Study the Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy)

Study the Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy) at Flinders

Choose to study Occupational Therapy at Port Pirie, in the
Riverland at Renmark or in Mt Gambier.

Occupational Therapists evaluate and identify barriers to people participating in the activities that matter to them. They then work with people to improve their skills and abilities, change the way they do an activity, or modify their environment, to help them live their best lives. This helps contribute to their overall psychological and physical wellbeing.

Occupational Therapy graduates are employed within both public and private healthcare providers and work with people of all ages.

Studying occupational therapy in rural and remote areas offers you the opportunity to study where you live, work and play without having to Adelaide. The degrees has been designed with a rural focus and offers industry-led topics that prepare students for working in a wide range of settings. There is a strong focus on working in in culturally responsive ways particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Alternatively, learn more about studying Occupational Therapy in Adelaide.

Fast facts

Course facts at a glance.

Domestic

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International Student

I am not a citizen of
Australia or New Zealand.

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I am a
Domestic Student

I am an Australian or New Zealand Citizen.

I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).

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Prerequisites

None

Assumed knowledge

None

2024 selection rank

80 (Mount Gambier) 76 (Port Pirie) 80 (Renmark)

Guaranteed selection rank

N/A

Adjustment factors available

Yes

SATAC code

245061 (Port Pirie) 245071 (Renmark) 244991 (Mt Gambier)

Delivery mode

In person:

– Port Pirie
– Renmark
– Mount Gambier

Online: No

Duration

4 years full-time
Deferrable: Yes

Annual indicative fee

2025 : $9,314 (CSP)

Start dates

– March

Student and ATAR profile

Save course

Student and ATAR profile

Apply via SATAC

*This course is available to study at Mt. Gambier, Port Pirie or Renmark. Please choose the relevant SATAC code when applying.

Why study Occupational Therapy at Flinders

The occupational therapy degree is developed in partnership with local communities including local health networks, service providers, and accrediting bodies.
Topics are taught by Flinders occupational therapy experts and industry practitioners.
Study is student-centred, with small class sizes with supportive staff.
Regional placement opportunities allow you to study and help your community.

Your career

Occupational Therapists have exciting job opportunities across broad clinical, disability and educational settings and with people of all ages and contexts.

Potential occupations include:

occupational therapist
project officer
researcher
educator
manager
policy advisor.

Potential employers include:

healthcare sector (hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health services)
disability services
education providers (mainstream schools, special schools, special education units)
early childhood education services
aged care providers
mental health services
community based services
private practice
non-government organisations
paediatric services
youth justice services
sports clubs or codes.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the OTBA. The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

What you will study

A Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy) degree offers flexible step-in-step-out options for students to study for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years with a range of job opportunities available at each point.

Students who complete the full 4-year program will be eligible to work as an occupational therapist. Students who step out after 1 year will be awarded a higher education diploma, after 2 years an associate degree and after 3 years a non-accredited degree.

First year

A typical first year may include:

core topics in communication and interprofessional practice, allied health practice, human bioscience, rehabilitation studies, lifespan development, healthcare, research and study skills and Indigenous health

Second year

A typical second year may include:

core topics in critical social analysis of health, social and psychological perspective of health, anatomy and physiology, neuroscience for therapists, introduction to occupational science, rehabilitation studies, evidence-based practice, and working with children and families.
clinical placement.

Third year

A typical third year may include:

core topics in therapeutic communication, qualitative and quantitative methods of social health research, mental health, rehabilitation and acute care, disability and community health, and health promotion and leadership.
clinical placement.

Fourth year

A typical fourth year may include:

core topics in the occupational therapy profession, advanced occupational therapy practice and neurological rehabilitation, interprofessional practice, and transition to contemporary professional practice.
industry project.
1,000 hours of clinical placement across the four years.

Study program

Practical experience

The Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy) degree is highly practical with opportunities for hands on learning throughout the degrees.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in several placements and practical experiences throughout the four-year program. From simulation to industry engagement to part time and full-time placement opportunities, students you will be integrated into allied health services available in rural and remote areas as well as metropolitan areas as relevant.

