About the School

The School of Occupational Therapy was established in 1961 and amalgamated with the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University of Technology) in 1967.

Our Philosophy and Values

The School has an overarching philosophy of inclusion, equal opportunity and service to humanity. The School articulates the following values:

• Belief in the value of human occupation and its contribution to quality of life
• Empowerment of individuals, groups and communities
• Learning and discovery
• Innovative and responsible use of technology
• Commitment to ethical practice, social justice and environmental responsibility
• Acceptance and respect for individual differences (within the context of community values)

In striving to achieve excellence and relevance in teaching and learning, research and development, leadership and community service, the School aspires to develop students and staff as lifelong learners and citizens of the world; promote social justice and ethical behaviour; and engage in socially and clinically relevant activities in teaching and learning and research and development.

Our Vision

Our Vision is to be acknowledged in the field of higher education as an innovative, dynamic and distinctive contributor to the global community in the science of human occupation, the practice of occupational therapy, and its relevance to health and well being.

Our People

Staff within the School are a creative and dynamic team of academics and administrators who are highly committed to ensuring that students are supported both academically and personally. The qualifications, range of experience, international perspectives and cultural background of the academic staff brings an enhanced level of teaching excellence to the School that is reflected in the number and range of university and service awards they receive.

The Educational Experience

The educational experience provides a mix of theoretical knowledge with practical skills for the workplace. Graduates of the Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) and Master of Occupational Therapy courses are eligible for registration with the Occupational Therapy Registration Board of Western Australia. Graduates can practice in most countries and are eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

Our Facilities

The School is located on the Bentley campus, 10 kilometres from the Perth city centre. It is close to all the major facilities on campus including the library, cafes, sporting facilities, bookshop, campus housing and public transport.

To support teaching and learning, the School has a large laboratory and three smaller tutorial rooms, all of which can be used for laboratory-based units. There is an additional laboratory with equipment that mimics the major hospitals and private practices. Students also have access to wet laboratories for learning anatomy.

All tutorial rooms are furnished with audiovisual equipment including data projectors, videos, electronic whiteboards and access to facilities for recording i-lectures. Additionally, the School has recently opened a test library and resource room housing current assessment tools, measurement kits and DVDs with daily access for students, staff and clinicians (on request).