OCC5070 - Transition to practice - 2019

Students will refine knowledge and skills in professional self management appropriate for practice as entry level occupational therapists. They will identify and document their learning needs for their final fieldwork placement and develop the ability to set objectives for personal practice development. Strategies for identifying and meeting individual professional development needs, the legal and ethical requirements for professional competency at graduate level, the role of the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) and the credentialing process will be critiqued. The unit also includes content on recruitment and selection processes.

Concurrently, students will work within a community partnership model to address a community/population health based issue for the collaborating agency (135 fieldwork hours). Students will act as a project manager by implementation, evaluation and reporting on their project commenced in OCC5060. They will transmit this knowledge, skills and ideas to professional and non-professional audiences.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Examine, critique and organise learning needs to guide current and future learning to maintain competence and professional development that meet professional standard guidelines and credentialing processes in occupational therapy;
2. Identify, evaluate and critique a range of professional support strategies that can be used to enhance professional practice;
3. Appraise the key requirements of recruitment and selection processes, and compose an effective application for a professional position;
4. Examine Government policy and the function of local, state and national agencies funding health delivery and how these bodies direct resources to effect planning and service delivery;
5. Investigate, analyse, synthesise and critically reflect on a complex theoretical concept or problem in an area of occupational therapy practice;
6. Demonstrate technical knowledge and ability to communicate effectively on a complex theoretical concept or problem in an area of occupational therapy practice that contributes to professional practice or scholarship;
7. Plan, implement, evaluate and critique reflectively a substantial community-based project that has occupational relevance;
8. Demonstrate communication and technical skills to interpret and justify theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions appropriate for occupational therapy and non-occupational therapy audiences;
9. Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

Placement weeks 1-9 - up to 12 hours per week. Fieldwork will require students to travel to fieldwork locations. These may be near or away from the campus.

• Complete a learning contract that outlines learning needs and identified learning gaps (2,000 words) (15%)
• Critically analyse a current professional issue in the form of a 'viewpoint' article (2,500 words) (20%)
• Peer evaluation of critical analysis (750 words) (10%)
• Conference poster abstract (between 2 - 3 students) (250 words) (5%)
• Oral electronic poster presentation defense (between 2 - 3 students) (20 minutes) (10%)
• Submission of project report detailing process, findings and recommendations (between 2 - 3 students) (5,000 words) (40%)

Hurdle requirements:

• Attendance of at least 80% of tutorials, participation in mock interview, interview with placement supervisor, supervisory meetings and fieldwork placement hours.
• Successful completion of fieldwork including submission of (i) a completed and signed student placement evaluation form - revised (SPEF-R) (ii) signed timesheet and (iii) student review of placement form; and (iv) reflective journal and 2 summary reports
• Submission of midway project progress report (1,500 words)
• Compose an effective curriculum vitae and letter of application for a professional position.

This unit will run for 9 weeks of academic/fieldwork followed by one week SwotVac, and one week of exams. As this is an accelerated program, the workload demands are more than would be expected of an undergraduate 12 credit poiny unit as it is run over 9 rather than 12 weeks.

• Seminar - 4 hours per week (on campus)
• Workshops - 2 hours fortnightly (on campus)
• Fieldwork - Placement weeks 1-9 - up to 12 hours per week including supervisory meetings - 6 hours across term
• Private study - 8 hours per week.

See also Unit timetable information

Occupational therapy