Why study occupational therapy at Sydney

Occupational therapy helps people with disabilities, ongoing health conditions or recovering from injury with overcoming barriers that impact on their ability to participate in everyday life. 

Using client centred practice, occupational therapists collaborate with people to develop skills, or modify tasks and the environment to enable their meaningful engagement in work and home lives.

1. Two pathways to get you there

Straight from high school

Our Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) is unlike any other occupational therapy degree in Australia. That’s because it has an embedded major and minor in Disability and Participation.

This specialised study equips our graduates with a unique skillset to respond to the growing demands of the broader health, disability and community sectors.

Changing careers

Our Master of Occupational Therapy degree is one of our Graduate Entry Masters (GEM) courses and accepts graduates from all backgrounds. This means you can enrol if you have completed any bachelor’s, master's or PhD degree from an Australian institution or equivalent.

This postgraduate degree is an accelerated pathway to a professional qualification and is a condensed program. It includes core units in biomedical sciences and occupational therapy theory, as well as practice education in a variety of settings, to enable registration as an occupational therapist in Australia.

The program includes intensive modes of delivery, so you need to be well organised, prepared for a fast paced and dynamic learning experience and comfortable in your verbal and written English communication.

2. Professional accreditation

Both our Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and Master of Occupational Therapy degrees are accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA).

Our programs are also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. This means that once you’ve finished studying and obtained accreditation, you’ll be work-ready for an industry where demand is so high, it outstrips supply (National Skills Commission, 2023).*

3. The best teachers and facilities

You’ll learn from respected practitioners and researchers passionate about teaching occupational therapy. Both degrees have people with disability or other service users (also known as people with lived experiences) as part of your teaching team.

These opportunities have been included in the design of both degrees to recognise the expertise of those who have experience of a health condition or disability. As a result, you’ll graduate as a respectful, skilled, informed clinician who is client centred.

Added to this, you’ll study at our new Susan Wakil Health Building. This state-of-the-art space has occupational therapy-specific clinical simulation teaching areas, research facilities, a multi-service clinic and a brand new library.

4. Real world experience

Occupational therapy students are required to have 1000 hours of practice education as part of their undergraduate and GEM degree before graduation.

Practice education allows you to put your knowledge into practice through clinical placements in health and education settings in metropolitan and rural areas. These real-world experiences need you to meet Verification Requirements before working with individuals or communities.

Work-based placements allow you to apply your academic study in real-world settings. You’ll be able to demonstrate and develop the skills learned in the classroom as well as build on key abilities such as communication and confidence.

5. A career with impact

A career in occupational therapy is about making a positive impact on the world. It combines compassion, problem-solving, creativity, and a focus on enhancing the quality of life of others. You will be supported to make a positive difference with children, adults and communities, facing a wide range of challenges.  

As an occupational therapist, you will build relationships with individuals and communities as you work together to overcome challenges, grow independence, build self-esteem and focus on abilities and goals.

_{* National Skills Commission. (2023). Skills Priority List. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/skills-shortages-analysis/skills-priority-list}