OT4002 - Contemporary Issues for Health Professionals

Credit points:	03
Year:	2009
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	Sch Public Health,Trop Medicine&Rehabilitation Sc

This subject enables small groups of students to be self directed in focussing on contemporary practice issues. The changes and challenges of existing concepts for Occupational Therapy will be explored, along with new skills to equip therapists into the twenty-first century to enable them to work more effectively in the current and future work arena. Topics relevant to the current social, political and economic climate for occupational therapy practice will be explored and may amongst others include, cost containment issues, the multiple determinants of health, inequity of service provision, consumer advocacy, indigenous health, community and rural practice.

Learning Outcomes

• describe and analyse current trends in health and social policy and their consequences for clients and care providers;
• develop skills in self reliance and working co-operatively in small teams;
• discuss current issues effecting practice now and in the future with particular emphasis on Indigenous and rural issues for rural and Indigenous health;
• discuss how occupational therapists might influence the development of social policy for reducing social inequality;
• explore various directions and roles for occupational therapy;
• review, consolidate and integrate previously acquired learning into a coherent basis for practice and professional development.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• The ability to select and use appropriate IT tools;
• The ability to access and employ online technologies effectively;
• The ability to use and interpret different media;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to use a variety of media and methods to retrieve, analyse, evaluate, organise and present information;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Prerequisites:	Students must have completed all third year subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	OT4102

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 28-Aug-2009
Coordinator:	Professor Matthew Yau
Lecturer:	Assoc. Professor Marion Gray.
Contact hours:	5 hours lectures 6 hours tutorials
Assessment:	presentations (50%); tutorial attendance and participation (10%); assignments (30%); abstract (10%).
Special Assessment Requirements:	Students will be required to prepare a poster and presentation for a student conference

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.