Overview 2023
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
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For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
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The Master of Occupational Therapy will prepare you to work with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations (activities) they need, want, or are expected to perform. Adopting a strength-based approach occupational therapists use a range of strategies to help those affected by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delays or ageing to participate in meaningful occupations.
You will learn how to support people to overcome barriers and to use alternative techniques to achieve their goals. Your studies include how to communicate effectively with clients from all backgrounds and work as part of an interdisciplinary team. You will develop skills in clinical reasoning and reflective, evidence-based practice. You will undertake community-based projects and authentic experiential learning activities to enable you to develop and apply lean, system thinking skills, and respond to complex health care problems as an ethical practitioner.
This course will ensure you are capable of working with individuals, families, and carers, in teams and with other health professionals across a range of settings, including rural and remote areas.
Graduates of the Master of Occupational Therapy will complete the degree equipped with the theoretical and practical skills required to practice as a registered Occupational Therapist.
Course objectives
The Master of Occupational Therapy is designed to set up a new generation of agile health professionals, capable of providing client-centered, quality, and safe health care.
With many graduate job opportunities currently available and anticipated to grow, our objective is to prepare students to be leaders in current and emerging jobs, by forging relationships with communities, mentors and health and social care facilities to apply their skills across sectors.
In preparing for modern practice, students will be digitally equipped, and have the right mindset to become leaders of future health care improvements across private and public practice settings as they develop in their career.
Learning Outcomes
Practical experience
During your studies, you will:
- Build vital professional skills in client-centered care, quality assurance, evidence-based practice, interprofessional teamwork and leadership through authentic case and problem-based learning.
- Work in an on-campus simulated learning environment, to practice occupational therapy assessment and intervention skills and enhance your clinical reasoning.
- Undertake hands-on learning in real healthcare environments across Tasmania with experienced occupational therapists to learn about contextual aspects of population health and service delivery.
Safety in Practice Compliance
This course includes compulsory Professional Experience Placements. You must meet the College of Health and Medicine's Safety in Practice Requirements before census date of the first semester of your course. The safety in practice requirements are completed separately to the course admission application.
Career outcomes
Allied Health professionals are in high demand across the health sector with employment for occupational therapists projected to increase in Australia by 17.1% by November 2025*.
Our Master of Occupational Therapy will provide you with qualifications that can lead to various job opportunities in Tasmania, Australia and overseas.
As an occupational therapist, you can work across a range of different industries including;
- Acute Care (Hospitals)
- Aged Care
- Community Health
- Disability
- Early Intervention
- Education
- Government
- Health Promotion
- Mental Health
- Private Industry
- Rehabilitation
- Social Services
*Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2020 Occupational Projections.
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This program is subject to accreditation by the Occupational Therapy Council (A and NZ).
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.
Course structure
Year 1
Globally, health systems are tasked with responding to contemporary challenges and the related disease burden and health needs of their population. This unit takes a systems approach to examine how health systems are designed, the key components, who pays, and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit introduces the scope of public health practice in the 21st century and the social, political and economic context within which public health practitioners operate. The unit combines theoretical and practical material to assist students to understand the social…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit introduces students to foundational concepts related to joining a regulated profession and practicing in a health discipline. Allied health roles and contexts of professional practice are introduced and situated within the health care system. With a focus on…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA705 Becoming an Allied Health Professional
The unit introduces key occupational therapy terminology related to the meaning and value of occupation, and concepts that are foundational to occupational therapy practice. Students will examine the interplay between sociological, psychological and environmental factors that influence health and wellbeing.…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA716 Foundations of Occupational Therapy
In this professional experience placement unit students examine different contexts of occupation to situate the concept of occupational assessment, analysis and the process of occupational enablement. Students draw on the concepts and principles of occupational science and apply an evidence-based…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | ||||
This professional experience placement unit further explores concepts associated with occupation and extends student's ability to determine an occupational evaluation and intervention plan to facilitate occupation using the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and key theoretical approaches to practice. Relevant frameworks,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
The unit examines the interactions between people and other elements of a complex system in terms of occupational engagement and performance. The theory, method and principles of human factors science are introduced to situate occupational engagement and performance in a…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CXA719 Systems, Occupation and Engagement
