Individuals with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree have many different career options. Graduates can pursue further studies for a career as an occupational therapist.
According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, future growth in the demand for occupational therapists is very strong. The roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia, has increased the demand for occupational therapists in recent years while globally, the focus on helping people to stay at home longer (‘ageing in place’) continues to drive demand for professionally qualified occupational therapists. The global demand for occupational therapists has also been accentuated by the pandemic.
Where will your degree take you?
Outcomes
Professional accreditation
Bond University's Master of Occupational Therapy is approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, accredited by the American Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and is recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Successful graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Graduates wishing to register to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the United States of America will also be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Program learning outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge, skills and abilities that will be achieved on completion of the program. These outcomes will help you determine whether this program aligns with your professional pathway, career and learning goals.
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View Bachelor of Health Sciences learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a broad but sound knowledge of health science across a range of disciplines including systems anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, chemistry and biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and nutrition.
- Integrate concepts of molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole organism function and relate these to health, disease and disease treatment
- Demonstrate skills in basic laboratory methods including the handling of chemicals, reagents and body fluids, preparation of solutions, light microscopy, and the recording of physiological measurements
- Use basic strategies to undertake simple research activities in health sciences, and use basic statistical methods to analyse research data
- Locate, retrieve, interpret , critically evaluate and reflect on scientific and health information from a variety of sources
- Plan, organise and lead learning and research activities, and contribute effectively to group activities.
- Work independently to apply knowledge, ideas and resources to health science applications
- Plan, synthesise, summarise and disseminate scientific information in a variety of formats including electronic (websites, blogs, slide presentations), oral and written
- Appraise the major issues in health and scientific research ethics.
- Demonstrate understanding of the global issues affecting health and biomedical science including disease burden and broad treatment strategies and issues of sustainability in health.
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View Master of Occupational Therapy learning outcomes
- Meet the requirements of the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s Threshold Competency Standards for the Occupational Therapy Profession.
- Develop mastery of, evaluate, and critically reflect on, the concept of occupation and its relationship to health, including application of occupational therapy theories (person-environment-occupation relationship) and processes.
- Apply complex and critical professional reasoning in planning and executing assessment and intervention for clients at an individual, group and community levels.
- Develop therapeutic and professional relationships, demonstrating skills in multidisciplinary teamwork, and consumer and stakeholder engagement.
- Apply core occupational therapy interventions for enabling and promoting engagement in meaningful occupation in a range of health and social care contexts.
- Act as a consummate professional in multiple contemporary health and/or social care contexts, including consideration of social, cultural, political, institutional, service and economic factors.
- Demonstrate continuous development and improvement of: self as an occupational therapist; occupational therapy services; and the occupational therapy profession.
- Apply research and business or project management principles and methods through planning, conducting, evaluating and disseminating a research project.
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Health Sciences Honours student, Eleanor West and Physiology / Pharmacology PhD student, Zane Stromberga share their experiences as research students in the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine.
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Students share their experience on placement in Tasmania, where they were tasked to implement a role of an occupational therapist in a Migrant Centre.
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It was Vivian’s yearning for a global mindset and goal of beginning a new career as an OT that relocated her from the United States to study here at Bond.
Read more about Meet an OT alumna: What I love about occupational therapyFurther study
Pathway into Medicine
The Master of Occupational Therapy offers a pathway into Bond’s medical program for domestic and international students. The selection process to enter Year 2 of the Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMedSt) will be based on GPA requirements, psychometric testing, and an interview. Applicants must also meet the broader entry requirements for the BMedSt. Please also note that places in Year 2 of the BMedSt are limited and dependent on availability.
Research and academia
Students in their second year can choose between a research stream or a business management stream. The clinically focussed research stream prepares graduates to progress to further postgraduate research and careers in research and academia, as well as bolstering research networks.