Occupational Therapy and Mental Health (12258.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Occupational Therapy and Mental Health
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Occupational Therapy Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit explores the unique and evolving role of occupational therapists within interprofessional mental health teams, with a strong focus on contemporary, Recovery-oriented practice. Students will develop theoretical and practical knowledge of mental health concepts and apply the occupational therapy process to support individuals and communities affected by mental illness. Through critical analysis of current approaches in mental health care¿including trauma-informed care, strengths-based practice, and psychosocial rehabilitation¿students will examine their impact on occupational participation and wellbeing. Emphasis is placed on collaborative, person-centred care, ethical decision-making, and cultural responsiveness. Using scenario based and experiential learning, with reference to contemporary capability and competency practice evidence, students will gain skills in assessment, intervention planning, and evaluation within a mental health context, preparing them for practice in diverse settings.

This unit is co-taught with 12249 Occupational Therapy and Mental Health PG.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the professional role of occupational therapists in interprofessional mental health teams;
2. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of Recovery;
3. Apply the occupational therapy process to individuals and/or communities experiencing mental illness; and
4. Compare contemporary approaches in mental health practice and their impact on individuals and/or communities.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline


Prerequisites

10300 Foundations of Occupational Therapy AND
10301 Occupational Therapy Toolbox 1 AND
11399 Understanding People and Behaviour AND
5258 Counselling Communication

Corequisites

Must be enrolled in 373JA Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Incompatible units

10414 Occupational Therapy in Mental Health PG AND 12249 Occupational Therapy and Mental Health PG

Equivalent units

10417 Mental Health and Occupational Therapy

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Ms Bre Cave
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Students are not expected to purchase textbooks for this unit.  Readings are available on Canvas each week, additional resources are available online and in the library. 

List of recommended texts:

Brown, T., Bourke-Taylor, H., Isbel, S., & Cordier, R. (Eds). (2021). Occupational therapy in Australia: Professional and practice issues (2nd. ed.). Allen & Unwin.

Brown, C. E., & Dunn, W. (2002). Adolescent/Adult sensory profile.  The Psychological Corporation.

Brown, T., Isbel, S., Gustafsson, L., Gutman, S., Powers Dirette, D., Collins, B. & Barlott, T. (Eds.) Human occupation: Contemporary concepts and lifespan perspectives. Routledge.

Bryant, W., Fieldhouse, J., & Plastow, N. (Eds). (2022).  Creek's occupational therapy and mental health (6th ed.). Elsevier.

Fitzgibbon, C., & O'Sullivan, J. (2018). Sensory modulation: Resource manual. Sensory Modulation Brisbane. 

Gillen, G., & Brown, C. (Eds). (2023). Willard and Spackman's occupational therapy. (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Meadows, G., Farnell, J., Fossey, E., Happell, B., McDermott, F., & Rosenberg, S. (Eds). (2021). Mental health and collaborative community practice: An Australian perspective. (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. 

Taylor, R. R., Bowyer, P., & Fisher, G. (Eds). (2024). Kielhofner's Model of Human Occupation (6th ed.). Wolters Klumer.

Taylor, R. R. (2020). The intentional relationship: Occupational therapy and use of self (2nd ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial Intelligence 
  • Assessment 1 Guided - Students will be guided in how GenAI must/may be used in completing the assessment as detailed in the unit outline and assessment instructions. More detailed information can be found at GenAI and Assessment at UC
  • Assessment 2 Restricted - The use of GenAI is NOT allowed in completing the assessment. More detailed information can be found at GenAI and Assessment at UC
  • Assessment 3 Guided - Students will be guided in how GenAI must/may be used in completing the assessment as detailed in the unit outline and assessment instructions. More detailed information can be found at GenAI and Assessment at UC
Academic Integrity
Students can use the draft drop boxes to review their assessments for academic integrity purposes.  Academic integrity reports might take up to 24 hours. This step is optional, and the student must ensure that their final submission is uploaded in the assessment's drop box by the due date and time.
 
Moderation
Assessments will be moderated in line with the University of Canberra's Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures.  For more information, please refer to these documents.
 
Assessment Support
 
1. Drop In Sessions - are scheduled during semester to provide support to students in completing assessment items (refer to Canvas for details).  By attending these sessions, students will have the opportunity to:
• Clarify the requirements of the assessment item
• Understand the marking rubric
• Receive feedback regarding the general structure of their intended response
Teaching staff will not review drafts or provide specific feedback on the content of student work.  
 
2. Discussion Boards - Clarification regarding assessments can be obtained by posting on Canvas discussion boards. Questions raised on discussion boards will be responded to during business hours as indicated by the unit convener at the start of semester.  Please consider this if your assessment is due on the weekend. Staff will not respond to questions regarding assessment items raised by email.
 
3. Learning Conversations - Will be offered to students who want to discuss the application of feedback from assessments for future learning.  The process for organising a learning conversation will be announced on Canvas when assessment grades are released.  
 
Submission of Assessments
All assessments must be submitted via the drop box on Canvas/Cadmus.  You must keep a copy of all assessments.  Include a cover sheet on all submissions.  Unless otherwise specified, all written assessments are to be uploaded in Microsoft word format (.doc or .docx). 
 
Word/Time Limits
Word limit or time length/number of pages will be specified as required.  The examiner will stop reading, watching or listening when the allocated word limit or time length is reached.  Content beyond the word length or time limit will not be assessed.  
 
Assessment Formatting - Unless otherwise advised in the assessment instructions, written assessment pieces must conform to the following APA 7th requirements:
Font size: 12 pt. - Times New Roman or Arial
Line spacing: double
Headings: in bold, maximum size 16 pt.
Margins: no less than 2.54cm on all sides.
Page numbers: at bottom right hand corner of footer.
Student identification number: (number only) at top right hand corner of header.
References: given in APA style (author, date). Further information about APA referencing can be found at  https://canberra.libguides.com/referencing

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Inclusion and engagement

In the course of studying occupational therapy, students may be exposed to clinical scenarios and situations that may be compelling and/or distressing. At UC, a free counselling service is available for all students. All sessions are confidential. The UC Medical and Counselling Centre is located on Level B in Building 1. For more information please go to https://www.canberra.edu.au/on-campus/health-and-support/medical-counselling

Participation requirements

Attendance: It is essential that students attend and actively participate in all lectures, tutorials, workshops and discussion boards. Such participation is required by students to meet the Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapists  (2018).  Therefore, except in the case of extenuating circumstances, attendance at lectures, tutorials, workshops and assessments is expected and encouraged.  It is also expected that if students are unable to meet these participation requirements, they inform the Unit Convener via email as soon as practical and make up anything missed in their own time. 

Preparation: Students are expected to complete weekly preparation work before attending lectures, tutorials or workshops.  This preparation work may include but is not limited to pre-readings, watching videos, listening to podcasts, completing reflections and online learning activities. 

In Class Participation:  Students are expected to actively participate in tutorials and workshops.  This participation may include but is not limited to small and large group discussions, interactive activities, role plays, providing feedback to the larger tutorial or workshop.  

Required IT skills

The unit utilises the online learning site Canvas to provide students with access to readings, learning activities, and communication about the unit. It is expected that students will have basic word processing skills, an ability to use databases to search for journal articles, and to regularly access their UC email account and Canvas. Lecturers will communicate with all students via their UC email account and announcements on Canvas. It is the students' responsibility to regularly check their email and Canvas for messages, information and or instructions.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

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