This unit explores how historical, cultural and social elements, as well as previous and contemporary policy frameworks, shape the health and wellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Cultural safety, self-determination and collaboration are central concepts within…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for HGA746 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing
Year 2
This unit provides health and human service professionals with the opportunity to critically analyse a range of contemporary leadership frameworks and theories. There is a focus on the exploration and practical application of theories and techniques to improve understanding of…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CAM539 Leadership in Health and Human Services
This unit will equip students with an understanding of the research methods used in health disciplines in order to interpret published research, and design research of their own. The Unit content includes the theoretical underpinning of both qualitative and quantitative…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Online | Semester 1 | ||||
| Online | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit uses the lifespan continuum to equip students with an understanding of the core knowledge and skills related to conditions associated with motor delay or coordination difficulties; neurological impairment; sensory impairment; attention and behaviour; genetic, intellectual and/or multiple impairments;…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit consolidates knowledge and skills related to leadership and public health and synthesises them with business skills critical for allied health professionals working in community-based settings or moving into business within health care. Principles of population health are used…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CXA713 Community-Based Practice and Enterprise
This professional experience placement unit further explores concepts associated with occupation and extends student's ability to determine an occupational evaluation and intervention plan to facilitate occupation using the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and key theoretical approaches to practice. Relevant frameworks,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit examines issues of chronicity and complexity as the basis for students to examine the operational aspects of service delivery in the management of clinical populations. Students will examine the role of information and technology in practice including: conducting…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CXA722 Chronicity, Complexity and Service Delivery
The unit examines the interactions between people and other elements of a complex system in terms of occupational engagement and performance. The theory, method and principles of human factors science are introduced to situate occupational engagement and performance in a…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Entry requirements
For Domestic students
Please note that admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy is highly competitive and that achieving the entry requirements does not guarantee an offer for this course. Applicants who meet the entry requirements are ranked and offers are made based on the number of places available.
• This course uses a minimum GPA requirement for prior tertiary education and equivalent ranks as part of the admission process.
• Applicants with previous higher education study must have completed the Bachelor of Exercise Science (53J), or the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (53F) at the University of Tasmania or hold an approved Bachelor’s degree in health or a health-related discipline from another Australian university.
• This course does not accept applications based on VET/TAFE study.
• This course does not accept applications based on work or life experience.
• In the last five years, applicants must have completed the equivalent of:
• two units (25 CPU) of human anatomy and physiology, including neuroscience.
• one unit (12.5 CPU) of study focused on social perspectives in health, such as psychology or sociology, and
• one unit (12.5 CPU) study of research methods; and/or evidence-based practice.
Students without the pre-requisites should make contact to discuss bridging opportunities.
Safety in Practice Requirements
This course includes compulsory Professional Experience Placements. You must meet the College of Health and Medicine's Safety in Practice Requirements before census date of the first semester of your course. The safety in practice requirements are completed separately to the course admission application.
For International students
This course is not available to international students. Please enquire online for advice on alternative course options.
Articulation
This course does not currently articulate with other courses.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Commonwealth supported places (CSP)
Domestic undergraduate students may be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place in this course. If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government, and you will only be required to pay the student contribution amount for each unit.
You may be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. This means you can pay your tuition fees later once you start earning above a specific threshold. For more information, please refer to the Study Assist website.
The student contribution amount for each unit of study is based on its discipline area. Student contribution amounts are charged for each unit of study, this means that amounts will depend on which units you choose. Find out more about student contribution amounts.
Detailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Domestic students enrolled in certain postgraduate coursework programs may not be eligible for student payments through Youth Allowance and Austudy. Visit the Department of Social Services website to find out more about eligibility for Centrelink support and the list of eligible courses
International students
International students should refer to the International Students course fees page to get an indicative course cost.
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 1300 363 864
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries