STUDY IN AUSTRALIA, WORK IN CANADA
Complete Master of Occupational Therapy in just two years
Imagine becoming an occupational therapist and en
joying the rewards of helping people overcome a host of barriers. Now imagine earning a Master of Occupational Therapy ( OT) in just two years at a leading Australian university located in the Gold Coast, steps from beaches like Surfers Paradise.
Of the many reasons why Canadian students should consider completing a Master of OT at Bond University, lifestyle tops the list. “Canadian students seem to adapt really well because they’re go- getters and like the outdoors and Australians are also very big on the outdoor lifestyle,” says Professor Susan Brandis, Head of Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine.
“It’s culturally different but we’re English speaking and since we’re both Commonwealth countries, we share lots of similarities.”
Bond U’s Master of OT is a graduate- entry program, meaning people with an undergraduate degree in health sciences or other related program may be eligible to apply. If you haven’t completed prerequisite anatomy, physiology and behavioural science courses, you can complete a bridging program.
If you haven’t yet completed an undergraduate degree, you can enter one of the university’s two-year accelerated undergraduate pathway programs — such as exercise and sports science, health sciences, biomedical science, psychological science or social science — and then begin its Master of OT program.
INTERNATIONALLYRECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL
“Normally, undergraduate OT courses take four years so you’re spending the same amount of time but coming out with a higher level qualification,” Brandis says. The program incorporates lots of practical experience. “One of our interesting practical experiences involves students applying their learning from the area of occupational rehabilitation to the job role of a lifeguard.”
More than 1,000 clinical practice hours are embedded in the program, with placements available in a wide variety of clinical settings and organized by the university. The program is recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, the official representa- tive of occupational therapy and occupational therapists worldwide. “That’s what gives our qualification international transferability,” Brandis says.
Occupational therapists work with patients across the lifespan, from infancy to end of life. They also work across a wide spectrum of services — from mental health to acute medical and surgical services — in such areas as community health services, private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and research and development.
“It’s a really diverse and rewarding career. Because it’s so diverse, you never get bored. When you’re working with people and getting them back to their personal functional best, that’s incredibly rewarding,” says Brandis. “Good can- didates like people, want to make a difference, and have an empathetic and compassionate approach. They appreciate flexibility and enjoy working in teams and solving problems.”
RANKED NO. 1 FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Personalized learning is among the reasons why Bond U is consistently ranked first in Australia for educational experience and student satisfaction. For Canadian students, small classes are another draw. “For someone who’s travelling to the other side of the world, it’s not overwhelming.
“We know our students’ names and we know what they bring to the table,” Brandis says. “Canadian students are adventurous, are highly professional and have a very positive service mentality. We’ve seen many who have worked as coaches and volunteers and have worked at (summer) camps. Those are fantastic attributes.”
Bond U proactively embraces technology. Practical learning enhances the student experience. “Bond has exceptionally good industry contacts so that means students are exposed to people who are working and practising therapists.”
Indeed, staff refer to themselves as ‘pracademics’ because they work at their own private clinic or in the health-care sector a couple of days a week in addition to teaching. The university also offers plenty of support to students, from helping them find accommodation on or off campus to English as a Second Language support.
“Plus, we have Bond U clubs like rowing and surfing,” Brandis says. “We support our students to be the best they can be. We’re a beach university so students work really hard but the Australian way is a little more laid back. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and students really respond to that.”