number of modifications including internal exemptions, timetabling flexibility and Professional Practice IV flexibility are offered. Students undertake Professional Practice IV at a suitable time in relation to their research studies and in consultation with their supervisor and the Professional Practice IV unit coordinator.

Course outlines

The course outlines for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Pass and Honours are presented in Tables 13.3 and 13.3.1.

Table 13.3: Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Pass

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Table 13.3.1: Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Honours

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Professional Practice

Professional Practice is an integral part of the occupational therapy and leisure and health programs. Fieldwork education may consist of block placements and other guided learning experiences. These experiences provide students with an opportunity to practice skills and take responsibility commensurate with their background knowledge and level of development, acquired during the course. Fieldwork block placements are periods of two to ten weeks where students attend a setting five days a week full time for approximately 37.5 hours per week. The placements occur during semester time and during recess periods, at all levels of the courses and are located in both metropolitan, country facilities and in some cases overseas facilities.

Leisure and Health professional practice

Professional Practice I

Clinical Practicums and other guided practice experiences spread over Semesters 1 and 2; a one week block placement in the inter-semester recess.

Professional Practice II

A three week block placement in the inter-semester recess; and or group and individual placement throughout Semesters 1 and 2.

Professional Practice III

During first semester, third year students undertake a nine week field placement. This is completed in one block at a single facility. Students are able to make choices concerning the venue/s of this placement. This placement aims to integrate all subjects studied into practical experience and students are expected to work independently with supervision from placement advisors and the university supervisor. Students utilise learning contracts and have input into the assessment for this subject.

Professional practice dates

Year 1: at various times throughout both semesters

Year 2: Semester 2, after Week 16 (4 weeks)

Year 3: Semester 1, Week 4 (10 weeks)

Occupational Therapy professional practice/fieldwork education

Professional Practice I

Lectures/tutorials and a four day placement either during inter-semester recess or at other times during the year.

Professional Practice II

Lectures, tutorials, and a two week block placement during the inter-semester recess. Placements may also occur at different times of the year, subject to availability. Students also complete a project related to their fieldwork placement which is equivalent to an additional 80 hours.

Professional Practice IIIA and IIIB

Lectures, tutorials, online education, six week (IIIA) and seven week (IIIB) block placements during semester one. Placements may also occur at different times of the year, subject to availability. Students are required to attend university before and after placements for professional practice classes.

Professional Practice IV

Lectures, tutorials, online education and an eight week (pass program) or six week (honours program) placement during Semester Two. Students are required to attend university before and after placement and complete assessments while on placement and on campus.

Note: Students may be required to satisfactorily complete an English proficiency assessment prior to professional practice/fieldwork placements.

Professional practice/fieldwork education dates

Year 1: at various times during inter-semester recess or Semester 2

Year 2: 9 July to 20 July (2 weeks)

Year 3: IIIA: 5 March to 13 April (6 weeks)
IIIB: 7 May to 22 June (7 weeks)

Year 4: Pass course: 7 August to 28 September (8 weeks)
Honours program: 29 October to 7 December (6 weeks)

Uniforms

Students in the Leisure and Health and Occupational Therapy courses may need to obtain uniforms to be worn while undertaking hospital placements where uniforms are required. Not all fieldwork sites require students to wear uniforms. Polo shirts, with the University crest and course name, can be obtained through the relevant student associations. A Faculty name badge is required to be worn at all times during fieldwork placements by both leisure and health and occupational therapy students. These badges can be obtained from the Students’ Union.

Leisure and Health students

Women

Lemon or white Shirtmaker blouse; navy blue skirt or culotte; navy blue cardigan or jumper; navy blue or black, closed shoes.

Men

Lemon or white Shirtmaker shirt; navy blue trousers; navy blue cardigan or jumper; black shoes.

Occupational Therapy students

Women

Short sleeved white blouse; navy blue culotte skirt or navy blue trousers; navy blue cardigan or jumper; navy, black or white, closed shoes.

Men

White short sleeves shirt; navy blue trousers; navy blue cardigan or jumper; black or brown shoes.