About the Department of Occupational Therapy

The Monash University Department of Occupation Therapy provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses to students seeking employment in hospital and community health settings.

Diversity is the hallmark of occupational therapy practice. Occupational therapists work with individuals, families, and groups to assist them to overcome the limitations and restrictions that are caused by illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of aging. They are employed in organisations and communities to address the barriers that prevent people’s participation in accessing their community in ways that impact on their health and wellbeing. Occupational therapist work with people of all ages, so long as they have an occupational performance issues related to engagement in productive, self-care or leisure activities.

A four year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree from Monash University provides you with the entry to diverse and stimulating work opportunities in Australia, both metropolitan and rural, and overseas, as our program is recognised both nationally and internationally.

You will study and learn with health professional students from other course at Monash, such as physiotherapy, paramedics, and nursing, and have the opportunity for honours and postgraduate studies, both Masters and PhD, in occupational therapy.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy/Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is four years, full time study. The course is located at the Peninsula campus of the University, in the southeast metropolitan area, approximately 50kms from Melbourne CBD. Each year we have an intake of up to 75 students, many of whom do not come directly from year 12 studies.

The curriculum incorporates knowledge from knowledge areas that because of the focus in occupational therapy on the person, environment and occupation interactions, is conceptually compatible with community and population health approaches that focus on health promotion and disease prevention, including occupational health, as well as traditional approaches to health care delivery. While the first year of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy program is predominantly traditional lectures, tutorial sessions, and/or practical classes, in the second and third years, the teaching is fully based on typical situations in which occupational therapists work, so that learning is placed within the context of people typically seeking the expertise of and occupational therapist. Students complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of fieldwork with placements starting in year 1. This includes a placement with an organisation for two semesters in years three and four to undertake an occupationally relevant project with a community sponsor.

Graduating as an occupational therapist form Monash University will provide you with an opportnity to become a member of a dynamc, diverse and supportive international community of occupational therapists.