Occupational Therapy Degree

Occupational therapy is a fascinating field that offers graduates many opportunities. Many will work in health and social care environments, but a rising number will develop new positions to deal with some of the main problems affecting Australia and other parts of the world.

Occupational Therapy Courses in Australia

Occupational therapy is a fascinating field that offers graduates many opportunities. Many will work in health and social care environments, but a rising number will develop new positions to deal with some of the main problems affecting Australia and other parts of the world.

With a high demand for qualified individuals in the healthcare sector, Australia is among the most attractive countries for hiring international talent. Australia offers some of the highest-paying employment for highly trained foreign nationals worldwide.

Occupational therapists assist their patients with their needs for health and well-being. The main goal of an occupational therapist is to make it possible for patients to carry out regular activities. Australia is looking for international talent due to the critical need for healthcare professionals.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

You can become an occupational therapist by earning a Bachelors in Occupational Therapy degree. You will obtain the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience necessary for an occupational therapy job in this certified program and discover how to assist people of all ages to participate in daily activities.

This course will give you the knowledge and abilities necessary to help those with difficulty performing daily tasks to their full potential. A course of practice and evidence-based learning that upholds the dignity and worth of every client and the importance of human variety is something to look forward to.

Why Study Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in Australia?

There are many advantages and reasons for pursuing a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. Let's study them in detail.

• Job Opportunities: The Bachelor serves populations with any kind of disability in Occupational Therapy. The employment chances for those who enroll in the course are highlighted.
• Good Compensation: One of the most significant benefits of earning an occupational therapy bachelor's degree is that graduates can find work that pays well and offers a flexible schedule. Occupational therapy jobs with good remuneration are frequently provided to candidates, and candidates may also receive health insurance, dental coverage, retirement benefits, and more in addition to their pay.
• Opportunity to Work in Various Sectors: The healthcare industry hires candidates who complete the course. However, the candidates may also receive employment offers from various NGOs, educational institutions, and social welfare agencies.
• Upgradation of Knowledge and Skill: If you pursue a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy, you will also have a strong foundation in psychology, science, and sociology.
• Job Satisfaction: Candidates who complete the course will have the opportunity to provide social welfare by assisting injured and ill people in recovering. You'll help kids and adults get over their issues with their emotions, thinking, sensory processing, behavior, social relationships, etc.
• Entrepreneurship Opportunity: The course enables the candidates to become business owners. After the course, candidates who have passed it can start their clinics.

Entry Requirements

Bachelor of occupational therapy requirements are:

• Completed a 12 Years qualification (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification).
• English language skills.
• Grade Point Average of 5.5 (50%) at the senior secondary school level.

Universities have different entry requirements, so contact us for advice or assistance.

Duration

Minimum Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Expected Fee

A$34,000 – A$45,000 / year.

Masters of Occupational Therapy

Students who pursue master of occupational therapy will get the information and skills necessary to treat patients with difficulties engaging in daily activities due to neurological, musculoskeletal, or mental health conditions. When students engage in problem-based learning, they must work together to analyze, question critically, understands vital pieces of knowledge, and create insightful responses to hypothetical situations. Students who complete the master of Occupational Therapy program are prepared to apply to become licensed occupational therapists. Graduates must submit an application for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency once they have earned their occupational therapy degree.

Hospitals, rehabilitation, residential care, mental health, community health, forensic mental health, school, paediatric, and occupational rehabilitation settings are where occupational therapists work. Occupational therapists help those who struggle to participate in daily life. Participation in the workforce, recreation activities, and/or self-care practices are examples of everyday life activities. Customers may live at home or in a supported living setting and may have neurological, musculoskeletal, or mental health issues.

Entry Requirements

Master in occupational therapy requirements in Australia are:

• Completion of an Australian Bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
• Students' Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 7.5 (60%).
• Must have taken an English language proficiency test.

Universities have different entry requirements, so contact us for advice or assistance.

Duration

2 years full-time (4 years part-time) - 16 credit points

Expected Fee

A$35,000 – A$47,000 / year.

