OT4002 - Contemporary Issues for Health Professionals

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
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 adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically;
• The ability to appraise information critically;
• The ability to place their research in a broader (preferably international)theoretical, practical and policy context.;
• The ability to make constructive contributions to project teams or collegial activities.

Prerequisites:	HS3401 AND OT3001 AND OT3002 AND 0T3003 AND OT3004 AND OT3005Students must have completed all third year subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	OT4102 OT4103 OT4104

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coord/Lect:	Professor Matthew Yau.
Contact hours:	5 hours lectures 6 hours tutorials
Assessment:	presentations (50%); tutorial attendance and participation (10%); assignments (40%); abstract pass/fail (%).
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.