Foundations of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science unit (CXA716)

Launceston

Introduction

The unit develops your occupational perspective and prepares you to perform the various practice roles as a resilient, confident, and autonomous practitioner in the delivery of ethical, culturally responsive, sustainable, and safe practice. To consider implications for the future direction of occupational therapy and the occupational therapists’ scope of practice, the profession and discipline are examined. You will study the foundations of occupational therapy practice, including client-centered care, the nature of occupation, and how environment acts as an enabler or barrier to occupational performance. You will learn how to select and justify occupational therapy models of practice and apply evidence-based frames of reference to specific practice contexts and explain their utility in supporting the occupational needs of diverse client groups.

Summary

Unit name	Foundations of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
Unit code	CXA716
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Health School of Health Sciences
Discipline	Health Sciences
Coordinator	Professor Angela Berndt
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Launceston	Semester 2

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	5/7/2026	27/7/2026	30/8/2026	24/10/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Describe occupational therapy practice as a profession and a discipline to analyse implications for future direction and scope of practice.
• Analyse the nature of occupation, occupation-focused practice, occupational science theory, and evidence-informed occupational therapy processes to support people’s meaningful participation.
• Apply the principles of occupational science, sustainable and rights-based occupational therapy, client-centredness and reflective practice to respond to diverse populations including Aboriginal and First nations Peoples.
• Select and justify occupational therapy models of practice for specific contexts and explain their utility in supporting the occupational needs of diverse client groups and communities.
• Analyse key concepts of occupation and explain the role of occupational therapy in supporting occupational justice, participation and performance.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
061703	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$2,919.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Co-requisites

CXA717 Occupational Therapy Practice 1

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Individual Study (2hrs x 11times), Independant Learning (6hrs x 11 times), Residential School (6hrs x 2 times), Tutorial or Online Class (1hr x 11 times)
Assessment	Critical Analysis of an Occupational Perspective of Health (30%)|Critical Personal Professional Reflection My Occupational Identity (30%)|Occupational Therapy Skill Performance (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Thomas, H. (2022). Occupational and Activity Analysis (3rd ed.). Routledge.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.