If you are looking for a career that involves helping others, it could be that occupation therapy is perfect for you. Helping people with disabilities manage their lives and planning support development initiatives with parents and carers is very rewarding, while also being challenging at times.
Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy
There is a 4-year degree course in occupational therapy and many Australian universities are offering places in this course for 2024. The primary goal for an OT (Occupational Therapist) is to help patients develop independent living by providing essential care duties and overseeing care planning with set objectives. You could, for example, apply for one of many speech pathology jobs after you graduate and the bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy can open the doors to a range of occupations.
1,000 hours of hands-on work placement
The 4-year course encompasses a total of 1,000 hours of work experience, where you are working in the field supervised by healthcare professionals. The first year focuses on core health topics such as anatomy, physiology and a basic introduction to occupational therapy. The second and third years are primarily concerned with focusing your skills on mental health, occupational rehabilitation, chronic conditions, community focus, primary healthcare and participating in community activities. In the third year, you are given multiple work placements, which typically involves working with rural communities in remote locations.
Here is a brief overview of the course subjects
- Year 1 – Aboriginal health; culture, community and country. Human anatomy 100, physiology essentials and introduction to occupational therapy practices, especially in a hospital environment.
- Year 2 – Principals of occupational therapy, applied physiology, enabling occupation through environmental adaptation. Human neuroscience, occupational therapy in occupational rehabilitation.
- Year 3 – Occupational therapy and mental health, primary healthcare approaches in occupational therapy and occupational science. Participatory community practice; planning strategies and advanced evidence-based practices.
- Year 4 – Implementing community practice, contemporary practice and professional development, occupational therapy, working in the field and community activity planning.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The NDIS provides funding to eligible people with disabilities in order that healthcare professionals can help them achieve a greater level of independence. The NDIS has an easy-to-follow application process, which can be carried out online and if you are eligible, a support plan is created, which is unique for you and includes goals and objectives to help gain independence. Click here to learn more about preparing meals for seniors.
Ability Action Australia
This is a government initiative that is dedicated to providing a connection between occupational therapists and people with disabilities. If you are planning to enrol in a degree program, you should contact Ability Action Australia, as they can provide essential support and help you to find suitable employment.
There are currently more than 4 million Australian people with disabilities and if you would like to learn more about occupational therapy, search online for Australian universities that offer OT courses.
Sharon Howe is a creative person with diverse talents. She writes engaging articles for WonderWorldSpace.com, where she works as a content writer. Writing allows Sharon to inform and captivate readers. Additionally, Sharon pursues music as a hobby, which allows her to showcase her artistic abilities in another creative area.