Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

• Understand and respond to verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner
• Communicate clearly with clients, families, and interdisciplinary team members
• Provide explanations, instructions and feedback to support safe and effective occupational therapy practice.

In occupational therapy practice, effective communication supports:

• Building therapeutic relationships
• Conducting assessments and interventions
• Ensuring safe, person-centred care.

Social communication

Social communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking. 

What do I need to be able to do?

• Interpret and respond appropriately to non-verbal communication (e.g., facial expression, body language, tone)
• Demonstrate empathy, active listening and appropriate interpersonal skills
• Adapt communication to suit diverse individuals and contexts.

This supports:

• Therapeutic use of self
• Recognising client needs, distress or discomfort
• Delivering culturally safe and responsive care.

Reading

What do I need to be able to do?

• Interpret written information such as client records, reports, policies and assessment tools
• Use written information to inform safe and appropriate practice.

Writing (Written Language)

N.B. This refers not to the physical act of writing but rather to the written content.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Produce clear, accurate and timely documentation (e.g., case notes, reports, care plans)
• Communicate information in accordance with professional and legal standards

Number Skills (Numeracy)

Numeracy is the ability to understand and work with numbers. Basic numeracy skills consist of comprehending fundamental mathematics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Interpret basic numerical data relevant to practice (e.g., time, frequency, outcome measures, basic scoring tools)
• Accurately record and interpret data to support safe practice

What do I need to be able to do?

• Apply knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practice in real-world contexts
• Engage in professional reasoning and problem-solving
• Manage multiple sources of information and respond appropriately.

In practice, this includes:

• Analysing occupational performance
• Adapting interventions
• Responding to complex and changing situations safely.

Mental wellness is a state of wellbeing in which an individual can realise their own abilities or potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life and can work productively and fruitfully.

Behavioural stability refers to an individual’s ability to moderate their own behaviour. Stable mental health promotes optimal and safe engagement in on-campus learning environments. Many people who live with mental health conditions complete their studies successfully.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Engage appropriately with clients, peers and staff
• Reflect on feedback and adapt behaviour
• Manage exposure to complex or sensitive situations.

Occupational therapy practice requires:

• Emotional regulation
• Professional behaviour
• Safe and respectful engagement with diverse populations.

Vision

Visual acuity refers to the extent to which a person can see or interpret visual information. This may also include colour vision.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Observe client performance, environment and safety risks
• Interpret visual information relevant to assessment and intervention

Hearing

What do I need to be able to do?

• Engage in effective communication with clients and team members
• Respond to verbal and environmental cues

Tactile ability

What do I need to be able to do?

• Use touch where appropriate to support assessment or intervention (e.g., positioning, guiding movement, sensory-based approaches)
• Ensure safe and appropriate use of touch in line with professional boundaries

During professional experience placement and on-campus simulation environments, activities will involve:  lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting, bending and balancing.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Safely support clients in functional activities (e.g., transfers, mobility, daily activities) 
• Use equipment safely in a range of environments

i.e. The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Manipulate tools and equipment (e.g., assessment tools, assistive devices, adaptive equipment)
• Demonstrate coordination for task setup and intervention

This refers to the ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined period of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a period of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

What do I need to be able to do?

• Sustain physical and cognitive performance over the duration of learning and placement activities
• Maintain concentration and engagement in complex tasks
• Participate safely in full or part-day placement activities.