ATAR and Student Profile Information

ATAR and Selection Rank profile

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2025. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds	ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors	Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer	94.45	99.15
Median rank to receive an offer	80.92	88.33
Lowest rank to receive an offer	55.55	64.65

Student Profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2025 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

Applicant background (Semester 1, 2025)	Number of students	Percentage of all students
Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	18	33%
Vocational education and training (VET) study	12	22%
Work and life experience	<5	<5
Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	13	24%
Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test)	6	11%
Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways)	<5	<5
International Students	0	0
All students	54	100%

Hear from our students

“

Studying OT at Flinders is not just about learning the content for your future career, but is an incredible journey of self-growth that gives you the tools required to challenge your perception of yourself, others, and the world around you. I am grateful for not only the knowledge I am leaving with, but the new outlook I have on my own life.

Candice de Laine, Master of Occupational Therapy

”

How to apply

Choose your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements and admission pathways available to you.

Choose other courses to include in your preferences.

Visit SATAC and submit your application online.

Apply via SATAC

Applicants can apply for this course using Year 12 qualifications, previous higher education study, TAFE/VET qualifications, or through adult entry (STAT/Foundation Studies/tertiary preparation course).

Find the entry path that’s right for you.

Explore our pathways

Criminal history check

In order to complete this degree, students will need to fulfil requirements to undertake compulsory field placements.

SA Health require that all employees, volunteers and students on placements who will be in contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and recipients of Aged Care Services to comply with State and National legislation requiring them to have a valid criminal history screening check. The screening process is managed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit. Learn more on the Screening SA website.

Rural and remote subquota

Applicants with a rural and remote background must within 10 working days after submitting their SATAC application, submit a Statutory Declaration to SATAC which confirm one of the following:

* lived in non-metropolitan areas of Australia (Remoteness Classifications RA2 to RA5) for at least 2 consecutive years, or

* 5 years cumulatively, from birth (i.e. during any period of their life).

This is assessed based on an applicant's primary residential address.

Applicants can check their eligibility in accordance with the definition above using the Australian Government's Health Workforce Locator. Enter the address you wish to search for using the 'ASGS Remoteness Area' '2021'. As part of a transition year for 2026 entry, applicants can also be assessed against the ‘ASGS Remoteness Area’ ‘2016’ if not eligible under the 2021 layer. For 2027 entry, applicants will only be assessed using the 'ASGS Remoteness Area' '2021' layer.

Statutory declaration

Am I eligible?

Indigenous subquota

Entry requirements

This course is available to applicants who reside or will be residing at the teaching location or live in close proximity to the teaching location for the duration of the course. Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants and applicants from a rural and remote background. However, non-Indigenous applicants and applicants from non-rural and remote backgrounds may be considered if they reside or will be residing at the teaching location or in close proximity to the teaching location for the duration of the course.

Indigenous background

Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants. Applicants must submit to SATAC a document signed under Common Seal from an incorporated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisation in the community from which you originate or are recognised, within 10 working days of your application.

To be eligible for this subquota you must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in accordance with the Commonwealth definition which requires that you:

i. be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, and

ii. identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and

iii. be accepted as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which they live or have lived.

If you are unable to provide a document signed under Common Seal you may provide a Statutory Declaration to SATAC confirming you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.

Statutory declaration

Choosing your preferences

When choosing your preferences through SATAC, other Flinders degrees you might want to include in your list are:

How to apply

Select your course.

Check entry requirements.

Check your eligibility for credit.

Apply online

Obtain certified documents.

Submit your application and documents.

View further details

English language pathways

If you don’t meet our English language entry requirements and need to improve your English language proficiency, you can do so through Flinders University Academy – or our approved English Language Instruction Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers.

This means that you can attend the required English language tuition at approved ELICOS providers and gain direct entry into university without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

Find out more

Academic program pathways

If you don’t meet our academic entry requirements, you can still gain entry to Flinders University through Flinders University Academy. With a range of diplomas, foundation and English language courses, students can find a direct pathway into the destination degree of their choice.

Find out more

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Course enquiries

Want more information about studying at Flinders University? Contact us to find out more – we’d love to help you decide if Flinders University is the right choice for you.

Course enquiries

For all course enquiries phone or email us or complete the course enquiry form.

1300 354 633

askflinders@flinders.edu.au

Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy)

Study the Bachelor of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy) at Flinders

Fast facts