Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
at Australian Catholic University, New South Wales.
A four-year accredited occupational therapy degree leading to direct AHPRA registration as an occupational therapist. Includes more than 1000 hours of supervised clinical placement across hospital, NDIS, paediatric and community-health settings on the North Sydney and Melbourne campuses.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Australian Catholic University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99.55 | UAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
Most recent published cutoff is 99.55 for the 2025 intake.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
ACU runs the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy as a four-year WFOT and Occupational Therapy Council of Australia accredited degree leading to AHPRA Occupational Therapy Board of Australia registration. Year one builds the foundations: human anatomy, neuroscience, lifespan development, foundations of occupational therapy theory, indigenous health and the first observation placement. Year two layers occupational therapy assessment, intervention frameworks (sensory integration, cognitive rehabilitation, biomechanical), conditions across the lifespan and the first major clinical placement. Year three carries advanced practice in mental health, paediatrics, adult physical rehabilitation, community OT, hand therapy and aged care with substantial clinical placement. Year four runs the final clinical rotations and capstone research. WFOT requires a minimum 1000 hours of supervised clinical placement across the degree.
Example first-year subjects
- Human Anatomy for Occupational Therapy
- Foundations of Occupational Therapy Theory
- Lifespan Development
- Neuroscience for Health Professionals
- Introduction to Professional Practice (Placement)
- Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement supervisor evaluation and competency assessment
- OSCE practical exams in simulation
- Written case-formulation reports of 2000 to 4000 words
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in anatomy and theory units
- Group community-based project on an occupational performance issue
- Reflective practice journals after each placement
Placement and industry experience
WFOT requires a minimum 1000 hours of supervised clinical placement. ACU rotates students through Catholic health network (St Vincents, Mater, Calvary) plus public LHDs acute wards, rehabilitation and aged care, community OT, paediatric clinics, mental health units, and NDIS-funded private practice (with supervision). Final-year students often complete a rural or remote block. Placements are unpaid for credit. Required pre-placement: NSW Working with Children Check, AHPRA student registration, first aid, immunisations and police checks.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered occupational therapists in hospitals, schools, NDIS providers, mental-health services and community rehabilitation after AHPRA registration.
- First-year jobs typically include hospital rotational positions, paediatric OT roles in NDIS practices and aged-care providers across Sydney and Melbourne.
- Many alumni progress to specialty practice in hand therapy, mental health, paediatrics or sensory integration and pursue postgraduate clinical study.
Professional accreditation
- Occupational Therapy Council of Australia and New Zealand
- AHPRA registration eligible
Typical first jobs
- OT at NSW Health hospitals (acute, rehab, paediatrics)
- Community OT in NDIS-funded private practice
- Paediatric OT in clinic and school-based practice
- Mental health OT in inpatient and community settings
- Aged-care OT in residential and community programs
- Rural and remote OT under NSW Health rural pathways
Graduate starting salary
$70,000 - $80,000 per year
Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/conditions/Pages/health-managers.aspx. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates apply for AHPRA registration through the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and start in hospital, NDIS, community or paediatric roles. Postgraduate options include Master of Occupational Therapy (specialty stream), Master of Mental Health, Master of Hand Therapy, Master of Paediatric Sensory Integration and the AOTA-recognised post-professional pathways. The NDIS has expanded private-practice opportunities for early-career OTs significantly.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who like creative problem solving across physical, cognitive and mental health
- Those willing to work across hospital, community and NDIS settings
- People comfortable with paediatrics and elderly patient interaction
- Students happy to do unpaid placement blocks
- Those committed to a values-driven, regulated profession
It is probably not for you if
- Students uncomfortable with disability, mental health and aged-care content
- Those unwilling to do extensive unpaid placements
- Anyone seeking high starting salary out of undergraduate study
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Occupational Therapy as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at ACU
Sources
- https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/find-a-course/bachelor-of-occupational-therapy
- https://www.uac.edu.au/
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Australian Catholic University handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/acu/bachelor-of-occupational-therapy.