Course Structure - Year 1

Semester 1

OCC1011 Professional issues

This unit introduces the profession of occupational therapy and key professional behaviours that are essential for practice. Legal, cultural and ethical issues relevant to professional practice will be explored with particular attention to use of medical records, beginning communication, interviewing skills, and safe practice.

University handbook entry:PSY1011 Psychology 1A

Introduces the discipline of psychology as a behavioural science. Topics include personality, the biological bases of behaviour, sensation and perception, an introduction to theories of learning and development, plus an introduction to the historical origins of the discipline.

HSC1301 Human structure and function 1

The major themes of study are levels of body organization, body support and movement, and cardiopulmonary physiology. The unit introduces the scientific method of thought; it encourages the critical evaluation of evidence, and promotes an awareness of the changing nature of knowledge in the health sciences.

HSC1031 Foundations of health sciences

This unit explores the diversity of definitions, models and approaches for understanding health and the underlying factors which determine people’s health at the level of individuals, communities and whole populations. Various models for understanding health are discussed, including the ICF framework for understanding human function, activity and participation in relation to health and wellbeing.

Semester 2

OCC1012 Occupational science

The principles and mechanisms underlying the relationship between the person, their environment and occupations, and how this relates to human health and wellbeing are included in this unit. The concept of occupation, how occupation changes across the lifespan, and how people shape and are shaped by their engagement in occupations and their environmental context are studied. The unit includes a fieldwork placement in a rural location or camp for people with disabilities.

University handbook entry: PSY1022 Psychology 1B

This unit focuses on basic cognitive processes; the social basis of behaviour, and selected aspects of abnormal psychology; research methodology and statistical analysis; and writing psychological reports.

HSC1302 Human structure and function 2

The major themes of study in this unit are the nervous and endocrine control and regulation of body functions, maintenance systems of the body, and reproduction and early development.

OCC1022 Foundations of occupational therapy practice

The unit introduces students to the historical origins of the use of occupation as therapy and the theory of core elements of occupational therapy intervention. Current theoretical concepts and models underpinning occupational therapy practice are explored along with the occupational therapy problem solving and clinical reasoning process.