Occupational therapy is a dynamic person-centred health profession. Practitioners support people of all ages, and their families, to engage in the occupations and activities of daily life, to optimise physical and mental health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists must be registered to practice in Australia, and may work in a range of government, educational, and industry settings, as well as in private enterprise, worldwide. The aim of this accredited Occupational Therapy course is to develop highly competent and autonomous occupational therapy graduates, skilled in inter-professional and person-/family-centred practice. To achieve this, the course is informed by contemporary research and occupational therapy theories and models. It is taught by occupational therapists and other suitably qualified professionals experienced in diverse areas of practice. Although it addresses local, national, and global community needs, a particular emphasis is on training graduates to work in rural and regional communities. The occupational therapy course aligns seamlessly with CQUniversity's focus on social innovation and status as Australia’s first Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.
As a student in this course, you will learn to (a) recognise aspects relevant to the person, the environment, and occupations that represent strengths and barriers to occupational engagement, and (b) address these, to support people to achieve their goals. You will engage in a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice, including full-time placements, for which you will need to meet a number of prerequisite requirements (e.g., obtaining a blue card, having a number of immunisations). In your final year, you will further develop your skills by planning and implementing a small community-based research or evaluation project.
Occupational therapists are employed in a range of settings such as public and private hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools, nursing homes, research institutions, special, centres for persons with a social, intellectual or physical disability and private practice. They are also employed as mental health workers and rehabilitation consultants.
Duration | 4 years full-time or 6 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 192 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BOT(Hons) |
AQF Level | Level 8: Bachelor Honours Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Rank Threshold | SR 70 | ATAR 70 |
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements set by the University.
You are required to provide documentation confirming completion of:
These qualifications must be completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America to meet the English language proficiency requirements.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
Each application will be assessed individually.
If you are a prospective international student, please visit the English requirements for international students page for further information.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | CL13 - Diploma of Health Science CM51 - Bachelor of Health and Rehabilitation Science |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | Students who select to study some units via distance education may be required to attend compulsory residential schools. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
OCCT13009 - Students are required to complete a minimum of 1000 hours of professional practice. Some of this is integrated within earlier units of the CB84 course, and this unit is the first of two full-time WIL blocks. |
OCCT14007 - Students are required to complete a minimum of 1000 hours of professional practice. Some of this is integrated within earlier units of the CB84 course, and this unit is the second of two full-time WIL blocks. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 155 |
2023 | 148 |
2022 | 150 |
2021 | 132 |
2020 | 109 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Additional vaccinations and screening are subject to the site or state health authority. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance, working with children check, and NDIS worker screening clearance.
Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines and knowledge of research principles and methods | ||||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence | ||||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas | ||||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding | ||||||||
5. SKILLS Have technical skills to design and use research in a project | ||||||||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||||
10. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence | ||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 27 | Total credit points: 192 |
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Only the first two years or 96cp of the course can be completed part-time over 4 years. The remaining 2 years or 96cp of the course MUST be completed full time over 2 years.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ALLH11001 | Introduction to Allied Health Practice | |
OCCT11002 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice | |
BMSC11007 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology 1 | |
ALLH11009 | Research Methods for Health Professionals |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ALLH11006 | Life Course Development for Health Professionals | |
PSYC11010 | Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour | |
OCCT11001 | Introduction to Activity and Occupation | |
BMSC11008 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology 2 |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ALLH12006 | Evidence Based Practice for Health Professionals | |
OCCT12003 | Occupational Performance across the Lifespan 1 | |
OCCT12006 | Understanding the Environment | |
BMSC12007 | Neurological Physiology & Measurement |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH12028 | Health Promotion Strategies | |
INDG11013 | First Nation and Non-Indigenous History: The Interface | |
OCCT12004 | Occupational Performance Across the Lifespan 2 | |
OCCT12002 | Occupational Justice: Local and Global |
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ALLH13011 | Rural and Remote Practice for Health Professionals | |
OCCT13007 | Enabling Mental Health | |
OCCT13002 | Enabling Strategies in Neurological Rehabilitation | |
OCCT13001 | Enabling Work Participation |
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
OCCT13009 | Professional Occupational Therapy Practice 1 | |
ALLH14002 | Research Project for Health Professionals 1 |
Year 4 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
OCCT14007 | Professional Occupational Therapy Practice 2 | |
OCCT14003 | Transition to Professional Practice |
Year 4 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
OCCT14002 | Specialisation in Occupational Therapy | |
OCCT14004 | Developing Occupation-Centred Community Programs | |
ALLH14001 | Research Project for Health Professionals 2 |
Work Integrated Learning and Fieldwork Education
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) involves extensive fieldwork education which is embedded into the course. During the second year of the course students will be required to undertake up to 10 days of fieldwork visits. Students are expected to undertake a total of 7 weeks of full-time placement in 3rd year and 10 weeks of full-time placement in 4th year. In the final term of the course, students are required to undertake around 150 hours of community placement. Overall, students will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of fieldwork education.
Before commencing fieldwork education, students must have maintained the following to provide to the appropriate academic supervisor and their fieldwork supervisor:
Signed Student Declaration and Confidentiality Agreement
Current Australian Federal Police Certificate (National Police Check) (Not Older than 3 years)
Current approved First Aid/CPR certificate
Evidence of appropriate immunisations which include but are not limited to: Hepatitis B; Adult Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Whooping Cough); Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR); Varicella (Chicken Pox); Tuberculosis (TB)/ Mantoux Test
Students require a Student (S) Blue Card - application form can be found at http:www.bluecard.qld.gov.au and a NDIS Worker Screening Clearance Card - application can be found at https://workerscreening.dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au
Completion of CQU Pre-clinical requirements
Application for Credit Transfer
Credit transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies undertaken equivalent in content and depth to the CQUniversity course have been successfully completed. Students should examine the unit synopses in this handbook to determine the units for which they may be eligible to claim exemption.
Refer to the Credit Transfer website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process.
You can apply for direct credit against CQUniversity units, if equivalent tertiary level study has been completed. You must supply relevant documentation (study guides, unit profiles, etc) to do this. If your study was undertaken more than 10 years ago, you may not be eligible to apply for this as credit.
Computing Requirements
It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students will be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the internet.
It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.