Master of Occupational Therapy Practice - 2019

This accelerated course enables students with a first degree other than occupational therapy, but in a related field, to obtain an entry level qualification at a postgraduate level of study to practice as an occupational therapist. The course includes 1000 hours of fieldwork education commensurate with World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists (2002), and provides an integrated curriculum centred on scenario-based learning.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1. critically appraise the occupational nature of human beings and the theories and basic principles related to enabling occupation and occupational performance and be able to communicate this efficiently and effectively to multiple stakeholders
2. analyse and critically appraise the physical social, institutional, and organizational barriers to people's participation in everyday occupations
3. create, design, innovate and evaluate strategies to address barriers to occupational participation
4. enable individuals, groups and communities to participate in everyday occupations that they want and need to do
5. practice in a culturally safe, ethical and respectful, client-centred manner by recognising the intrinsic value of people irrespective of culture, values, beliefs and socio-economic status
6. promote the health and well-being of populations, communities and groups, as well as individuals, by being proactive in prevention-oriented and health promotion practice
7. identify, evaluate and implement the best available evidence to everyday occupational therapy practice
8. implement different research approaches to plan and execute a substantial piece of scholarship
9. demonstrate a high level of autonomy and accountability and assume leadership, supervisory and management roles as appropriate
10. maintain competence and high standards in your professional life and engage in lifelong learning
11. contribute to your professional community, including the promotion and advancement of emerging occupational therapy practice.

The Master of Occupational Therapy Practice is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd (OTC) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. This accreditation enables graduates to work worldwide subject to registration requirements of that country. International students should note that an IELTS of 7 is required to register to practice in Australia.

This course consists of eight units. These units develop foundational and practical knowledge through an integrated curriculum that is centred on scenario-based learning (SBL). Units incorporate practice-based learning to enhance your learning and development.

You will gain the theoretical foundations of occupational therapy and practice including the concepts and principles underpinning occupational therapy practice and the relationship between the person, environment and occupations and the impact on human health and wellbeing. You will examine occupational therapy practice from a lifespan perspective and examine how illness, disability or occupational deprivation relate to cognitive, behavioural, emotional and psychosocial change.

You will describe, apply and critique the principles of assessment and intervention for individuals, groups, communities and populations. This learning will develop your understanding of the multiple approaches to occupational intervention and its application at the individual/clinical level, as well as the community and prevention level.

Using case-based scenarios and practice-based learning you will develop your skills and knowledge, culminating in an eight week fieldwork placement. You will also complete an agency-specific project within a community partnership model to address a community/population health-based occupational issue that will develop your skills in project proposal, design and management.

The course comprises 96 points.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-m6017.pdf) provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

You must complete:

• OCC4010 Foundations of occupational therapy
• OCC4020 Humans as occupational beings
• OCC4030Not offered in 2019 Occupational performance, capabilities and components
• OCC4040 Enabling occupation 1
• OCC5050 Enabling occupation 2
• OCC5060 Enabling occupation 3
• OCC5070 Transition to practice
• OCC5080 Advanced professional practice

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Diploma of Health Studies after successful completion of 48 credit points of which 36 must be at level 4 or higher.