Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Occupational Therapy prepares graduates for professional practice as occupational therapists, with a focus on helping people participate in everyday activities and improving health and wellbeing.
• The programme covers occupational therapy practice across neurological, musculoskeletal and mental-health contexts.
• Students develop skills relevant to community, acute-care and rehabilitation environments.
• The course incorporates evidence-based practice, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and technology.
• Students gain substantial supervised professional practice through three placement blocks totalling 20 weeks.
• Swinburne organises the professional placement programme and provides exposure to organisations including major health networks, community organisations, aged-care facilities and schools.
• The programme is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. It is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
• Swinburne reports that 92.9% of its postgraduate graduates found full-time employment after graduating. This is a university-reported overall postgraduate outcome and is not a guarantee of employment for individual Master of Occupational Therapy graduates.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

Key academic themes include:

• Occupational performance and participation
• Mental health
• Children and paediatric practice
• Neurological conditions
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Complex conditions and populations
• Advanced occupational therapy practice
• Evidence review and evidence-based practice
• Innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Professional practice

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Primary discipline: Occupational Therapy.
• The current course does not list separate majors or specialisations.
• Instead, students develop professional capability across mental health, paediatrics, neurological and musculoskeletal practice, complex conditions, community and rehabilitation contexts.

Programme Highlights

• Professional master's qualification in occupational therapy.
• CRICOS registered: 089748J.
• Accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd.
• Approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
• Approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
• 1,000 hours of professional practice training.
• 800 hours of work placement.
• Three full-time placement blocks totalling 20 weeks.
• Placement settings can include hospitals, community organisations, schools and aged-care facilities.
• Focus on neurological, musculoskeletal and mental-health practice.
• Evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Innovation and technology integrated into professional learning.
• Students graduate eligible to apply for occupational therapist registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can pursue occupational therapy roles in areas such as:

• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation services
• Residential aged care
• Mental health services
• Community health
• Forensic mental health
• Schools
• Paediatric services
• Occupational rehabilitation
• Private practice

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The course has several important placement-related requirements:

• Students must maintain a current Working with Children Check from the relevant state authority.
• Students must maintain an NDIS Worker Screening Check.
• A current Police Check is required throughout the course.
• Students must provide up-to-date immunisation evidence before attending required placements.
• Additional vaccinations/immunisations may be required by government policy or an individual placement organisation.
• Students may be required to complete an annual N95 mask-fit test before commencing placement, with the relevant cost payable by the student.
• Students must provide an academic transcript with their application.

Placement-related costs:

• Swinburne indicates accreditation placement costs can range from approximately AUD 350 to AUD 600, depending on the course.
• Additional costs may arise from requirements such as checks, immunisations, uniforms or mask-fit testing.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying the Master of Occupational Therapy in Australia would normally apply for the Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

Swinburne-specific requirements:

• The course is CRICOS registered under 089748J.
• International students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.
• The programme's mandatory professional placements form part of the course.

Australian Student visa requirements include:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a full-time CRICOS-registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting health requirements.
• Meeting character requirements.
• Providing an Australian Values Statement where applicable.
• Providing financial evidence where required.
• Complying with all visa conditions.