Occupation in Context PG (9070.3)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Occupation in Context PG
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
Discipline Of Occupational Therapy Post Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit combines lectures, case based tutorials and work integrated learning. Students analyse how various contexts (e.g. geo-physical, socio-cultural, political, economic, virtual) impact individual and collective occupations at local, national and international levels. Students formulate proposals underpinned by principles of occupational justice to modify contexts to enable individuals, communities and or populations to meet their occupational needs for health and wellbeing.

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their integrated understanding of the contextual influences upon human occupation;
2. Critically evaluate the impact of various contexts on occupations of individuals, communities and or populations; and
3. Justify to specialised and non-specialised audiences their rationale for an occupation-focused proposal that involves modification of contexts by drawing on relevant theory, research and literature.



Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
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 - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
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 - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways


Prerequisites

8350 Occupational Therapy Professional Practice 1 PG

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

8532 Clinical and Exercise Biomechanics PG

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Ms Claire Pearce
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Ms Claire Pearce
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

Required texts:

Egan, M., & Restall, G. (2022). Promoting occupational participation: Collaborative relationship-focused occupational therapy. (1st ed). Ontario, Canada:Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

Readings:

A reading list will be provided on Canvas which will list weekly required readings plus supplementary readings to support learning.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Word Count
Allocated word limits are final. The examiner will stop reading when the allocated word limit is reached. Content beyond the word limit will not be assessed. This same principle will also apply for presentations and recordings, where content after the time limit will not be marked.

Assessment Drop-in Sessions
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 and understand the marking rubric.  Teaching staff will not review drafts or provide specific feedback on the content of student work.

Clarification regarding assessment tasks can also 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 assignment is due on the weekend. Staff will not respond to questions regarding assessment items raised by email.

Moderation
Assessments will be moderated according to the moderation procedures followed by the Discipline of Occupational Therapy. Refer to Canvas (see MODULES/STUDENT RESOURCES) for a copy of the moderation guidelines. Once marking and moderation have been completed, students will receive their marks and appropriate feedback. If a student would like to receive further feedback, students are encouraged to book a time with the Unit Convener.

Additional information
Unless otherwise advised in the assessment instructions, written assessment pieces must conform to the following requirements:

  • Cover sheet should include assessment title, student number and word count as specified by theassessment. You should not include your name on the cover sheet.
  • Font size: 12 pt – Times New Roman or Calibri.
  • 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
  • Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx), unless otherwise specified within the Assessment information.
  • References: APA 7th edition style . Information on this referencing styles can be found on the library websiteat: http://canberra.libguides.com/content.php?pid=238252&sid=1966106 (web-based), https://canberra.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=27348090 (pdf version)

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.

Participation requirements

It is essential that students actively participate in all lectures, tutorials, and group assignment related activities. Such participation is required by students in order to meet the Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards (2018). Therefore, except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance at the seminars and workshops is expected. It is also expected that if students are unable to meet these participation requirements they inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by email.

Please note: In the course of studying occupational therapy, students may be exposed to clinical scenarios, stories of lived experience, and in this particular unit, communities in situations of extreme vulnerability that may be stressful or compelling. At UC, a free Counselling Service is available for all students. All sessions are confidential. The UC Counselling Service is located in the UC Health and Counselling Centre on Level B in Building 1. For more information please go to http://www.canberra.edu.au/on-campus/health-and-childcare-services/medical-counselling/counselling 

Reference:
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (2018). Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards. https://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines/competencies.aspx

Required IT skills

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 daily. Canvas is an online learning site, which provides students with access to readings and learning activities.

Academic staff will communicate with all students via their UC email account and Canvas. It is the students' responsibility to regularly check their email and Canvas for messages, information and or instructions.

Students will be required to compile and upload recorded assessment tasks as well as written assessment tasks. Please see Assessments in Unit Outline or Canvas site for more information.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

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