PhD in Occupational Therapy Australia

Occupational therapists who complete this Ph.D. degree will have the knowledge and abilities to serve as researchers, academics, and educators. In addition to taking classes in research design, specialty fields of study, and advanced occupational therapy foundations, you'll also need to finish a dissertation.

Entry Requirements

Doctorate in occupational therapy requirements to study occupational therapy in Australia:

• Students must have completed a 3 to 4-year graduation degree and a 2 years Master’ program.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3 (55%) at the master's level.
• Must have taken an English language proficiency test. The score for the preferred tests is: TOEFL – 79, IELTS – 6.5, PTE – 58-64

Universities have different entry requirements, so contact us for advice or assistance.

Duration

3 years full-time equivalent and 6 years part-time equivalent. But the maximum duration of the Ph.D. program is 4 years full-time.

Expected Fee

A$43,000 – A$65,000 / year.

If you need help determining which program is best, contact us. Our advisors will help you find the best courses in Australia according to your needs and demands.

Location of Universities

There are 43 best universities in Australia, one in each state and territory. Most universities have more than one campus located across multiple states and territories. You can choose where in Australia you want to study.

Best Universities in Australia for Occupational Therapy

Numerous providers offer various occupational therapy courses. The criteria for entry vary for each one. The top institutions offering a degree in occupational therapy are:

Victoria (VIC)

• Deakin University
• Federation University of Australia
• Monash University
• La Trobe University
• Victoria University
• Australian Catholic University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• University of Melbourne

South Australia (SA)

• University of South Australia (UniSA)
• Flinders University
• The University of Adelaide

Western Australia (WA)

• Curtin University
• Edith Cowan University

Queensland (QLD)

• Griffith University
• Queensland University of Technology
• James Cook University
• University of Queensland
• Australian Catholic University
• Southern Cross University
• University of the sunshine coast
• Bond University

New South Wales (NSW)

• Australian Catholic University
• Western Sydney university
• Southern cross university
• The University of Newcastle
• Macquarie University
• Charles Sturt University
• The University of Sydney

Tasmania (TAS)

• University of Tasmania

How to Apply

If you have any queries regarding your application, you can:

• Call us
• Send an email
• Make an online query by filling our enquiry form

High Demand Across Australia

There are areas in urban and rural Australia where there are insufficient trained Occupational therapists.

Occupational Therapy teachers demand in Australia

In Australia, there are Occupational therapy teachers demand in Australia and a promising future for job growth. Most of them work full-time, but there are several alternatives for part-time employment. An average week has 42 hours of work. According to a Glassdoor poll, the average annual wage for an occupational therapy tutor in Australia is $87,447. Starting pay for entry-level jobs is lower and rises as one gain experience.

Occupational Therapy Scholarships

The top occupational therapy scholarships to study in Australia are:

• Adelaide Scholarships International
• Flinders International Postgraduate Scholarships
• International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS)
• Australia Awards Scholarships
• The University of South Australia scholarships

Occupational Therapy Career Pathways

To become an occupational therapist in Australia, you will need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in occupational therapy or an associated field.

Pathway to Temporary and Permanent Visas

An applicant who nominates an occupation on the MLTSSL list can apply for a:

• Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa
• Temporary Skills Shortage Subclass 482 Visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 Visa
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 Visa
• Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa
• Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa
• Permanent Residence (Permanent Regional) Subclass 191 Visa

An applicant who nominates an occupation on the STSOL list can apply for a:

• Temporary Skills Shortage Subclass 482 Visa
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 Visa
• Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa
• Permanent Residence (Permanent Regional) Subclass 191 Visa

Occupational Therapy Career Opportunities

The following are the main professions that an occupational therapist can pursue after graduating from a program in this area:

• Community Centres
• Schools
• Colleges or Universities
• Residential and Nursing homes
• Prisons
• Charities and Voluntary Organizations
• Daycare and Health Care Centres
• GP Surgeries
• Housing Associations

Therefore, courses in occupational therapy are perfect for those who want to improve the lives of seniors and those with disabilities. It is more than just a job to care for those unwilling or unable to do so.

Role and responsibilities

Occupational therapists, also called OTs, assist people of all ages in overcoming physical challenges or illnesses. They support people in participating in their daily lives by performing an in-home evaluation and helping them with various daily tasks, including cooking, moving, getting dressed, driving, and much more.

