Occupational therapy courses

You can’t currently find an occupational therapy course online because occupational therapy needs hands-on experience. These courses include practical placements that help you learn how to work with patients in real-life settings. Unfortunately, online occupational therapy courses can’t offer this important part of training.  

But don’t worry! We can help you explore other courses that can get you started on your journey toward a career in occupational therapy.

You can study the following related courses through Open Universities Australia:  

• Health science courses 

• Rehabilitation courses 

• Sport and exercise physiotherapy courses 

• Disability care courses 

• Aged care courses  

Health science courses cover important topics like how the body works and the Australian healthcare system. This can help you on your path towards becoming an occupational therapist, because you will understand health from a wider perspective before you focus on your specialisation.

If you’re just starting, a Bachelor of Health Science or a related course is a great way to begin. These courses cover key topics in healthcare and can help you develop a strong understanding of the body and how it functions. After completing a health science degree, you can continue on to specialise in occupational therapy. 

If you already work in the field and you’d like to explore a new area, you can choose from postgraduate courses in areas like high performance sport, leadership, and mental health.

In a health science course, you will learn about human anatomy, physiology, healthcare systems, and how different health professionals work together to support individuals. You may also study subjects related to psychology, rehabilitation, and community health. These areas of knowledge will help you if you decide to pursue occupational therapy later on.

The entry requirements vary depending on the course you choose. Through Open Universities Australia, you can get into undergraduate health science qualifications without an ATAR. Instead, you can opt to complete two open access subjects to qualify for entry. Open access means anyone can enrol.

Postgraduate courses generally require you to have a relevant undergraduate degree, or relevant work experience.

Read the course pages carefully for more information. You can also get in touch with our student advisors to learn more.

After completing a health science course, you can explore various health-related careers. Common roles include:  

• Health care assistant  

• Rehabilitation support worker  

• Community health worker  

• Allied health assistant  

• Health educator  

• Medical research assistant  

These roles can provide valuable experience before you pursue further studies in occupational therapy or another health-related field.

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.

• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.

• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of identity

  • Your tax file number

  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.