Explore your career in

Occupational Therapy.

Explore your career in

Occupational Therapy.

Develop the knowledge and skills required to become a registered occupational therapist. The degree has a strong focus on preparing you for interprofessional practice, enabling you to become a contemporary health professional who can work across various settings with a wide range of clients.

What does a career in Occupational Therapy look like?

Engagement and participation in meaningful 'occupations' are one of the fundamental indicators for overall health and wellbeing. Many people face difficulties that create barrier to doing things they need and want to do in their everyday lives. This may be due to injury, childhood developmental delay, disability, chronic medical conditions, and/or emotional and mental difficulties.

Occupational Therapists evaluate and identify barriers to people participating in the activities that matter to them. They then work with people to improve their skills and abilities, change the way they do an activity, or modify their environment, to help them live their best lives. This helps contribute to their overall psychological and physical wellbeing.

⬆︎
7.4%
Employment Growth, Occupational Therapists.

(National Skills Commission, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026).

No.3 in Australia
in Health Services & Support for full-time employment, learner engagement

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate))

Five stars
in Health Services & Support for full-time employment, learner engagement and student support

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate)).

No.1 in SA
for overall experience, skills development and teaching quality

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only)

Study Options

Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Occupational Therapy

Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*

Explore a range of postgraduate Public Health courses with up to 80% off fees, including the Master of Occupational Therapy.

^{*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Support Places. Not all courses. Offer subject to change.}

Explore our Regional Allied Health Courses

Based in regional South Australia but interested in studying Health?

Explore our new Allied Health Courses in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology available in Renmark, Port Pirie and Mount Gambier from 2024.

Learn more

Your potential employers

State government departments such as health, disability and education
Aged care providers
Hospitals
Rehabilitation services
Mental health services
Home-care services
Private practice
GP Plus health care services
Paediatric services

Accreditation

Both the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy and Master of Occupational Therapy programs are accredited with approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist in Australia.

Why study at Flinders?

Connect with industry leaders

Flinders enjoys strong partnerships with industry.
1000 hours of fieldwork experience is built into the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy degree with rewarding industry opportunities in a range of metro, rural and remote locations/regions.
You will broaden your experience with at least one rural or remote clinical placement.
This degree is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Learn in state-of-the-art facilities

We have our very own working interprofessional clinic, Health2Go, on site at our Sturt campus giving you the opportunity to work with clients alongside professional clinicians to gain real-life experience in a modern multidisciplinary environment.

Enjoy a supportive, student-centred learning environment

Flinders Occupational Therapy students enjoy a student-focused learning environment, with the the relationships we have with our students and graduates are highly supportive and long-lasting.

Become a sought after, multi-skilled and career-ready graduate

Our graduates have an excellent understanding of whole-of-health management and are well equipped to deliver client-centred care in a team of health professionals, or in private practice.
Interprofessional training is embedded in the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy program. Students will learn from experts across a broad range of health professions, while studying alongside students from other health disciplines, preparing them for interprofessional clinical practice in a variety of settings.
Practical skills are taught from day one. Students have practical components to examinations to ensure they are career-ready at graduation.
Flinders occupational therapy graduates have an excellent reputation within the health industry.

Be equipped with the knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice

Many of our teaching staff are also active researchers and members of Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute.
From understanding the client perspectives of Occupational Therapy intervention in the Emergency Department, to the effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation approaches and rural generalist workforce training, we ensure our programs always have the latest evidence-based learning outcomes.

Hear from our students

“

I love studying OT at Flinders. The teaching staff are super supportive and by studying alongside other disciplines, you learn how your role fits into an interdisciplinary team to achieve strong client outcomes.

Olivia Sheehan, Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy

”

“

Studying OT at Flinders is not just about learning the content for your future career, but is an incredible journey of self-growth that gives you the tools required to challenge your perception of yourself, others, and the world around you. I am grateful for not only the knowledge I am leaving with, but the new outlook I have on my own life.