Typically, an occupational therapist in Australia will accomplish the following:

• Evaluate the patient's condition and needs using observations, solutions, and medical history.
• Create a treatment plan for patients, outlining the activities and specific targets.
• Assessing disabled workers to discover the best strategy to assist them in returning to work.
• Visiting workplaces to appreciate the difficulties an injured worker may experience when striving to return to work.
• Examine high-risk manual workplace jobs.
• Providing Medical opinions and reasoning through extensive report writing.
• Organizing workshops on subjects related to health and well-being.
• Consultation with insurers, physicians, and employers.
• Conduct Pre-Employment Assessments to verify that personnel is physically and mentally fit for the job.

Qualification

You must first earn an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university before you can start working as an occupational therapist. Next, you should develop your interpersonal, communication, motivational, listening, and other skills.

Occupational Therapy Salary in Australia

Occasional Therapists in Australia can earn different wages depending on their job and level of expertise. The estimated salary for various OT positions in Australia is listed below:

• An entry-level Registered Occupational Therapist with less than one year of experience can earn an average total remuneration (tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of A$62,940.
• An early career Registered Occupational Therapist with 1-4 years of experience makes an average salary of A$66,256.
• A mid-career Registered Occupational Therapist with 5-9 years of experience gets an average salary of A$74,083.
• An experienced Registered Occupational Therapist with 10-19 years of experience makes an average salary of A$85,065 per year.
• Employees in their late career (20 years and up) earn an average of A$90,000.

Professional accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd.) and the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia have approved the program. Graduates can apply to the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia for occupational therapist (OTBA) registration. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists has also approved the curriculum.

Skills Assessment Authority

The Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) is a nonprofit, independent organization whose goal is to uphold and promote occupational therapy education, training, and assessment standards so that the Australian public can be assured of safe and appropriate practice.

Global Occupational Therapy Industry

Due to rising public awareness of occupational therapy, the main factor driving the market growth rate, the occupational therapy market is predicted to expand at a solid compound annual growth rate of 4.9% from 2020 to 2027.

In addition, the constantly rising healthcare costs and the healthcare industry's rapid technological development will create the good potential for expanding the occupational therapy sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Occupational Therapist?

An occupational therapist assists clients in overcoming challenges in their daily tasks so they can be more autonomous and productive. They aid people who are ill, injured, or disabled in growing, recovering, and enhancing their capacities for employment and daily living. Becoming an occupational therapist requires a lot of work and focus, but it's worthwhile for individuals who want to help people lead fulfilling lives.

How to become an occupational therapy teacher in Australia?

There are two paths to becoming an Occupational Therapist in Australia, both of which require professional qualifications.

• Step 1: Complete a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. Undergraduate occupational therapy programs in Australia typically last four years.
• Step 2: You can pursue a master's degree in occupational therapy after receiving your bachelor's degree in any field. Usually, it would take 5 to 5.5 years to complete this course (three years for an undergraduate degree and two to a half years for a master's program). You might need to finish certain undergraduate courses before enrolling in a master's program to become an occupational therapist.
• Step 3: Get some work experience. Two examples are working as a nanny for a special needs child or at a summer camp for individuals with disabilities.
• Step 4: You must first register with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and satisfy the Board's registration requirements before you can practice in Australia.

How much cost is required to study occupational therapy in Australia?

Depending on your study level and the university you plan to attend, studying occupational therapy in Australia will cost you a certain amount. International students can expect to pay between AU$40,000 and $120,000 per year to study in Australia to become occupational therapy tutors.

Can you study occupational therapy online programs in Australia?

Students in occupational therapy programs must complete at least 1,000 hours of clinical fieldwork and industry placements. As a result, there are no occupational therapy degrees offered online by Open Universities Australia.

Is there a demand for occupational therapy in Australia?

Australia is looking to recruit international talent in response to the critical need for healthcare professionals. Occupational therapists can immigrate to Australia through a few different channels. Applicants must meet the following requirements to become occupational therapists in Australia.

Is OT a good career?

OT is part of health sector and is experiencing high growth which is driving high demand for well trained Occupational Therapists.

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