Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with Honours

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5

Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements

Students of non-English speaking backgrounds must have an adequate English language capacity assessed under the Australian International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS score required for admission to this course can be found in Schedule II of the JCU Admissions policy.

Students also need to take note that in accordance with the National Registration Board’s requirement, they must hold a valid IELTS minimum score of 7.0 in all components within 2 years prior to applying for registration upon Graduation as Occupational Therapists in Australia.

Special admission requirements

A quota on entry into the honours program may be applied depending on the availability of supervisors.

Post admission requirements

Hepatitis B immunisation:

Students must provide evidence of being immune to hepatitis B within the first teaching period of their studies. A blood-borne viral disease may result in a student’s inability to obtain a placement in a Queensland Health facility and consequently may result in their inability to complete the requirements of the course as accredited by the relevant professional accrediting body. If a student has not complied with the above requirement by the last day of the first teaching period of their studies, their enrolment will be terminated immediately.

Suitability to Work with Children Card (blue card):

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course.

For more information, refer to: https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au

Current Apply First Aid and CPR Certificate:

Candidates must hold a current First Aid Certificate before undertaking professional or clinical placements.  Candidates are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining this certificate.

Some professional/clinical placement agencies may require that candidates hold an advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate before undertaking a professional or clinical placement. Candidates are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining this certificate.

Australian Federal Police check:

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements.  Some placement agencies will require students to produce a current Australian Federal Police check. This is in addition to the requirements for a Blue Card.  Students must provide written confirmation of clearance to the Clinical Placement Officer prior to commencement of clinical placement.

Application documents can be accessed at:

Australian Federal Police

Course learning outcomes

The James Cook University Bachelors of Occupational Therapy (Hons) degree will prepare graduates for registration as an entry level Occupational Therapist (OT) in Australia and function as a pathway for research and further learning.  The course is aligned with the Australian Standards for Occupational Therapy including AHPRA OT code of conduct and OTA Occupational Therapy Competencies.

On successful completion of the course, graduates of the program will be able to:

• Integrate coherent and advanced theoretical and technical knowledge, in the discipline of occupational therapy, to contribute to the development of an inclusive society in rural, remote, indigenous and tropical contexts

• Demonstrate appropriate ethical, legal and professional behaviours, skills and strategies, in the delivery of culturally safe and client-centred care

• Retrieve, synthesise and evaluate information from multiple sources to assess and improve the health status and well-being of individuals and/or populations

• Critically evaluate and apply evidence in occupational therapy and inter-professional practice and theory building

• Communicate clearly and coherently through well-developed English language and numeracy proficiency, appropriate for graduate entry into the occupational therapy workforce

• Deliver safe and sustainable occupational therapy and, where necessary, formulate, implement and monitor management plans, in collaboration with individuals and/or populations and other professionals, within the accepted professional and personal scope of practice

• Reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes to assess professional learning needs and demonstrate autonomy and accountability in planning ongoing professional development

• Apply knowledge of research principles and methods to plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence.

Townsville

Maximum time to complete

7 years

Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)

Clinical placement/professional practice:

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements).

Further information about placements can be found at Enrolment Policy – Coursework Students

Accreditation requirements

Nil

Supplementary exam for final subject

Not applicable

Maximum allowed

63 credit points

Expiry

Advanced standing gained for any subject shall be cancelled 17 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the candidate has not completed this course.

Exit with lesser award

Not applicable