Candice de Laine, Master of Occupational Therapy

”

Get inspired

A career in Occupational Therapy

Graduate Jack Poole talks about his career in Occupational Therapy.

Occupational Therapy

Learn about Occupational Therapy at Flinders with Associate Professor Stacey George.

Genna Geddes, Flinders graduate.

Flinders graduate Genna Geddes talks about her experience studying Occupational Therapy at Flinders.

OT graduate hits the road to give farmers a break

OT graduates hits the road to help farmers

Flinders graduate Meg Clothier has taken the core values and principles installed throughout her Occupational Therapy degree to drought-stricken lands across the country to give farmers a well-deserved break.

Teaching staff

Our incredible teaching and research staff are experts in their professions and well-connected to industry.

Academic Lead: Professor Stacey George

Stacey has had a long clinical and research career. She is currently a Conjoint Clinical academic with Northern Adelaide Local Health Network. Stacey is an active researcher with the Flinders Caring Futures Institute with expertise in the evaluation of interprofessional rehabilitation practice and interventions to improve participation in real world settings

Undergraduate Course Coordinator: Ellice Willcourt

Ellice graduated in 2003 from a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at James Cook University in North Queensland. Ellice has spent most of her clinical career working in adult mental health services across crisis, community, inpatient, and community residential settings within Southern Adelaide and Central Queensland. Ellice is passionate about sharing her knowledge with students relating to working within the field of mental health and in turn creating a passion for this area of practice in Flinders University Occupational Therapy graduates.

Placement Education Coordinator/Lecturer: Ali Dymmott

Ali has worked clinically in a range of areas across rural and metropolitan South Australia and has focused on paediatrics, rehabilitation, acute care and community health. She also worked extensively in project management for SA Health. Ali is an active researcher in the Flinders Caring Futures Institute and is currently undertaking a PhD.

Student Experience Coordinator/senior lecturer: Sandra Mortimer

Sandra has extensive experience as an occupational therapist predominantly working with young children and families in community settings in both metropolitan and rural areas. Sandra enjoys bringing teaching alive by matching clinical experiences to student learning needs to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences. She is passionate about supporting Occupational Therapy graduates to be innovative, reflective, client-centred and culturally responsive in their practice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need any pre-requisite topics in Year 12 to be eligible for entry?

Knowledge of SACE Stage 2 Biology or equivalent is assumed.

Will I be able to register with the relevant registering body for my profession/group at the end of the course?

Both the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy and Master of Occupational Therapy programs are accredited with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy. Graduates are eligible for registration as an occupational therapist in Australia.

Are there jobs in Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a growing field, particularly in the areas of children and families, disability and aged care. According to the National Skills Commission (2021 employment projections for the five years to 2026), employment growth for occupational therapists is 7.4%.

Our graduates are employed locally, interstate and internationally in a range of settings including public and private sectors.

Will I attend Occupational Therapy placements during my course?

Yes, students are required to complete clinical placements in the Masters of Occupational Therapy. You will complete a total of over 1000 hours of clinical placement in a wide variety of areas.

Can this course be studied online?

Both the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy and the Master of Occupational Therapy require two years of full-time study and are not offered externally or on a part-time basis.

What if my ATAR is too low for the double degree?

You can undertake either a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies). Once you have successfully completed a minimum of 18.0 units of study and have generated a Grade Point Average (GPA) based on those 18.0 units, you will be eligible to apply for the double degree via SATAC. You can apply for entry at the end of each year until you have completed 72.0 units of study in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies) program.

Please note, this does not guarantee entry into the double degree or Master of Occupational Therapy program and entry is competitive base on GPA.

How will COVID-19 restrictions affect my study at Flinders University?

The current pandemic situation (COVID-19) will affect many aspects of your study, from topic availability on campus to how your classes are delivered. For detailed information about the impact of COVID-19 on your study please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page.

How do I apply?