Opportunities in occupational therapy

Passionate about improving people’s quality of life? Why not study occupational therapy?

Becoming an occupational therapist provides diverse opportunities to make a real difference. Occupational therapists provide support to people whose health, age or disability makes it difficult for them to do everyday tasks. Occupational therapists (or ‘OTs’ as they are often called) spend time with a person to discover what they need help with – and then create solutions and strategies for the individual to do those things, so they can lead a fulfilling and healthy life.

‘Occupational therapy covers every single activity that we do during the day,’ says Professor Genevieve Pepin from Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development. ‘It could be getting out of bed or putting on your clothes independently, all the way through to more complex things like answering questions over the phone or being able to do all the tasks that make up your job.’

As an OT, you may find yourself working with a range of different people, just as third year occupational therapy student Stacy Doan did. The diverse places you will work and the different people you will work with were a huge factor in why she chose to study occupational therapy. She’s already completed several placements in mental health facilities, hospital admissions and community-based positions.

‘I’ve always been fascinated by … how many populations an OT can work with. We can work with students, we can work with the kids and the little ones, but we can also work with the older adults. We can work in different departments in clinics or in hospitals, for example, neurology, orthopedics,’ she adds.

Deakin University’s Bachelor of Occupational Therapy appeals to many students because of its emphasis on practical experience in real-world situations. Alongside academic study, undergraduate OT students head out into the local community, giving them the chance to see how the theory of the classroom applies in real life.  Placements start in year one of your course, where you will work with and learn from qualified practitioners.

It adds up – over the course of your degree, you will gain around 1000 hours of practical experience, ensuring you have the skills to make a real difference in people’s lives.

‘Interacting and communicating with different populations really helped me to shape my clinical experience. That’s something that I really love about studying at Deakin and that’s the main reason why I chose Deakin,’ Stacy says.

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course, like many of Deakin’s courses, is shaped to align with the latest in industry knowledge – you will be taught by teachers with industry experience. Benefit from their experience, gaining the practical skills and knowledge you need to become a highly sought-after graduate.

This includes learning in world-class facilities such as Occupational Therapy Learning Hub – a space fitted with the latest in assistive technology and equipment, so students can walk into their placements prepared.

When you study to be an OT at Deakin, you’re setting yourself up to work anywhere in the world. This course holds accreditation with the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists – you can expand your graduate job search across the globe.

Find out more about studying our Occupational Therapy course today.