Brief summary of unit completed throughout the Occupational Therapy Course at Monash University -Inclusive of units recognise for prior learning

1. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (honours): Completed
Unit Descriptors and Marks
Year Unit
code
Unit name Unit Summary Grade
BMA 1901 Human
structure and
function 1
Provided foundation knowledge of human anatomy and physiology relevant to the allied health professions
of ambulance and paramedic studies, nursing, midwifery and occupational therapy. In this unit you will
learn about the biological basis of human health and the working of human body. The unit introduces
students to the scientific methods of thought; it encourages the critical evaluation of evidence, and
promotes an awareness of the changing nature of medical knowledge
Exempt/credi
t
IPE 1011 Foundations
of health in
primary
clinical care
This unit provided a basic understanding of the concept of health, particularly in the primary care clinical
settings. This exploration will begin at a personal level and expand to clinical settings with the broader
health environment. Varied definitions and models of health will be introduced to allow a detailed
exploration of illness, health risks and how individuals, families and communities use limited resources.
Differences between the health of the individual and the broader population will be examined using the
clinical environment as the focal point.
Exempt/credi
t
1

2. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
2015 OCC 1011 Professional
issues
Introduced students to their chosen profession and some introductory aspects of occupational therapy
practice.
Described the role of an occupational therapist as distinct from other health professionals. Students
demonstrate appropriate professional behaviours and apply these to practice through a fieldwork
component. Students develop an awareness of the legal, cultural, and ethical issues of practice and begin
to understand and articulate some of the challenges faced by client/consumers of health services. Students
demonstrate a beginning competence with some early clinical skills applicable to fieldwork.
Passed
2015 OCC 1021 Psychology
for
occupational
therapy
This unit explored psychological theory and research relevant to the practice of occupational therapy,
including psychological perspectives on pain, stress, illness and disability. Grounded in a biopsychosocial
model of health and wellbeing, this introductory unit provides students with an overview of the major
psychological traditions and approaches e.g. psychodynamic, developmental, cognitive, social psychology,
etc., and examines how each provides insight into the challenges and issues experienced by individuals,
carers, families and communities.
Passed
2015 BMA 1902 Human
structure and
function 2
This unit provided foundation knowledge of human anatomy and physiology relevant to the allied health
professions of occupational therapy, ambulance and paramedic studies.
The unit developed further the critical evaluation of evidence and an awareness of the changing nature of
knowledge in the health sciences. The major themes in this unit of study are; body support and movement,
and cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, the respiratory system, the urinary system and the control of
body fluids; the digestive system and the processing of nutrients in the body; the lymphoid/immune
system, and microbes and infection.
Passed
2

3. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
2015 OCC 1012 Occupational
science
Students learned about the principles and mechanisms underlying the relationship between the person,
their environment and occupations, and how this relates to human health and wellbeing. The concept of
occupation will be described and how people shape and are shaped by their engagement in occupation and
their environmental context. Students will engage in experiential exercises to support their learning of
concepts, including participation in an inter-professional community-based fieldwork experience.
Passed
2015 OCC 1022 Foundations
of
occupational
therapy
practice
The unit introduced students to the historical origins of the use of occupation as theory and the theory of
core elements of occupational therapy intervention. Current theoretical concepts and models
underpinning occupational therapy practice will be explored along with the occupational therapy problem
solving and clinical reasoning process. Case scenarios will be used throughout and students will learn the
problem solving strategies that will support their learning in occupational therapy intervention units
elsewhere in the course.
Passed
2015 OCC 1032 Development
across the
lifespan
Development across the lifespan examined how individuals change and develop as they age – from infancy
to old age. This unit explores the psychological and occupational processes inherent in development, and in
doing so examines the progressive cognitive, behavioural, emotional, psychosocial and occupational
changes that occur with age. A broad range of topics are covered by this unit, including: attachment, motor
skill and other psycho-physiological developmental processes, problem solving, language acquisition, moral
understanding and abstract thought, identity development and formation, and the nature and course of
both intimate and diffuse relationships.
Passed
2016 OCC 2022 Skills for
evidence
based
practice 1
This unit provided an overview of the skills necessary to critique and evaluate the usefulness, relevance
and quality of research evidence related to occupational therapy professional practice. Components of
evidence-based practice will be introduced related to occupational therapy. Quantitative and qualitative
research methodology approaches that underpin evidence-based practice will also be introduced. You will
Passed
3

4. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
be guided through the process of how to ask clinically relevant questions, search for evidence, and critically
appraise published research studies. The Monash Occupational Therapy Research Evidence Critique Form
(MOTRECF) for both quantitative and qualitative studies will be used to evaluate the relevant evidence. The
process used to complete a critically appraised paper (CAP) will also be introduced.
2017 OCC 2011 Occupational
Performance
capabilities
and
components
This unit uses an integrated scenario/case-based learning approach. The unit has a 10 week academic block
followed by a 3 week fieldwork (clinical) block to apply theory into practice. Students are introduced to the
mechanisms and consequences of problems related to mental, sensory, cardiovascular, respiratory,
neurological and biomechanical capacities of humans, across the lifespan, that underpin occupational
engagement and occupational performance. Students will integrate this knowledge into occupational
therapy and related theories and models of practice. Students will be required to develop clinical
questions, and acquire knowledge and skills from the process of describing and evaluating occupational
performance, and critiquing assessment tools for evaluating occupational engagement and occupational
performance. Students will explore different contexts in which participation in occupation takes place.
Passed
2017 OCC 2020 Enabling
occupation:
performance
challenges in
population
health
This is the first unit of the occupational therapy intervention units. It comprises integrated case based
learning with some time spent in facilities to consolidate application of knowledge into practice. Students
will begin to describe, apply and critique the principles of assessment and intervention for clients with
problems related to capacities to engage in activities, occupations, and participation in community life.
Intervention principles will also incorporate environmental supports and barriers (advocacy, organisational
change, environmental adaptation), and evidence-based practice.
Passed
2018 OCC 3000 Enabling
occupation:
fieldwork
experience 1b
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) must complete fieldwork placements
to satisfy the professional requirements that a sufficient period of supervised practice be completed prior
to graduation and application for registration issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation
Agency. This 6 week fieldwork placement unit plays an important part in consolidating student application
of professional knowledge, attitudes and skills.
Passed
4

5. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
2018 OCC 3031 Enabling
occupations:
performance
challenges 1B
This is the second unit of the occupational therapy intervention units. It comprises 10 weeks of integrated
scenario-based learning. In this unit, students further describe, apply and critique the principles of
assessment and intervention for individual and groups of clients who are restricted in their ability to
engage activities, occupations, and participation in community life. Intervention principles will also
incorporate environmental supports and barriers (advocacy, organisational change, environmental
adaptation) and evidence-based practice.
Passed
2018 OCC 3041 Skills for
evidence
based
practice 2
This unit gives students an advanced overview of the skills necessary to critique and evaluate research
evidence. Students will be introduced to qualitative and quantitative methodologies related to conducting
and evaluating survey questionnaire based research (quantitative research methodology) and
semi-structured interviews (qualitative methodology).
This will provide the foundational skills to integrate clinically relevant evidence into daily professional
practice.
Components of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy will be introduced and practised. Students
will also be introduced to methods of presenting evidence, generating research questions, selecting and
implementing appropriate mixed methods survey designs, completing data collection, analysis,
interpretation and reporting of results.
Specifically, students will learn the fundamentals of conducting mixed methods quantitative and qualitative
survey research. This knowledge will enable students to be evidence-based practitioners.
Passed
2018 OCC 3052 Enabling
occupation 2:
performance
challenges in
population
health
In this unit, students begin to shift their view beyond the occupational challenges facing individuals, to
consider the ways in which the occupations and health and wellbeing of populations may be impacted by
social, political and organisational factors.
Students apply a population-level conceptualisation and occupation to case-based scenarios in which
advanced clinical reasoning and intervention skills are required to best respond to the needs and wishes of
populations experiencing complex health and social problems.
The cases chosen highlight the multiple approaches that are appropriate in successfully delivering
Passed
5

6. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
population-level occupational interventions.
OCC 3061 Health
promotion in
occupational
therapy
This unit examines the key theory, frameworks and practical approaches used in contemporary health
promotion to address health inequalities, prevent illness and injury, and promote health and wellbeing.
Students examine a range of health promotion strategies, their strengths, limitations, evidence-base and
application in clinical care and community settings for occupational therapy. Through a focus on
empowerment, participation and capacity-building, students develop skills for working with individuals,
community networks, new technologies and the mass media to facilitate health promotion action. This unit
covers planning and evaluation of health information and behavioural interventions, health education for
empowerment, community engagement, social marketing, professional communication and advocacy for
healthy public policy. Students critically analyse the challenges and opportunities for integrating health
promotion into occupational therapy practice.
Exempt/credi
t
2018 OCC 3062 Participation
community
practice 1:
development
Drawing from theoretical material in OCC3052 Enabling Occupation II, students will work in collaboration
with an agency to address a specific need while completing this participatory practice placement. Students
will be allocated a project from an issue identified by the agency. The first phase of project management
begins with contacting the agency then collaborating with agency members to "scope" an organisationally
useful, and occupationally relevant project or program. Students will function as project managers and will
be required to liaise with a variety of stakeholders and to develop a project proposal that meets the needs
and aims of the agency.
Passed
2019 OCC 4071 Participation
community
practice 2:
implementati
on
Students develop skills in project implementation and work within a community partnership model to
address a community/population health based issue for the collaborating agency. The student will apply
and further develop the knowledge, skills and expertise necessary for them to implement, evaluate and
report on a community orientated project. It is expected that the student will act as the project manager
whilst also communicating, negotiating and collaborating with agency staff and other relevant
Passed
6

7. OCC4082 Madeleine Eaton
stakeholders.
2019 OCC 4081 Transition to
practice 1
This unit aims to assist students to transition to graduate occupational therapists. It focuses on the skills,
knowledge and practice behaviours required for safe and competent occupational therapy practice in a
range of contexts, informed by the Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards 2018.
Topics such as professionalism, ongoing professional development and learning, and career planning and
recruitment processes will be addressed. Strategies for implementing a specific learning plan for fieldwork
and a lifelong learning professional development plan after commencing practice will be covered.
Students will also critique current issues faced by the occupational therapy profession within a changing
health care environment
Passed
2019 OCC 4082 Advanced
professional
practice
The unit comprises 9 weeks of fieldwork placement followed by on campus debriefing tutorials. The unit
provides students with the opportunity to develop, integrate and enhance their practice skills to reach an
entry level of competence in occupational therapy prior to graduation. By the end of the fieldwork
placement students will be managing a caseload of clients independently. A learning contract developed in
OCC4081 will be used to guide fieldwork learning. A portfolio assessment will be used to encourage
reflection, a self-directed approach to learning and to provide a record of professional competencies as
these are developing.
TBA
2019 OCC 4092 Transition to
practice 2
This unit enabled students to consider their own role within health and human service organisations, and
apply and critique contemporary practice knowledge in areas such as leadership and management, team
functioning and governance.
The Unit will conclude with a conference that includes presentations of research and project work from
occupational therapy and physiotherapy students.
Students will complete a range of on-line tasks while completing their fieldwork placement as part of the
unit OCC4082
TBA
7